The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-06-13
Lights or Life.
BY LAL.

Nearly two years ago the, country
read with hOrror,the details of MUIR
der in San Francisco, which young
girl was the victim, and young man
of heretofore good standing was the
murderer. The details were very revolt
ing, and when it seemed certain that
there were two victims, instead of one,
public indignation ran very strong
and high. After fair and impartial
trial, during which the accused had
every benefit which the law and the
employment Of good counsel could
give, he was found guilty. and the
usual penalty, death by hanging, was
imposed. SO far, so good.
~
Pick upa paper of any time since
sentence was passed and you will read
in various headlines, Theodore Dur
rant not TO hang" a "stay" granted in
the Durrant case" etc, and then, il to
youthe word Justice" and claw" meant
almost the same, you may wonder,
as many of us have, at the mockeries
and travesties committed in the name
of these two mighty powers.
A long, long, time ago, One who was
all wise said, IAN eye for an eye" and
she who sheddeth mans blood, by man
also shall his blood be she'd" That
has been the basis of our law for pr,
tecting humanity against itself, ever
since those words were written. They
have been carried out in all herr stern
awfulness for many thousands of
years, and we cannot help bnt b. live
man was less prone to take human
life, when he realized his own would
be demanded as a sacrifice.
~.
And now? All, the pity of 1t. when
We read of one or several of these r.
cent, and for the most part cOwardly
murders, our mind instinctiVely de-
mands justice to the dead IN the pun
l'hIng of the perpetrator. Generally
he is caught, we walt IN anxiety for
the mill of justice to grind out his
punishment, How often are we dis.
appointed. Brilliant minds are ar
rayed "for" and against" The smart
est men in The land bubble and pose
before gaping crowd day after day.
The county is under an immense ok
pense during the progress of the trIal
The lawyers prolong it as long as pos
sible, glad of the fame and notorietI
it brings them.
The prisoner feels like the star actor
in an all day drama, The victim is
in doubt as to whether the prisoner
deserves punishment or a medal for
Kidding the community of the ode
Ueasedi. I'D Fe5t444t si4 X
in any penltentiary in the country.
After haggling anu arguing for
days at time, the country learns to
its disgust, either the jury has dis
agreed, or the lawyers have secured a
"stay" and have openly boasted that
the end of the year will see their client
alive.
Is reform needed anywhere so badly
as in our criminal laws? What is the
percent of legal executions against
murders? Is il any wonder we are
reading every day of the summary
justice of Judge Lynch and the mob
violence we dread so much?
NV
Quite recently, read an article,
written by a woman in which this
question was asked: lis it true there
are women who resemble dogs in that
they can love one who is unkind to-
them?" And further on, the writer
stated. "The woman who could love
the man who struck her, must have a
good deal of the hound in her nature,
and deserved all she received" | feel
very sorry for any one who loves the
writer of that which l have quoted.
She must take very prejudiced, dys-
peptic view of life, and know very
little OF one of the sweetest condi
ments of life. which is gratitude. We
rarely love anyone who has not at
some time loved us. The man who
has loyed woman, and in a fit of pas
sion strikes her, lowers himself in the
estimation of her and of himself. But
the love OF lifetime, which is good
thing for the striker, isn't il? But it
seems odd TO have a woman liken her
sisters to brutes, and don't think the