The Meeker herald., 1890-08-16

tho killing Of IA fellow being2 Hereto
fore the proudest claim Of science has
been Ia save or at least 10 prolong hu'
man life and insure for its possessor the
greatest enjoyment Of its many b0un'
ties, In this instance it has been plain
ly diverted from It's cOuIrr under para
doHical plea of high humanity. And
Vet men OF science have lent their bcs,
efforts in this direction Ia humor tho
whims Of a l-w cranks and world beat
crs Who imagined they could make legal
murder hue ant and enforce into i, al
element Of seulimenlality which might
rob II OF It's atrocity.
While we allow that electricity has
been "a success, ~ flr as the killing ID
concerned, We must also admit that wt
have gained little, II anything, over the
ordinary method u execution by hing
ing, The pro.imiuarics Of elecirolhan-
asia are FAR from pleasant to coHtum'
plate. Alongside Of those Tor hanging
they are ircIentlousiy horrible. There
Is something more than weird Ia the
machine. the dri.neFatn nxsi,on Of thl
victim. the adjustment Of the electrusgr
and the thousand deaths IN eUutrm,
plating one, which more than offset.
the quick though damnnllr taking oil,
In" horrors, though hidden. nrt
nevertheless felt, There Is something
else 10 be thought OF than tho mere
luici.uesS al death. Willie tho latter
might have been triumphant, done, tho
agony Of tie criminal during the ptrp,,
faIi0ns must be terrible IN compared
with that 81 hanging. Il becumrs a sr-
r!Uus question II humanity II not pas ius
too big price for instantaneous demo
litiOn. Tie ave aud mystery oi deaf.
are intensified "a Thousand fold In an,
ucipa,lon "t what this instrument II
subtle power may do - compared with
either the moose or tie rope, tile grip Of
the gaTru;cr, tic smart OF the knuui,
the bore u the bullet Or the chop II ,lir
axe, And yet To hgTncs, the lightning.
aud bolt Il through u human bosis i-
thought Ia H. one ol the advances II
the nineteenth century.
The experiences In tie krmmlrt
ease, In spite Of all the precautions
taken. have shown many difficulties Ia
the way of general adoption ai the
method. II Is far from simple ia IT, 40,
pllcat!on. II requires elaborate and
careful preparation. II muitiplics ina.
chincry, which, without expert mauipu,
in,!ou. is liable Ia fail la rs workings
anI bring about disastrous results. II
may bc u source ut danger 1" the exc.
cnii0ncts aud spectators. It iuct-as d
the expense Of executions. hat. wnrsr
than all. Ia the necessary preparation -.
the victim thrfr i, crowded upon lin
In few seconds nn amount of horror
ani suspense which has no comparison
with any other form Of rapid demolition
save ,hosr OF being thrust into the muF-
rlc of loaded cannon OF t!rt. u :. iyua
mite bomb.
when II is assumed that the ends Of
Justice ani humanity are reached by
the continuance IL question. aud when
!, must b. admitted that even this
method cannot b. Invested either ol
cruelty or blrbaTiiy. the way seems Ia
ho open for the discussion Of the abbll,
ton Of capital puniBhmrnt altogether
General Daniel l.. sichl,g. sheriff oi
New York, endorses electricity aS u
mode Of executing criminals. lie sIya
there Is cniirei, too much maulIin s-u,
iimcnt wasted uu muricrrrs lie TO-
lie'eS in inil!eiiug all tile punishment
possible on them. and does not think
the Law will be repealed.