Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-21
PriYnte Itxeanliona.

FrAVhte Exeoua1Ous.
The people of Memphis had good
opportunity yesterday not to attend
hanging which took place in theil
midst. The occasion was duly OBJ
served by several thousand people
who would have gladly stood out in
the sun a few hours to see miserable
fellow mortal parade himself on the
dividing line between time and eter-
nifty and then drop of on the other
side. There was no applauding or
condemnatory crowd. The execution
was as quiet as the crime which in.
Cured the penalty. The condemned
man he'd ample time to settle his
spiritual affairs, far more indeed than
murderers usually give their victims.
He was treated simply as an enemy
of society, whom it would not be safe
to turn at large or even to imprison
for life. The TACT that he deliberately
set about the commission of a felony
on the premises Of Mr.. Russell, a
peaceful, law abiding citizen. and was
armed and prepared to commit the
crime Of murder if detected
rather than submit to ar
rest stripped the mind of the
jury, the court and the people Of every
Testige of sympathy. There was not a
mitigating circumstance in the whole
history Of the case The Governor
sealizsd this, and SO notified the
criminal. The full purpose of the
law was accomplished without any
unseemly display or sentimentality.
The condemned man, whatever his
spiritual consolation and hope, was
permitted to enjoy it. He had no
opportunity to address a crowd Of
maudlin sympathizers and invite them
to meet him via the gallows route or
any other in some fairy land beyond.
He was permitted to have his thoughts
to himself, as directed and encouraged
by his spiritual advisor, and no crazy.
half drunken crowd was allowed to
break in on the awful solemnity of the
scene. This recital leads us to remark
that public executions are AbhOrrent
and krepulsive to every idea and in
stinct of civilization. The old Greeks,
the most intellectual people the
world has produced, unless We
except some Of the earlier
Hebrews, understood this better than
the descendants of the bOasted Anglo
Saxon. They administered some po-
tent drug or enesthetic which pro
duced no contOrtions and drew no
silly multitudes TO wonder and get
drunk on hysterical sympathy. Pri.
Vate executions are better for the
victims, the officers of the law and the
people at large. A public hanging is
demoralizing, debauching and hardenS
ing in its immediate and ultimate
results. 1t scorches young hearts and
turns old ones to adamsnt. The private
execution is a return toward the
methods of civilization. 1t deprives
the convict of the cheap glory of pass
ing for hero and inspiring thought
less urehins with an ambition to
become notorious aud infamous. 1t
reminds old men that at last they must
cross the dark river and face
alone aud unsustaiBed the
great tribunal beyond. For every
man criminal or Christian, must for
himself aud by himself walk the valley
and shadow Of death, far beyond the
jurisdiction Of jailors and Gheriffs,
courts and Governors, How much
moreappropriate that a man under SEN
tencs of death, in the last hours Of bis
life, when the great change is about to
be made, should be left to himself and
the chosen few that he may prefer to
have about him. 1t isa eoREas. vul
gar, cruel. uncivilized and ungGdly
curiosity that would thrust itself into
the presence Of q dying fellow
man at an hour so precious and SO
terrible