The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-11
YOUNGER BROTHEBS.

With the parole of the Younger brothers
the curtain falls on the third act of
remarkable drama. The first two acts fol-
lowed in close order, but between the
second and third is a lapse of quarter
of a century. a great crime, unrelieved
by mitigating circumstances, held the at
tention of the audience during the first
act. Then followed the capture and SEN
tence OF the criminals. The closing of
the prison doors brought the second act
10 an end.
Twenty-Five years have turned to shad-
ow, one generation has passed and an
other has taken it's place, since the iron
doors closed upon this twain. For TWEEN
ty-five years James and Cole Younger
have been constantly reminded of their
crimes. Ten thousand suns have risen
upon their captivity only to set upon
their despair. The judgment of the court
Gecreed that their lives should end with
in the prison walls. BY their crimes they
had forfeited their rights to life and to
magnanimously granted them life-Iife
under prison restraint. Have they ex-
plated their great crimes by twenty
five years of mental suffering? The so
Der judgment of the community says yes.
To a majority Of men twenty-five years
Of Imprisonment is worse than death.
But sentiment should not govern such
cases. Society owes to Itself duty which
at times is stern-almost cruel. Those who
in a state of society violate the sacred
privileges Of freedom must expect to pay
the penalty laid down by the law. In the
infiction of the penalty prescribed, so
ciety has but two objects in vlew-Hrst
the protection of the world from a repe-
tition of the offense; second, the deter
rent effect which the example of punish
ment viii have on those inclined to
wrong doing. In the breasts of those
who have been outraged in their property
rights or those whose friends or relatives
have been murdered, there may burn the
fire of vengeance, and a desire to apply
the law of life for a life but the
organization known as society feels no
such sentiment. The criminal is a child of
society and only in extreme cases is it
deemed prudent to take life Reforma-
ton under conditions that will deter 9TH
ers from the commission of similar crimes
is the aim of punishment.
y,ieo,, ,,ooorl.
and Cole Younger, while known as des-
perate men and hardened criminals, have
50 conducted themselves in their prison
life That no marks stand against them
For twenty-five years they have led an
exemplary life. This should go a long
way to earn for them the confidence of
that society whose privileges they so
grossly abused when they were young
men. Their further incarceration, there
fore, could be of no benefit to
society. All the ends of the l aw
have been met and their parole
VIII meet with general approval. Life
10 them after their severe chastisement
win be doubly sweet, and when the last
act Of the drama comes and they are
called to meet their Maker, they will
go with humbled souls and kindlier
spirit toward their fellow men.
The quality of mercy is not strained;
1t droppeth as the gentle rain from
heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice
blessed:
1t blesseth him that gives and him that
takes;
us mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his
crown"