Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-10-19
PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS.
Justice Is Not Always Served by the
Methods Now In Vogue.

PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS
Justice Is Not Always Served by the
Methods Now In Vogue.
The criminal code has been con-
ceived through the study or
crime as an abstraction. 1t must
be modified by knowledge of the
criminal There should be in 1T
no dream of theological expia-
tions, which man has no right to i'm
pose, but it should aim solely at the
defense of society. The greatest Grim
jnal anomaly-even insanity-should
not be considered as an extenuating
circumstance. Even lunatics should
be arrested in order to protect society,
especially the morally insane, who are
great peril, and the masked epilep-
tics. In the punishment of crime the
tendency of it's authors should be con-
sidered. If the author is born criminal
he must be confined for life, though
the crime Itself is not great. On the
other hand, crime committed by an
honest man impelled by some strong
motive should be punished with much
indulgence, especially political and re-
ligious crimes, which often only antici-
pate by some centuries the thought of
the people. In our time, when hours
are years and years are centuries, a
political idea which appears to be-
dangerous and even criminal through,
its excessive novelty after some time
may appear practical and Just Such,
for instances, were the ideas of Christ.
and of Luther, and at the present time
the ideas of the equality of all classes.
and of the participation of workmen in
profits.
There was time when it would
have been a crime to maintain these
ideas Now they pertain to a possible
! form. Then it must be understood.
that for these crimes there should be.
no irrevocable penalty like death.
The penalty should be revocable when.
the novelty has passed away and ther
idea is no longer criminal. Vice versa,
the hand of the law must fall heavily
upon the recidivists, putting aside all
sentimentality, especially if they have
accomplices. And the completely must
not be judged arithme tically, for
whether there are four or ten they are,
equally dangerous. 1t is merely pre-
ferring formulas to facts to exempt an
association with less than six mem
bers, as it is done in Italy, and to ig
more the perils of any criminal asso-
citation. A man who is not contented
to steal himself, but enlists others, is
more dangerous, and must be treated
without pity. Justice cannot be an
emanation from the Eternal Father
depressing sin and disregarding inter-
ests. It especially should undertake
to compensate the victims of crime at
the expense of the criminal, making
him work in order to pay the indem-
nifty if he is not rich. 1t is blunder
also, when society has lost through
the crime to compel it to lose still
more for the support of the criminal.
All efforts at reform should be concen-
trated upon occasional criminals.
They are the only ones for whom
much can be done. They should be
removed from all opportunity by pro-
curing them employment and protect
ing them from the mischievous infiu-,
ence of alcohol, not only by prohibit
tory laws and fines WHICH are general
ly dead letter, but by giving them
mental amusement which will satisfy
that cerebral excitement that is graft
fed by alcohol. Above all, the ten
dency to crime which appears in in
fancy must not be allowed to continue
in youth and become habituaL Forum.