The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-12-30
GlnITlL HNNIsNNENT

GAHkTaL itf1flSft hhAl
Much las been SAD sad vo.vmes
written on ills subject, asd there isaa
maeh diversity d opinion g ever,
Even those who favor The death penal
y are divided III opinion IS 70 The
enormity Of The ofFsasc II shall take to
merit The extreme penalty possible for
man 10 visit upon his fellow man.
Itis generally conceded that but
one crime willinT and deliberate muir
dsr) with possibly one other exception,
can BE- warrant for the taking Of life
by judicial process. Ilmust be granted
by all, humanitarian, reformer pbilan-
thropbist or what not, that ths great
est deterrent Of crime Is the swift and
condigu punishment 81 the criminal
The slightest axily ID The enforcement
Of law tends to the increase Of crime
1t is 10 thenature Of man to take many
chances, and where the possibility, not
10 say probability, exists that penalty
of the crime may be avoided, the cr,m.
inaily disposed will take the chance,
slight though it may be-; whereas, if
be was morally sure that his crime
would be visited as the law directs, the
crime would never be committed.
The state owes to every citizen the
most ample protection that human
wisdom and foresight can provide.
The history Of many centuries and of
every nation whether civilized or bar
boroas, has demonstrated the fact that
only the death penalty, and that not
At all times, will prevent the crime of
murder, aud al the talk that life i'm
prisonmsnt Or any other punishment is
the equal Of capital punishment as a
deterrent from crime, is known to be
falacious by every careful observer or
diligent student Of history.
The threadbare argument that all
punishment should be reformatory in
character, and which ignores the Pri
mary idea of justice, is the one most
frequently resorted to by the opPo
nents of capital punishment, but this
should have but little weight when we
remember that the assassin affords to
his yiclIm no time or sPRce for even
one short prayer 10 the God and Father
of us all, but be is hurried into eterni-
ty 10 stand before has Maker in judg
ment without the benefit OF the con
fessiona or absolulIoD.
Without pretending to give the
exact fgures or the ratio OF crime to
population, we state as a fact that in
two states which we now cslIlO mind,
in the absence the death penalty
for the highest grade Of murder, The
penitentiaries are crowded with Giends
10 human shape whose hands have
been imbued 10 human blood and who
are new fed, clothed and amused at
the expense Of the tax payer Hetthe
sentimentalisis, with long face and
clssped hands inveigh against the
barbarity, cruelty and Wickedness Of
what they are pleased 10 cali 'legsl
murder" The states referred to
above are Michigan and Kansas and
in this connection It is proper TO re-
mark that N both states crimes of a
less degree arc not AZ prevalent as in
most other states. This clearly
proves orr assertion as to capital
punishment being q deterrent from
the crime Of murder
If then protection 10 the lives of
her Law abiding citizens be the first
duty 81 the state, 1t follows as a
cora'lary that the law best adapted to
that end and strict and rigid enforce
ment Of The same should prevail,
II Is true the word Of God says,
Judgment Is mine, 7 soW repay," but
itgalpo says, HWbosoeyer sheddelh mans
blood, BY man shall his blood be shed"
The welfare Of The state, the good
Of humanity and the law Of God all
declare that the penelty Of death alone
win suffice to punish the man who de-.
liberately conspires within himself or
with Others take the life Of hie fellow
man.