The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-07

should be respected when all others are
taken away? | think not. The strange
yeneration people seem to have for those
particular possessions, which induces
them to plead that they be spared even
when every other right has been forfeited
and taken away, is the last remnant OF
the old Phallus worship; Il superstition OIL
the Fifth century.
CAPITAL punishment is becoming more
and more abhorrent to thinking people,
and is being very generally condemned
by medical writers as barbarous, useless
and unjustihable; and castration, as Il
substitute therefor, is rapidly growing III
popular favor Much of the prejudice
that existed against castration is disap-
pearing under the light of reason. In
deed, it seems to me that there is every
reason why capital punishment should be
abolished, and isolation and emasculatlon
substituted and the fundamental prln-
ciples of justice demand that, where pos
sibe, restitution should take the place of
Imprisonment. 1t is true, privation OF
ones liberty might be called punishment,
it is so, incidentally; but let it be done for
the purposes of reformation and for the
Improvement of the morals of society
and not of revenge-miscalled justice.
Corporal punishment never made a
school boy good, and the morals OF COM
munity can never be purified by a sys-
TEN of punishment entailing eternal dis
grace as penalty for misdeeds. The
sense of injustice arouses resentment and
stirs the worst element in ones nature.
Gentlemen, the time has come and the
occasion demands-if we would make an
effort to preserve the integrity of our
race and the safety of the republic, when
the medical profession must look at this
question from the higher standpoint of
guardians, of society and conservators of
the public wellbeing, and none the less as
trustees for posterity. 1t should be IN
sisted that the voice of science be heard;
that the great truths revealed by study
and research, by laboriOus investigation,
experimentation and cOmpilation-truths
vital to the dearest interests of mankind
shou.u be utilized in medical and criminal
jurisprudence. Our entire system needs
to be recast along broader lines, and made
more comprehensive: remodeled and
adapted to the changed conditions of 4
Twentieth century civilization. AS al
present constituted it deals with results
alone, and utterly ignores causes.
Il II -
Doubtless, by an organized effort on
the part of the two learned professions,
medicine and law, congress can be awak-
ened to the necessity of taking steps to
make available sanitary knowledge in the
jurisprudence of medicine and crime; to
create a department of public health and
hygiene, whereby such knowledge can be
disseminated and made to reach and in
fluence legislators, however unwilling.
While we may never be civilized up to
a system of scientific breeding of peoples
las we do our stock, it unquestionably
lies within the scope and power of state
medicine to eliminate much that is evil,
and bring about great improvement, even
in the next generation, in the physical,
moral and intellectual status of society.
And chief amongst the agencies effective
to this end will be-state regulation of
marriage and sterilization. This is the
mission of rational medicine; to the ac-
complishment of which the profession
should address itself, with the conviction
that duty requires it, true philanthropy
dictates it, policy suggests it. and it is
demanded by every consideration of JUS
tice, mercy and humanity.