The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-11
MAUD MAPLE OPPOSED TO IT.
The Question ''shouid Capital Punishment
be Abolished" u scus.od.

The Question should Capital Punishment
be Abolished" u scussod.
BELOVED H. L. G. FRIENDs-Tonight as
I'm thinking on the subject submitted by
Hamlet" l. e., "Should Capital Punish
ment be Abolished?" there passes before
my minds eye, in panoramic view, suf-
fering humanity, all struggling for a COM
mon end, the goal of existance which is
happiness And the thought of each de-
termines the channel through which he or
she seeks it.
All suffering of the race comes
through mistaken idea of how
and where happiness is to be
found. In consideration Of all pertaining
to this semi-barbaric mode of attempting
to right a wrong, which we call capital
punishment. L would say YES. let it be
abolished. 1 cannot deem it jus::iatle IN
this enlightened Christian age. Every
intelligent man and womaU's highest feel
ing revolts against it, wishing that some
how we might do away with it, which of
Itself is sufficient proof of its erroneous
ness. But how is it to be remedied
What shall we do with the criminal? is
the great quest on that ar ses. Yet
when the public sentiment is fully aroused
TO a higher sense OF justice and duty
when there isa strong demand for better
way it viii be forthcoming The supply
is always equal to the demand. I think
in this great problem OF national interest
yea, the interest of all mankind-we
must deal specially with the cause to reach
or remedy the evil. Cease TO make crim-
nais cease to create causes that produce
crime, cease to feed and nourish such SEN
timents as develop crime, and above all
cease to legalize causes where
in we must punish the re-
suits that are its natural
outgrowth. Looking at all this. what a
vast sea of causes loom mp before Us. See
the channels here and there, currents
great and small flowing on eveay side.
Where do they rise? All from out the
great ocean of human thought, ever on
ward in It's unceasing surge.
Perverted thought leads to evil deeds; ;
all crime is but the outgrowth of wrong
thought nurtured and matured in the
mind led daily on associated surround
ings in which literature holds no small
place. Ruinous literature is n stream at
which many drink and grow like that on
which they feed.
There is no escaping this law Of develop
menG, and we must look we'll 10 our men,
Jal food. The 5; cams OF literature are
many, and while some appear sunny and
sparkling in innocent ripple to the youth
ful eye, yet once he has set sail on is
bosom will eventually verge into shadows
and turbulent waves OF rsst essness that
may carry him beyond his power Of re-
I--.l \
" into crime ofsome sort. 1t may seem
quite harmless to read end talk and
think day by day of crimes
and tragedies, and theft, and drunkenness,
and dishonesty, and selfish scheming.
that, alas are too ofteu portrayed in
glowing colors, more attractive than re-
pc ling to the young, yet this has often
been the current OF thought which led to
crime.
But the largest stream, and into which
nearly all others flow, and on which the
masses try to set SAIL is that of wealth.
See the crafts, great and small, sailing
| under the names of every occupation and
profession known 10 the world. But,
Rlssl ever and anon some poor soul is
stranded on the reefs OF failure, while
others almost sinking resort 10 any and
every means TO keep afloat. Many a soul
VINO so eagerly sets sail on this stream OF
money getting little dreams of breeding
! that awful greed for gain that NAV cause
| him to sacrifice all else for its achieve
ment, even to committing crime. But
harken 10 the wall that comes floating
back from the many struggling, poverty
| stricken souls that are stranded or cast
overheard to perish and almost driven to
commit theft or crime to escape starva-
ton. Temptation besets every sailor, and
he must be stout of heart and brave OF
purpose, holding with firm hand to the
lanchor of Christ with clear conscience
for his compass if no steer clear of all the
| Jagged rocks and whirlpools and outride
| the storms of his life in safety.
When will the tide OF public sentiment
turn? When will humanity cease its wild
/ selfish struggle FOR mammon? When will
that day dawn OF which Edward Bellamy
| propnesies FOR the twentieth century?
God grant il NAV not be longer. Let soci
ETY. cease to regard or measure worth by
wealth; cease to tolerate or cooperate
with dishonesty in any way; cease tc
think and talk lightly Of error and IN
truth and 1.-The sowing OF Wild oats and
encourage honest effort and true moral