Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-26
|OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW;
written for the Times Republican.

Written for the Times Repubiican.
1t Is interesting in these days of
China items to read at least Of one
thing in which our almond eyed fellow
citizens are in advance of their more
civilized neighbors
News of the punishment of the Chi
nese murderers Of Missionary Brooks
comes by the steamship Empress of
China.
Fifteen men were concerned in the
crime. The one who struck the fatal
blow was sentenced to be beheaded; the
next In guilt was ordered to be stran-
gled. and the others We're given long
prison sentences. 81
The North China News says the two
men condemned to die We're permitted
to buy substitutes. The News says that
for $500. paid to the family Of the sub
stitute. the man sentenced to be be-
headed was enabled to die by proxy,
and that for S400 the man who was des-
tined to the nooEe also found substi-
tute who took that way Of providing
for his family.
1t must be that our missionaries have
at least got one good idea into the head
of the heather Chinee The "substl-
tute" idea of course shocks us. but is it
out OF the way after all? Will It be q
great mistake to add the necessary leg
islation to the statute books of Iowa,
making lawful such substitution?
To begin with, as q people we are
educated to believe in the general theo-.
ry of substitution. Our religious belief
is founded on that very doctrine
Again. in time war. it lis not considered
bad form to hire q substitute to take
his chances Of death. The only differ
ence In this, however. Ia that the China
man goes to certain death, and the
American substitute to possible one.
Again, in thi4 same line 10 our life in
surance policy that now does not bar
suicides. More than one case is on
record where an American citizen de-
liberately insures his life for the benefit
Of his family and as deliberately de-
stroys that life. This Is hard on the
insurance company. but good thing
for the family. And how often we read
Of the good little boy who voluntarily
takes the whipping. richly deserved by
the wicked brother? And we all say
what noble example! Why, even a
college president in Iowa voluntarily
took upon himself faculty sentence OF
expulsion in order that offending stu
dents might finish their course of study
and receive diploma, something the
vIcarious president had no possible use
for.
But this screed IL written more to in
duce certain members of the body poll
tic to go into the substituting business
than for any other purpose. We have
In our midst quite number OF citi-
zens OF no earthly use to themselves,
their families or the community In
which they live. The reader will have
no difficulty In bringing before his
minds eye ut least half dozen in his
or her own town. These incubuses, IL
single. are supported by parents. gen
iscrally at considerable deprivation Of
Iiearthly and bodily enjoyments. They
are always mental dIscomforts. II mar
i,ried their wives take In washing or the
town Is called upon every winter to
help them thru. All Of this refers to
able bodied men and an occasional
specimen Of the other sex. In working
up this substitution sentiment always
| bear In mind that they must be healthy
and able IN pass the same examination
necessary TO enter the army or navy.
| The fact 10 q diseased substitute 10 con-
l8trary to the spirit OF substitution. He
viii On enons Ananah anyway No credit
Ito Mn fn af3lv 1otns The r. toSltv.