The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-04

one country, yet 90 |
Il appears from our
statute books. True Il Is that a ma
jority OF them come under the military |
or naval codes. about seventeen being
included In the civil code. Among
these are burning a vessel AT sea. rob-
berry on the high seas. robbery on
shore by the crew OF a plratical vessel,
detention OF negroes on board a vessel.
seizing negroes on a foreign shore.
burning dwelling house within fort.
laying violent hands upon the captain
81 ship, treason or any act Of hostll-
ny against the United States or any
citizen thereof on the high seas under
the color OF commission from a foreign
state, or on pretense OF such authority.
According TO statistics, but a small
percentage OF criminals are convicted.
about two per cent Of homicides suffer-
Ing the extreme penalty. While the
population Of the United States during
the past decade has increased twenty
per cent. the number OF homlcldal
crimes has increased 400 per cent, 30
that Il VIII be readily seen that capital
punishmentdoes not restrain criminals.
During the years 1S9O-si-02 there were
In the federal courts S7S trials OF homl-
eidal cases. with 60 convictions and u
executions. With IS out Of S7s criml-
nails going scot free. the comparative
Increase between population and crimes
is not to be wondered at During the
year 1895 there were but i32 executions
In al Of the states and territories.
Il Is an ancient aphorlsm that the OBJ
Jet Of all punishment Is the proven
ton Of further crime. but certain Il Is
that criminals will not be restrained 40
Ions as they see such a large chance IN
their favor. Jurios are slow 10 convict.
knowing that they are dealing with
human life. and In all cases OF doubt
they are instructed that the advantage
should be given the accused. The ac-
tual punishment suffered by con-
demned man Is momentary. and be Of
ten halls the hour with delight. vel
coming death "a a relief from his re-
morse. How often do We hear Eyes.
killed him, and hope they hang me
for A."
u Is often argued that the abolition
Of capital punishment would result In
a crowded condition Of prisons. en-
falling expenses upon the state. but Ia
view Of the statistics given above this
cannot be so. During the year speci-
hed there would have been all over the
country an increase OF i32 life prison
ers. or less than three over the domain
Of an entire state Supposing a larger
increase. they could certainly be en-
ployed probably 20 the state. Do
away with the barbarous practice Of
dealing out death. subject the convict
ed TO life imprisonment. restrict the
pardoning power. and as this country
leads In progress and civilization. 80 Il
viii lead In humanity.
Again. Il h coniended that n We
abolish this method Of punishment We
would be ooniravenlng a divine pre-
cept. via: "a life for a life" but Il
should be remembered that We do not
follow the Bible literally In all other
respects; we're We to do 20. the human
race In the course OF time would be-
come extinct for Il Is also write.
he that takeih unto himself a wiI-
doeth well. but he that taketh no, I'M
10 himself dueth even better" II the
Bible be inspired we must accept Il all
or reject Il all. for anything inspired
cannot be good in par, and bad In part.
Far frommy purpose is Il to offend any
one - reputation OF the Scriptures.
but We must agree al any rate tina, We
cannot be guided entirely In the Affairs
OF life at the close OF the nineteenth
century by precepis spiritual or ma
galial handed down centuries before
the birth Of Christ
There were many members among
the last congress who would do away
with capital punishment entirely.
General Curtis. OF New York. intro
duced a bill into the senate, calling at
tentlon to the fact that a number Of
foreign countries have done away with
the death penalty with good results
Russia abolished Il In 1853 except for
treason. with no increase In crimes
Others are Belgium. Brazil. Holland.
Italy. Portugal. Venezuela, Costa Rlca
and recently Gustemala. Not only
these. but s0ne OF our own state, have
done away with capital punishment
Michigan IN iSl7. Rhode island In 1852
Wisconsin In 1853 and Maine In 1876.
Maine restored Il In 1883 and abolish
ed Il agaln In 1857. The foremost man
in the advocacy OF abolition In that
state was Thomas u. Reed.
In England In 1918 death was the
penalty for 223 different ofenses. A
commission was appointed TO look into
the matter. resulting In striking out a
number of them from the list. The
only oienses punishable capiially IN
England at the present day are high
treason. murder, piracy with violence
burning ahlps-oi-war. dock yards and
arsenals. As In this country. the pun.
lshmont Is confined almost entirely 20
Nmurder the other onenses being OF rare
occurrence.
Catherine II. OF Russia Is quoted aa
saying. I'VE mus, punish crime With
out initiating q.