The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-07-04
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

The Legislature of Maine Mt its late ses.
sion restored the penalty of death for wilful
murder, after few years trial of the system
of condemning murderers to imprisonment
for life for that crime.
There was long series of years when
there were no executions in Maine, owing
to the indefinite language of the law; and
when hanging was resumed the opponents
OF capital punishment rallied strongly AMI
secured the abolition of the system
Since that time there have been great
many murders in Maine. Those who be-
heve in capital punishment assert that the
increase was caused by the removal of the
Tread of the death penalty But this is of
'oarse warmly disputed by the mon who
oppose the taking Of human life under the
forms of law
Modern society holds human life far more
sacred than did ancient society. by the law
OF Moses great many offences were pun
ishable with death, even to Sabbath. break
ing aud disobedienee to parents.
In Athens the penalty was visited upon a
long list of offences, aud the same is true OF
Rome In England the list OF capital crimes
was one of fearful length When Black
stone wrote his Commentaries, but little
more than century ago he could enumer-
ate one hundred AID sixty felonies punish
able with DEATH
Horrible stories are told OF poor women,
and even children, hanged for no greater
offence than stealing q crust of bread to keep
themselves from starving.
Gradually the fearful list has been reduc.
ed, until now only treason and murder,
which are regarded as tho most henous of
crimes, are punishable with death under the
laws of England BY similar process the
laws of the States of the Union have been
slowly but steadily purged of the DEATH
penalty.
1t is very evident that the reason for in
dieting the penalty of death for murder, and
TOR treason, which is an assault upon the
Government, is different from that for pun
lshing other offences in that way. II is
punishment in kind.
A witty Frenchman put the whole areu.
ment in single sentence. To one who
said that the death-penalty should be ahol-
ishsd he replied, cor course, but let Mes.
sieurs the assassins set the example" 1t is
tor them to learn that human life is sacred.
II they do not think SO, and commit murder,
taey have no right to plead for the sacred.
ness of their own lives.
But the objectors maintain that the Law
has no right to deprive man of his life,
under any circumstances. They term exc
cntions judicial murders They deny that
that hanging is more severe penalty than
perpetual imprisonment
There are three possible objects in pass
ing sentence for crime first, to punish the
offender; second, to deter him from com.
uniting the crime second time; third. TO
warn others of the consequences of crime
The opponents of capital punishment say
that imprisonment for life is the greatest of
punishments, and that i, prevents the MUIR
derer from repeating the crime; and they
60 further and declare that it is the snrest
way Of lettering others from committing
the crime. Consequently, they argue, tax.
Ing the life of the prisoner is not only i'm.
moral in itself, but IL is less effective than
perpetual Imprisonment.