Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-07-28
LINDSEY WILSON, Warden.
REASON ADVANCED AND SYMPA-
THY EXTENDED.

The prevention Of crime has always
been i problem, and its entire abolitioH
has. unfortunately, thus far, proved an
impCssibility. The complex character
Of criminal acts explains in great mea-
sure, the difficulties under which all re-
formers have labored. The most adj
vanced views lean towards the consid-
GRAFTON of crime as a disease Of mOrali-
ty in the same sense as physical all
ments are manifestations Of deviatiOns
from the health standard. While it is
equally undesirable that either should
exist, they are, nevertheless, always
with us If we look at the subject in
this general way we can be prepared 70
be more reasonable in our search for
remedies, and more judiciOus IN our es@
timation of their relative effects. We
have already drawn the line in the case
OF inasnG criminals. and instead of kill
inc them we treat them as patients in
our asylums. In the progress Of the
study Of criminOlogy we are, as yet, I'M
able to say positively how far the So
called criminal is, individually. ac-
cOuntable for his peTverse prOcliyities.
Especially is this the case when we
take into account the Well-prOYen assO-
citation of deformities and a symmeuic-
al development with criminal in
stincts The skilled detective can al
ways discover a suspicious person in
any crowd, not only by the facial eX-
preston and development, but even by
the size and shape of the ears the turn,
and protuberance Of the chin, the prom
inence Of the cheek bone, The breadth of
the jaw, the conformity of the head,
the sunken detected nose or the mar
roWness of the partition between the
eyeballs. These are instances of per-
sons who have been born criminals,
and are only waiting for the oppOrtun-
tiles Of suitable temptations and provo
cation for the full development of their
propensities. Does it not seem ration
al that in order to accomplish the best
results in the prevention Of crime it
would be much better TO cultivate what
good there may be in their characters,
by education, by proper environment,
and suitable encouragement. than to
call forth revengeful protests against
cruel, and consequently, useless pun
ishment? It is more the duty Of socie-
Is to educate the degenerated indiyidu-
ais to its own standard of civilization.
and remove all temptations from the
weak-willed, than TO revenge itself af-
ter the criminal act is done Even the
baby, properly fed and judiciously pro-
vided with innocent amusements, may
never deserve a spanking. The trend
Of all real refOrmatory measures is in
such directions. 1t must be admitted
that we are not yet ready to put sucl&
theories in practice. but while we are
preparing the way we can strive to so
alter or modify our punishments as to
make them more discriminative and
more salutary. The first step is 10
eliminate any suspicious of cruelty or
revenge. The discipline of the cell and
the wOrkhouse should be refOrmative.
but not retaliatory. The example for
others should be wholesomely deter
rent by offsetting the weight OF the
penalty against the degree OF the crime.
To be effective, also. the penalty must
be dreaded in proportion as il is made
to appear reasonable and just to the
culprit.
In view Of the facts Ii would seem emil
nently proper to object tO.the establish
ment of the whipping post and all other
unreasonable, revengeful and useless
methods of dealing with offenders. The
lash can have no deterrent influence
! It's sting can never stimulate fine inn
pulses. The law breakers. also, ia
whom this punishment would be APP
piled are, curiously enough. almost in
variably anaesthetic, paying little heed
to physical injuries that would be ex-
quisitely painful to ordinary persons.
! This is frequently proved by their in
difference 10 severe injuries in barroom
brawls and street fights. Even II we
, were to revive whipping on the plea OF
appealing to the shame, rather than to
! the mere smart of the ting. what posi-
BILE god could result to an Individual
whose brutal instincts would cause him