The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
Gen. Curtis's Speech.

We publish to-day the argument OF Gen
CuBTIs In the Assembly In behalf OF his bill
for the abolition Of capital punishment. II
will be seen that, 30 far from being the wild
putpourinR OF a fanatic, as 1t has been de-
Bcrtbed, the speech Is throughout calm and
temperate, and appeals to reason and judy
Inent and not to sentiment merely. 1t is n
dense statement OF tho experience OF civil
lsed States, and careful summary Of tho
opinions OF some Of the greatest minds in
jurisprudence and craftsmanship touching
the practical operation of the death penalty
% affecting the crime OF murder.
Many Of the facts presented have been
already laid before the readers OF THE Sun
during the last year, and Gen. CURTIS follows
D line Of argument very similar to our own
BE points out that the abolition Of capital
punishment is not mere experiment, an
entire innovation In legislation now sug-
Rested by sentimental theorists only as SO
many OF our ignorant newspaper writer's
Heem to suppose, but that 1t has been long
established as the settled policyof several Of
She European nations and Of our own States,
and In every case with the best results. II
may be said generally that wherever the
death penalty ia retained, murder Is more
frequent proportionBtely than where it has
been removed from the list OF punishmcnts.
We shall not hero repeat the statistics
and opinions brought forward by Gen. CUR
EIs, for every man should read them for him.
self as they are arrayed In the logical order
of the speech. They will probably surprise
most people. Tho strength OF tho argu-
ment ts far greater than they have been led
to imagine; and many Of them do not know
that it has been increasing steadily under
the discussion and the experience of the
last generation, and that its force is quietly
breaking down the false conceptions which
have kept the gibbet anywhere as n symbol
Of the power and vengeance Of civilization.
In no country In the world has this ques-
Hon more Importance than In our own. The
kibbet is retained In all except few OF
Ehe States Of the Union, and yet murder is
unusually frequent here. The number of
Enurders proportionately to tho population
Is greater than In any other civilized coun-
Ety, unless, perhaps, one or two The gibbet
has not increased the respect for the sanctity
OF human life. Assasslnatons. vendottas.
Nhootings, go on as justifiable methods of
Rvenging what Is called honor In parts OF
The Union where the death penalty remains
Rs supposed terror to such evildoers. The
slaughter continues with impunity, as if
this were land Of savages and tits encour-
Rged and stimulated because hanging is n |
punishment which practically is not en-
forced, which public opinion will not allow |
10 be inflicted, except rarely and spasmodi- |
Cally. and contrary to the equal justice that |
breeds due respect for law. Every man who |
kills another, unless In self-defence, ought |
70 be punished certainly and severely, no
matter what the provocation to the crime;
and yet assassinations occur almost daily
end go unpublished. Some poor wretch, mad
dened with liquor strikes the fatal blow and |
be Is strung up. while hundreds OF others. |
more guilty, cool. and deliberate assassins, |
who lie In wait for their victims, are per-
United to go scot free.
Capital punishment therefore Is unavailing |
es means of deterr1nR from murder in this
eountry; and, as Gen. CURTIS shows 1t Is In
She States where the extreme penalty has
been abolished that the terrible crime Is
most infrequent The gallows certainly does
not restrain murderers In this State. We
eIave list OF three murders and murderous
assaults In New York on Thursday, and we
omitted one. The record for Friday was
about the same. and from other States re-
tanning capital punishment moro murders
were reported.
We hope that everybody will read the
effort Of eloQuenoe, but 1t contains solid
acts and quotes mature opinions which
Sught to be known to the public.