New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-12-23
@TEOU SHALT NOT KILL. "
Hon. G. R. Davis of St. Peter Furnishes the
Review with Brilliant Article Anent
the Death Penalty. 49,.
There is Growing Sentiment, he says, in
Favor of it's Abolition. ,...
Thou Shalt not KILL" proclaimed from
Sinai, applies alike to all. r.
Barbarism in law promotes barbarism in
those subiect,to the law. 81 =
tTEOU SHALT NOT KILL y

Barbarlsm III law promotes DarDaflsln IN
those subject to the law. 81 =
Editor Review: Recent executions
within this state have apparently pro
voked discussion in many localities as
to the merits Of capital punlshment,and
it is gratifying to notice the growing
sentiment in favor OF its abolition. It
is proverbial that reforms are Of slow
growth, and usually require long, we'll
directed and incessant effort to accom-
plished the desired result, and society
often hesitates to practically enforce
views entertained, until years after posi-
tive conviction. In this respect com
servatism may be considered as the en-
envy OF progress; it seldom objects to
results, but invariably protests against
the necessary action to achieve them.
Governments by their laws having so
long sanctioned the execution of crimi-
nails, it is hard to eradicate the ideas
thus inculcated, and, man being crea-
ture of habit, is llable to become less
mindful of the sacredness of human life
when he sees it held so lightly by the
law OF the land, A reasonable deduc-
ton from our present penal code is, that
the fabric of society can only Ebe pre-
served by destroying part OF its mem
bers who commit q certain crime. To
admit this conclusion would, it seems to
me, lead to another, viz; That byafix-
ing the death penalty to more crimes
wonld enhance civilization and the
more effectuallY protect society. To
thus conclude would be to falsify his.
tory, and maintain that greater pro-
seotion existed during the reign of
Henry VIII. than We now enjoy, for
during such reign sevsnty-twe thousand
persons' wore exseuseds for variiouss
crimes, and under the protection and.
guidance of Queen Elizabeth nineteen,
thousand were deveured by:the gallows,t
One hundred and fiftY offences were
during those delightfully."- times treat
cd as capital, where now only one re-
mains. The comparison is odious. It
is claimed by many that the state exe-
outes criminals in self defense. Can
this be 50 after he is securely shackled
and behind the bars? For such he must
be before his execution can take place;
and certainly there can be ne repetition
by this offender IS long as. the jailor
remains true to duty. Charles Sumner
says, "rhat the right to take human life
stands only On the ground of self de-
fenso, in the state as in tho individual,
and if either can defend without it, they
are bound to do 50; and no combination
of men can have greater rights in this
respect than the individual; and no
matter what the exigencies of other.
days the time has gone by when the
life of state can only be saved by
hanging the criminals. Society is pro-
tected from the most dangerous maniac
by confinement; this may be called self
defense. If purely on this ground, (self
defense) why make so great a distinc-
ton between the dangerous maniac and
the murderer, for both are dangerous.
Can it be that revenge has any place in
the various treatment? And who will
admit that in this age laws exist which
tolerate revenge? To permit vengeance
to'enter into our system of punishment
is to reduce US to the level of the effen-
der. The Mosaic code embraces thirty
three offenses punishable with death
and yet the greatest law giver swept
them all into oblivion when he said,
"Resist not evil'', and all his other
teachings and commands concur there
with. There IS no right in reason or
warrant from religion to take the life Of
a fellow being. God did not demar d
the blood of Cain as an expiatlon but de.
clared that 'sWhosoever slew Cain, His
vengeance (not ours) should be taken
on him seven fold.'' Thou shalt not kill
proclaimed from Sinai, applies to all,
citizen and ruler alike. But when the
State, under the plea Of necessity, breaks
this commandment and calls it virtuous
50 to do. how eau the individual be con.
demned for similar conduct TheAwrongs
of government permeate every vein Of
the individual and society. Like be-
1 gets like, and the people become like
the government. Cruel punishments
by parents usually are reproduced bJ
children when they become parents
When society treats human life as !
thing to be LIGHTLY taken, people bacon.