Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-01-19
CAPITAL PU NISHMENT IiEATHEN-
ISL. BRl TAI, NENGEFtL. IN
CIfRTSTIAN.
Vermont State Prison.
Windsor. Vt. Jan. .. 1905.
70 the Editor of the Free Press:


As Il reader and admircr o. your paper
especially uf its editorial column du not
think YOU have argued fairly or convinc-
ingly III your issue of December on "rhc
DutY of Forgiveness You are not n
thcoloeian. neither am I. but to say the
least YOU have confounded Christian for
siVcncss with pardon by the state. You
hA'c argued as if your emotional cor
respondent had made n plea that Mrs.
Rogers bc set free lie only pleaded lem
icncv in til" method of punishment. And
from this misrepresentation you deducc
smother tIlsc conclusion. viz. that we must
forgive and let loose all lesser criminals.
Sensible men arc simply asking in u
Christian spirit that n hcathonish law
be abolished and another more humane
h" suhs,itutcd-a law which quite a few
sobermnded people believe will more cf-
fcctually protect society than the former.
The confession that the State Of YER
mont cannot protect itself from n weak
and wicked woman without strangling
her. is as if the mountain should be
afraid of II mouse and could not enjoy
life until ii had crushed the little rodent
And the idea that a spectacular hanging
VIII deter men from crime. If 50 then
take tho little boys and grls-n this case
especially the girls--to the hanging. Have
IT public and close the schools and let
All the children come if it is the deterrent
that is claimed and is of such bcncfl-
cent character Our schools and libraries
are teaching Kindness to the dumb ami
mails. the beauty and sacredness of all
life our children are growing more and
more tender and human but it is left to
the men TO exhibit the brutal spirit,
which not only "nccdlossly sets foot uron
the worm but deliberately destroys hui
man life. Already the horror of this ap.
| preaching catastrophe casts its gloom
over the community and in our homes.
The little child asks with panied express
sion "Wil they kill Mrs. Rogcrs?' The
! har.sing of This woman because she has
no money and few friends through n
! freak of politics, will demora1i2e more
children and young people than years OF
! education and Christianity can ever re-
! pair.
Sccptical men Will ask rs this decd
the fruit OF the Christian religion? Is il
! Chr,stlike or is It Christless: The con-
simation of this legal murder will SC
cheaper life that young criminals viii
| swarm our courts aud penal institutions
| What follows war and bloodshcd? WIa,
followed in the wake of the Civil Wal
! IN our land? Increase of lawlcsSn.sS anC
crime. The shedding of blood arouses nj
the worst arpetitcs and passions OF ths
animal nature. The men that know who
are opposed 10 capital punishment ant
who would give Mrs. Rogers time am,
opportunity TO repent ANA do work met
for repentance. and who can forgive Witlt
out wreaking vengeance upon her do no
ask that she be pardoned by the Statl
and be allowed at large. We believe il
punishment swift and sure-and here i!
the ovil--for every crime great or small
punishment proportionate and adequate
And it seems to us that our opponent:
are Il little hard pressed for argument
whcn the stock insinuaton is made tina
we are excited. emotional. sentimentalists,
Tut if these charges were true we ar
content with our company. The name O
one man who was excited and cmotiona
ana sentimental enough to stand between
the would-be cXecutioners and the vic
tim Of their own brutal lust; dcfying an,
Iannulling their law for "stoning to death
not only forsvinG but setting free tn
sinner. is sufficient TO give MS condenc
and appreciation. We regard our position
as Nutn Inc H'topi'T one hhtil Us con
Germs the present and the time "whe
| all shadows from the truth must fall,
, as compared with the position Of thos
whose hardened hearts and social an
political interests demanded the slayin
of their victim through the enforcement
of a pagan law.
$ +. X. FULLER.
r We print the above partly to oblise tn
G writer. who is the chaplain of the Stat
" prison. and partly rs an illustration
Inc extravaga nce Of statement. delanc
G Of logic, and unrtasoning imputation
6 nhuman, unchrstian and evil though
q and conduct to those who hesitate
c throw down the barriers OF existing la
e designed for the protection of society
n Mr.. Fuller's communication has scarce
y Is any relation 10 the article on "'rl
# DUTY Of Forslvencss,' In which he seen
Il to consider that he is replying. That a
@ ticlc was not meant u be, and was NJ