The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-23
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,


MYRA TOWNSEND.
What would We swing your brothers form
High up In Heavens free air,
And place the image OF Your God
dangling victim there?
Who gave you power 10 read MS hearL
Or know how deep his guilt,
Or judge what provOcatton came
Ere blood by him was split? 10. u
Can 70 retrace the length OF years ~
Since he commenced his life, s..s
And mark the coursing OF events, + 4led
His wrongs, his woes his striteH
His battleswith untOward fate,
His Blasted hopes and schemes,
His longlngs for the pure aud right,
His visionary dreamsS
Perhaps from life's first carly dawn
Ill nestled by his side.
HIS teachings may have been in wrong,
And sin his chlldhOod's guide: ,c
No mnther's voice, perhaps, for him '-''
Sent up an earnest prayer,
No father At the mercy seat 4 9H
Asked his acceptance there; 'sf 9nr
No sister twlned around his heart
A soft and gentle spell,
Which made an atmosphere OF love
Wherever he might dwell;
Virtue, perhaps. to him was known
But as an empty name,
And truth and Justice but the guiso
OF Cowardlce aud shame: 'sRas
Religions winning, earnest tones -BhI01a
May ne'er within his soul -,.,.y
Have spread their influence divine, ~ - ~
To purify the whole
Then would ye swing your brothers iorm
High up In Heavens free air
And place the image OF your God
dying victim there?
With all his sins upon his head
Before his destined hour;
Is yours the fiat of his days,
Yours the nvenging power?
Did not THAT EYE that saw his decd
Take NOTE when II was done,
And read tho thought that caused the act
IRE yet II was begun?
And could He not with vengeance Swllt
Have laid the culprlt low
IT, in His wisdom he had seen
II meet to deal the blow?
Think you His hand less strong than yoursl
Are you more Just, more wise.
That We with daring hifnds unrobe
The soul that never dies? :-ttg
He whom your God In mercy spared
No mercy meets in YOU ,F.
Aud yet we prAv-"ForEiVc us, LORD
As we all Others do.
Perhaps no guilt your prisoner knows
Although for crime Nrrnigncd
And proofs may cluster thieklyi round
By circumstances mnintaneui
He may be innocent and stand
Before his Makers sight
A SpOtleSs one, more pure than you,
Who THINK you act the right
And can ye give him life again,
or mete him right for wrong,
Iffuture time should prove the guit
Nay somewhere else belong?
Then DARE 20 swing your brothers form
High mp In Heavens FREQ mir.
When time may tell an innocent
Has been suspended there?
sunpoSe he did it-and suppose
Your priests around him plnosd, T.
Teaching repentance may atone, 49,
And sinners may be graced-
Suppose he does repent, and lies
Washed clean before the throne
BecOmea Il saint and purified.
And Heaven he feels his own;
With anxious zeal his spirit Graves
To I'LL LIES little span
With calling all to turn, and see
Gods love to guilty man.
And who than he once sunk in SIN,
Can more that love portray
Who Drcach more truly-slnnerS turn,
Crime may be washed away
Then could ye hang that saint redeemed
High UP IN Heavens free air?
Is earth so full Of righteous ones
That ye have some 10 spare?
Ard where your Father mercy showed,
CHnye no mercy show?
Have We neer sinnCd, that sc must thus
Deal the nyenging blow
But ifrcpentence should SOr como
Before his hour OF DOOM,
II unrcgeneratc YOU should send
Your brother to the tomb
Think You that We will puiltlcss stand
Before YOUR Fathers eye?
Did sc not MURDER when We SAID
Your prisoner should dte9
Or ArD Your prlsOn.houscs tnilT
Have you no room for Onc2
Is bread so scunl 80 cannot iccd
TIL lies short course Is rum
Have ye not bolts and bars enough
To hold the victim fast.
When burglars with their thousand WIGS
Are there securely cast?
And are ye sure, no changing lAle
May give to YOU HIS place?
Are you 50 sanctltiGd in good
Yecannot fall from gnlce2
Can no temptation have the power
To urge the hnsty blow?
Have SO so conquered evil thoughu
Thai sin no more sc Know
Or may not circumstances charge
YOur innocence with crlmel
Full oft we know Il has been thus
From lmmcmorial time.
Then. by the danger al must snare
That his may he our lot,
BY all the bonds Of human Kind t.- y
Aid to wlps out this blot! ,s
Cease not from striving tili our law fs
Il clear from bloody stain.
And REFoRNATiON.-NorR EvnNdE,- .
In principle sustain!