Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-01-31
WILL JUSTICE BE DoNE1

forfeits his young life i5 an atIocIous
one-a son shoots his father ana
mother down, and to hide his crime,
kills the only witness. Surely no one
but a flend In human form could do
deed so foul.
But hold, let us examine into the
case little more closely, and see II
Justice is being meted out. j know
nothing Of the bringing up or home
surrounding of this young man, but l
do know something of the discipline
and environment of many other young
men who are travelling in his foot
steps.
How many young man can you
name, dear reader, who is growing up
in idleness and ingorance, burden
and trial to his parents, and a menace
to society-and all for want of proper
guidance and discipline on the part OF
parents, teachers yes, and lawmakers.
and executors of the law!
II young people are allowed to come
up," will they "cOme up right? |
answer most emphatically, No; they
will not. And IL such a young person
grows up a young hyena and kills
somebody in a fit of anger before
reaching mature manhood, who Is
most to blame, those who have allowed
him to become what he is-his
parents who sometimes allowed him
to have his own way and run the
whole house, and at other times boxed
his ears for the most trivial offences;
his teachers, who were too weak
kneed to correct him, for fear of the
displeasure Of the parents; society in
general, who have looked on idly, but
have done little toward making him
better--or the young man himself for
not being smarter than his parents,
his teachers, and his neighbors, and
thus bringing himself up gentle
man?
l know parents who are bringing
children up in such way that, If the
child should grow up rufiian and
commit murder, it would seem to me
only n natural consequence Of the
parents neglect-yes,and the parents
bad example.
Now, this young man may not be
one OF these young men who have
"come up" He may have had good
training at home, and good influences
thrown around him in the neighbor-
hood. He may have been kept in
school and been well trained there,
and in these and other ways he may
have been given opportunities and
encouragement to become n gentle
man and a good citizen. If so, his
crime Is ineXcusable, but If he be-
longs to the other class mentioned, he
deserved the sympathy of every
thoughtful, candid person. And may
God have mercy on everyone who is
in any way responsible for his down.
fall.
But it is easier to hang friendless,
penniless youth for becoming hardened
by environments society has thrown
around him, than TO discuss theories
to re-establish society on foundation
more in accordance with the golden
rule.
Hundreds of people are crying out
for vengeance, but how many OF these
same people through .carelessness,
ignorance or vice Of their own are
raising, Lloyd Montgomery in their
own families9 And may not they
reap the reward, and their vengeance
be on their own heads ?
AS it is customary with many school
teachers to administer severe punish
ment ON their poor or friendless
pupils for trivial offenses. to estab-
lisha reputation for discipline, at the
same time letting the children of
directors and other influential people
do as they please; so let the state
OF Oregon adopt the same policy by
hanging Lloyd Montgomery to show