Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-05-18
Crime and It's Punishment.

P.abably man has never been called upon
10 solve al, more Difficult, problem con-
uccteI with the science of Government than
how to punish criminals. hy the exercise Of
such functions. and in accordance with such
principles. a. wl.. secure the greatest good.
10 The creates; u4mhrr. In the punishment
of offender, against he ptna. code there are
Two extremes INTO which ID, body polite IS
liable To fail. either of which ], largely det-
rImca;a 20 The best interest, Of >oclrtl.
The iirsf extreme = seen whsn people e1-
hlbii disposition 20 meje out 10 criminals
auV unnecessary or Niul.cilve punishment:
the other. heucycr there i lANItl or InettI-
Cheney ia dea..D. with them lth such sever
i,v a. the snoTm.;y o. their crimes deserves.
On the one hand = %NllA with IL tower
iug and perceptions, headiand and ragged
bu>t on the other. Char, bLi> With IL threat
enlns rock, ami .aoa.s. To navigate the
dangerous chanue. and currents between the
two. and escape the fearful perils on the
night hand and on the Ie". requires wisdom.
Foresigh. and skill
The South afford, too MANY sad liiu-;ra-
i.als Of ,hc one extreme ln the shameful
and lav cs> manner lu which }. Furnishes rca.
or imaginary off uder, against the peace ~
society. b, Ignoring trials, June, and courts.
and III their pace and stead tr>gr,...s 20
mob .av iNueh Jaw and violence. On the
other hand .ae North exhibit, an l..u,,rA-
f,al af The other extreme In III, hardly les,
shameful M lawIe,s manner by winch il
r5-,r..l, offer, a reward for crime. by IL
rs..ri,.5 >,fu.atby for criminals. and bv est
mating the mos, airec!ous and rcyo!tlng
rr.r,.> a. ysr,5a. faults,
A consideration Of the object 81 punish
ment j. E.stiy im2orian; one. How and
uay shall We punish criminal offenders
AGAINST the Iaw Cruelty and yind!cuyeness
.1..s,4 n.y-r pron1nt tb. ,rt. Punishment 10
b.. effective mus, be corrective and restrain
in, ami .f-aiH s}u.,s be- rrpDo-fIonat. 10
IA, orF.qse. ba, above everything else. so far
a. aa>..bl.. il >naalt a.Way, be certain.
Tow .r.l the criminal. ner,on4l.y. We ought
N have no feeling Of ll,-w!!I or revenge. nor
.h,Y.s ~ be- a. ..,a, TO do him the snalle,,
,,,,.,.oa. int vh.,.. w, SEEK ~ avoid Inius-
49,. !, the .tFe,Jer We ough, 10 he vrr,
e.rsf5. .hs. We DO none TO the public. For
,,--...1f Nc ms. b.ar,IIy beIieTe il, making
.I,r an eysr,,is n the legally condemned
,.r.-,,,,,I a. Mi mo-. e.4.c.I,liy pr,fect So
-. - tho ,-r.,,.,ior NJ .6c;t,y =, the
,.,..,,-,. ,f.,e.- ~ ,lI,,,eral law. the uuni.h
-, = -. And E,r...,r tain, a ,ns,,er
- ,,-r, .sr,.,5,-, irr,r,,-,arre HE imprIs-
o,.,r,.rt af the c5lnrlr FOR ofyD..s which de
80. ,,..,.l,, ,,-,.r,. society r.,
-. -. Wsrs r., = bei3 IN durance
- ,,hI-r !. NOT a,nos.5 IN M. scheme, of
III, ana HI, e,r,.rienc. Dunn, the term
- III. ,n-lson life !. syrh "a. will b. likely 10
- IN vsr, ~sref,i. when he regain. the
-. -, n .,ber,, M, IN con5nc, him
i.ff IN s,cb = manner As again To make him
self smenable 10 the rigorous penalty Of
80 ~. b1, n NOR yaI9e than al the rest
:. 80 b.af,bf,l eyaunls which certain and
o,,3;e,, r,,,,isbrnsr- ~ the offender will ex
-. ~ he r,rlIic when il takes cogn;zanoe
az :, -,,,s, If the nenalty. In this Is the
,,ra.,.., ,,.-it and n,acficsl utility of the
- oo3a I, ,his xsv more than any
~ ! society nro,ected from the rayag.s
~ v;lls;ns who witnessing the wholesome
s,,e.,arIe narnrsIly dread 10 draw down on
tbeir own hesds ike punishment for Tx. o.
fs,sas
Tbe trouble in N.w ENGLAND and the Mid
dc states which interferes 10 an alarming
ey,ent with the punishment of criminals is a
,,-o-sol5 one First when the accused has
hsen found guilty. a great pressure is
too offen brought 70 bear on the Judge by
DUNGEONS influential citizens. vell-meaning.
do1b,lsss but really aiders and abettors in
Inc ~ have the sentence made the very
Ii,,htas, that the law will sanction. The
J95ge i human. his Judgment become.
vsarned his symnsthy aroused. and the re-
III, i TIA, the nyisoner gets the minimum
,,,,nisb,,,en, provided in the statute. when,
Irerbs,s notbing short of the maximum
ronld he ADEQUATE TO the enormity Of his
oH.nse
.TLs sec.,,,5 s,rast t,oubie Is that when an
oaa,5.r bss hen sentenced "a imprisonmeDt
-,e - ,a-n, ~ ysrs il il more tban probable
-, .ors svmna,bizsrs with him. setting
.bao,s.l,,es sc,iyeIy Al work. will obtain his
--srJo1 urn him loose on society to perpe-
- ~ zines and thus by their folly
sn 40 the morally weak 10 become Grim
80 too The fact i. pardons to criminals.
liz Ia curses eD and chickens. come home to
cost and whenever people SOW the wind
If pardon. they are sure. sooner or later, to
rsan the wbirlwind of crime. What is trus
If pardons !. also true of laxity in dealing