The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-12-29


object of law and the end sought ~ pun
% may l,e argued that MUIR l
ders are committed in the heat Of pas
sion when men think not Of consequences.
This is sometimes true and sometimes
not. The foul crime OF murder which
lately startled this community was not
planned or executed under the heat OF
passion But the fact that crimes are Of
ten committed under great passion is one
of the strongest arguments for capital
punishment. There should be suchsa
punishment for murder that it shall
break down the storm of passion and
command the criminal to refrain. 1t is
often asserted that the worst criminals
fear death very little and that to most OF
them imprisonment for life would be
more terrible. This we believe to be
wholly untrue. There is no passion 80
strong as the We of life. There is moth
ing man will strive for go much as life.
So then If crimes are committed in mo
ments of passion there could be no bet
ter deterrent than the strongest OF all pas
sions- the love of life. The only reason
that it is not complete deterrent is the
fact that hope is often entertained OF es-
Gaping punishment. We do not need less
capital punishment but more. We do
not believe that any sane person would
ever take human life if he were per-
fectly sure that he would have to suffer
death as consequence.
It is often said that mao has no right
to usher the soul of another into the
presence of his Creator which, il given
time, might have repented and been for
given. But it seems to us that the sem
tence of death is an event which is more
likely than long life to rouse the CON-
science of a hardened sinner and set him
to crying for mercy from his God. The
sentence Of death will, If anything can,
impress upon the criminal the enormity
of his guilt.
If it be admitted that murderer de-
serves to die and that society has the
right to ihfict the death penalty, the
question then is, does the death penalty
operate more effectually to prevent the
crime of murder than any other penalty?
Murder is committed in most instances
by those who are already hardened in
crime. Nothi g but fear can prevent
such persons from committing crime.
No good or kind motive ever influences
them. The disgrace Of imprisonment
creates no awe in their minds. In some
cases, perhaps, imprisonment is relief.
Indeed there is nothing that can check
the spirit Of murder but the fear Of death
or what amounts to the same thing-the
love of life.
The death penalty is necessary for the
restraint OF crime and the protection OF
society. It would be inhuman in the
last degree to abolish capital punish
n1ent. 1t would introduce the element
OF inhumanity into t 9 very education OF
society. If he death penalty were abol-
ished there would be no more serious
ness in murder than in forgery The es-
innate placed upon human life would be
lowered. Riots, lynchiug and private re-.
venge would be fsstered. The awful rec
ord of lynchlng, which We see enacted
almost every day in the South, would OK
tend to all parts of the country and sill
classes of people.
What the government refuses to do for
the family and friends of the murdered
man, and for the interests of the COM
munity, you may be sure the malignity
of priva revenge will not fail to accom-
plish. To have any ground for abolish
ing the death penalty, it must be denied
that life is the most sacred OF all things
and death is the most terrible of all
things. Life being the most sacred of
all possessions, it should be guarded by
the most terrible of all penalties. The
state must guard life or private revenge
will. The power of protecting life must
be lodged in the government, with GER
tainty of it's execution, or men must 60
armed and protect themselves against
murderere. There is such spirit of re
venge in the human heart that it must
be guarded against. 1t is better that the
government should protect life and VIM
dictate law, without malice, without vim
dictiveness, in the form Of justice and
protection.
WHEN the women begin to carry