The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-01
TExAsPREss OPINIONS.
RETURNING TO FIRST PRINcIrLrs.


A cable dispatch announces that the can
ton of Zurich, in Switzerland, has decided
TO return 10 capital punishment as the pen
atty { ,nur'er. This action should not be
without its moral to the humanitarians, or
more properly sentimentallsts, in this coun-
try who periodically, when state legislatures
are in session agitate the question and
plead for what they denominate less bar
barous and more civilized method OF deal
ing with that grade OF crime that is de-
structive in its tendencies. IT has been
now more than ten years since the Swiss,
as an experiment, abrogated the death per-
ally, substituting imprisonment there
Tor. Switzerland is such small country
that accurate statistics as to all questions
OF domestic economy are easily collated,
and it was not a half decade before the
Swiss began TO question II the experiment
was worth pursuing. The statistics did
not reveal either decreased ratio of crime
or an imp owed condition of morals, and Il
quite natural reaction in the public mind
at once ensued One after another, COM
menoing with Berne, the cantons have
given expression TO their desire for return
TO the ancient and extreme penalty, and
thus the experiment, inaugurated so
hopefully, is virtually branded rs failure
and declared unworthy Of the confidence
VI "a IL ~ Will ubl NJ
ford valuable results in such country as
Switzerland the inducements to test
it in land like ours are by
no means tangible or ilattering.
Society in Switzerland, is stable and settled.
Centuries of u vigorous CiviliZrtio have
accustomed the people not alone to obedi-
ence OF law, nut they have become, az a
mass, appreciative of the enormity that
attaches to the taking of human life. All
the social conditions there were favorable
to the fairest test of the less rigorous sys-
tenn. Despite these conditions they
now proclaim that human life is not to be
protected by sparipg human life. Evil
IDENTIFY ii the Swiss are nor yet up to that
point of civilization, that can with safety
dispense with the gallows, Tor with the ex
ecutioner, whatever his modus operandiJ
II will be wise o wait at least until some
time in the next century before we set to
work to abrogate the death penalty in this
land, where the murderer Is too often made
kind of hero, and where the criminal
who has money or influence may in
nlnety'nine cases out of q hundred snap
his fingers at the law.-IWaco Examiner.
NOT AT ONCE A PERFECT MANHOOD.
The university regents expect to meet
again on the ith of June. The object of
this meeting Is to consider the action of the
faculty meeting at Nashville, Tennessee,
and presumably to do such other things rs
will prepare the way for the proper open
ing of the university In September. 1t was
indicated at Nashville that certain proyis-
ion should be made for the purchase of
competent chemical apparati, and Profess
sor Mallet has been commissioned to select
aud secure them. He asks that for his SER
vices in this behalf his pay as professor be-
gin and continue from May 10th. He bases
this demand on the fact probably, that he
has already devoted some time to our
university affairs, having visited Tex.
as to see and report to the other members of
the faculty the conditions existing here
and the propriety of their becoming attach
ed to the university. How much his SER
vices may be worth in these respects we
do not know and it is presumed the de-
mand will be promptly passed upon by the
regents. 1t must also be fixed by them
whether the apparati will be made, at this
time, complete, or whether it will be limi.
ted. 1t is said propositions have already
been received for leasing four or five hun.
dred thousand acres of land, and 1t may be
that the greater portion Of the university
lands may soon be disposed of. II mil.
lion OF acres be leased at once for, say $780,
700, the least possible sum should be spent
'niheuiateiy, Oh apparatl, Wnlle the
employment of other professors
than those already chosen should
be effected There is yet no professor
OF natural philosophy named, there is
no school of history provided for, no school
OF engineering, no school OF mining, all i'm
portant and necessary; and the medical
school needs douceur to keep the Calves.
ton concern from going to the dogs, instead
OF elevating the standard of physic. 1t
may be hoped that the energy of the re.
gency will be bent towards leasing all the
lands owned by the university. They
could, on term of five years, in parcels to
suit, be disposed of so as to secure the in
sslitutipn 100000 annually. This added
to the interest on permanent funds now on
hand would yield revenue equal to oil
proper demands. Ofcourse If the regents
comply with every demand made upon
them for money, there will be plenty of
channels through which it will Il w, and
funds may be frittered away in things that
will add but little to the merits of different
departments.-[Austin Statesman.
THAT MEXICAN CITY.
Monterey, the capital city of the state. is