St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-22
TIE HHIPPING PnSr.

The brutal fogging of a prisoner in Win
nipeg not a long time ago, who had escaped
and been recaptured. produced no little ex-
element and indignation in that city and
region. That prisoner should be brutally
whipped for the offense was considered TO be
beyond the verge of decency, humanity and
civilization. The Attorney General who or
dered and was responsible for the whipping
was severely denounced by the press and
people. He was burned in effigy and made
the object of public scorn and obloquy, de-
risive contempt. As a result he was driven
from Office and obliged to resign his official
position. Public sentiment was right in this
instance, and the brutal official who ordered
the whipping quailed before it.
This popular outburst against a fragrant
wrong is bearing fruit. The Ontario govern
ment is said to have decided to abolish fog
ging in the Central prison. This is believed
to be direct result of the hogging affair at
Winnipeg, and its outcome.
A resort to the whipping post for minor
offenses is a revolt toward the advanced civ
ilization of the present day. The retention
of the lash, as mode of punishment is no
credit to any penal code, unless an excep-
ton be made in the case of wife-beating,
which is quite too prevalent at this day, and
for which there is no adequate penalty. The
brute who will cruelty assault and beat his
defenceless and helpless wife, whom he has
sworn to protect and cherish, may be just
subject of personal chastisement even by
Jogging. Civilization, humanity, Christ
n
refinement, as to revolt at the public fogging
at the whipping post of a wife-whipper.
The sentiment of the Canadian people
against the use of the lash as mode of pun
ishlnent is creditable to them, and it is cred
table to the Provincial government to have
acted in accordance with that recently aroused
sentiment in abolishing logging in the Cen
trail prison. Flogging as a punishment
is a badge of barbarism. In addition
to the physical suffering which it in .
iicts it is a work Of disgrace and
personal humiliation which will crush out the
spirit of even the stoutest heart, when in
fiicted for trivial or minor offenses. The
Toronto Telegram, remarking upon this sub
ject, has some data in regard to floggings in
the British army which is pertinent:
.'At one time Aogging was carried TO excess in
the British army, but after years Of agitation il
has been done away with. 0ne of the most
famous cases was that OF Alexander SomerviIle.
now of Toronto, who was iogged while in the
army for trifing offense. His case Was taken
up over the length and breadth of Great Britain
and called forth indignant remonstrances from
the leading men in the land. This was nearly
half of century ago. II probably did more to
bring about the abolition Of Jogging IN the army
than any other case. Within the present century
the most revolving scenes Of military iogging &C.
CURED. In 1877 three soldiers met with Others
in public house at Tower Hill London, where
| at length fight ensued. A court martial being
held, Thomas Hayes. Francis Hayes and George
Stamford were ordered to receive eight hundred
lashes each. The execution Of this sentence, so
disgraceful to a CIVILIZED country, was COM
| menced but after Thomas Hayes, who was only
twenty years of age, had received six hundred
and seventy lashes the surgeon pronounced his
life TO be in danger and he was therefore carried
! away. Francis Hayes, only sixteen years OF AGE,
received three hundred and sixty five lashes and
| George Stamford, only seventeen years of age
| received two hundred lashes. The latter two
had their Sc tences COMMITTED on agreeing 10
/ join condemned regiment Bad as hogginr is
in this country it will be that in England at
one time il was simply inhuman."