Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-04-05
For the OXFORD DEMOCRAT.
MURDER PENALTY.
BY W. p. sIIATrucK, NJ. d.
The xrea, King Of kings

Shakc>ptft.
Mr.. Editor AT the present time the cry
Is again raised for the gallows and It's
victim. vengeance is mine saith the
Lord, and will repay" But from the ex-
preston OF anxious solicltude, mixed at
times with a little malignant spleen, the
advocates of the death penalty would seem
TO imply a fear that the murderer will
fail 10 get his deserts II he Is not hanged.
Every one must admit that In the matter
OF murder, first and foremost stands the
protection OF the public against the red
hand Of the murderer. The next point Is
how can we best deter the murdererfrom his
work; What Is the best scare we can give
him? Hang him, is, or has been the popu-
lar CRY. But with the hangman, and all
his shocking paraphernalia, the murderer
..does not scare worth cent" And why
Very largely il Is in this wise. He argues
that die he must at some time. An igno-
minious death he puts under his feet as
negative consideration, the motive for the
murder being largely the primary thought
The dread of that something after death
the undiscovered country loses It's
force upon the murderer'S mind rs he asks :;
..What II this cursed hand were thicker
than itself with brothers blood, Is there
not rain enough in sweet Heaven 10 wash
II white as snow"
The murderer who premediiates the
crime. has a standpoint Of thought which
supports him, when the idea OF Heavens
rctributlve Justice Starcs him In the face.
This view was perhaps received In the
sabbath school, or from the pulpit. But
i the clergy washed sinner any less
murderer Does "a man who has erept
through the common sewer OF Sln 10 the
gallows, blossom out, when ali hope OF
pardon i gone, into a sain,:'
The criminal j. told TO lean on Jesus -
trust in Jesus" He rcpents-hc leans
he trusts. aud on the gallOws he sings
lie will carry me through" and Jesus
paid il all. all the debt owe" Says he
has found salvation in Jesus, aud Is go-
ing straight 10 glory" aud is-ierSed 20
Jesus. Believing the atouement can 10
All this. the murderer after having burned
out the candle Oflifc in the service Of the
devil. then blows the snuff In the Almighty :
face. This Is the kind OF sent!mental.sm
against which II. W. Bcecher raises voice
when he says Great criminals are cos
se;ted. Women send flowers 10 the muir
/ derer's cell. Some OF them would even
kiss an ulcer for him. Priests AMI phlian-
thropists run 10 see him. Tracts, books
ana dellcacies are crowded upon him. and
all. fOrsooth, because he is going 10 die
The newspapers say he died trusting In
/ Jesus Faugh. What world OF mis-
/ chief that thief on the cross did grant
/ Mr.. Editor, this type OF sentimeniallsu
/ has slumbered IN Maine for several years.
Aud why: Because there has been no
hanging. Criminals are not coSsetted OF
made heroes here. have no more sym
patty than You for those delicately nerv
| Gus people who imagine crime and sin viii
20 unpublished, and whose highest con
cep,.on Of "A good and just judge Is one
who will say to the foul Culrpit go and
slu no more" believe on the contrary
/ it will be said go and be damned.
/ cannot conceive, even in the atoning blood
Of the Lamb n spiritual chemistry by
which a red-handed murderer can at once
I be bleached into a saint, ht 20 nestle ID
/ Abraham's bosom. There must be retribu'
tive Justice for him somewhere. He does
not send his victim 10 Hell, and he walk
straight TO glory. My mantle Of charity
Will not cover all this.
taxing the lie OF murderer. My senti-
meutalism LAYS In this wise Give the
would be murderer the greatest possible
scare. and 10 the people the greatest posi-
Die protection. Il is claimed that stalls
tics show less murder committed in the
States-pOpulation coDsidered-where the
gallows and hangman are among the
/ things that were, rather than in those
States where they still exist in their pres
tine glory, with the concomitsnt Of muir
derer worship, and "salacious sympathy.
There Is no sure foundation set on blood;
No certain life achieved by others DEATH
The murderer with the death penalty
staring him in the face, from one stand
point Of thought argues salvation TO all.
From another view Il i salvation 20
those who trust in Jesus and repent, and
that will come even at the eleventh hour.
II ne is atheistic, an obliyious nothingness
Is his solace, and If the world goes rough
with him. with this view OF death he has a
peaceful restfulness, rather than scare.
With either view he expects better con-
ditiou the other side the shore OF life, and
! is willing 10 take his chance.
The murderer acting from the push OF
motives, must have greater scare than
the gallows, or Imprisonment for life held
before him, and the question follows
What is greater than these: answer
Discharge the crystalline lens Of he eye.
This operation is attended with but little
pain comparatively, and under the inhu-
ence Of az snisthetic, no pain whatever.
This puts the murderer in condition so
he has comparatively no chance for MUIR
der the second time, has four out of the
five senses left, his bodily powers remain
intact, is in semi-helpless condition