The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-12-07

most likely TO be melted TO imitation
by the original offense. The logical
extreme of his course Of reasoning,
of course, is that the greater the pub
licity given the hanging. the greater
and more beneficial will be the effect
ON the community.
Almost Numerically opposed TO
this Is the more esthetic theory of a
modern school Of sociologists and re-
formers, that the effect of capital
punishment is degrading and brutal
izing to the degree that It is given
publicity, and the more brutal the
method of execution the more dread
full the effect on the minds OF those,
who witness it. The ultimate logic
of this position is, that capital pun
lishment in itself is wrong; but II it
| is necessary, the speediest and least
painful method should be employed
and the least possible publicity given
to the execution.
They contend that the effect of a
public execution on the public mind
lis quite as bad as the crime itself;
that the sight and constant reeur-
renee OF the thought of hanging
people begets a disregard for human
life. They point to the fact that
most homicldes are committed In an
ger and not for the purpose of gain,
and are directly attributable to the
cheapness in which human life is
held.
Taking that view OF II, public ex-
ecution can not but aggravate a con-
dition that is responsible for the
crime. instead of discouraging imi-
tation. They cite the fact that in
those states in which the execution
is performed privately in the peni-
Tertiary, crimes of homicide are rel
atively rare.
II this latter contention Is correct,
then the certainty of conviction and
prompt execution of the law would
be the remedy most efficacious, and
in this regard, no one can doubt that
there is room for reform. Particu-
larly in cases of homicide, in which
there are 80 sordid. revolving de-
tails. but only the element of passion
juries are swayed by sympathy too
much. We find men going acquit,
or, being convicted, dragging their
cases interminably through the
courts, and afterwards being pardon
ed. That cheapens human life. II
a man knew he was going to secure
a speedy and just trial, and that an
memorable doom awaited him, II he
should commit a crime, his blood
would often be cooled. where now its
heat serves as a mitigation of his Of
Tense, and there would be fewer
widows weeds seer on the streets.
The accuracy of this reasoning IL
demonstrated in the case of anarch-
lists. Everyone of them executed for
an offense becomes a martyr in the
eyes of his fellows, and his execution
adds fuel to the flames of their hate.
Czolgosz, the assassin of Mckinley,
was put away in the silence OF a
prison house. The very mystery and
dispatch OF his taking off had a bet
ter effect on the community than a
public execution would.
Perhaps the best discOurager of
homicide is an improvement of pub
lie morals, a keener sense of respon-
sibility to a power higher than hui
man courts, and the teachings Of a
gentler code"
Men are not all angels-yet. Per-
haps, 1t would be demoralizing to do
away with the hideous capital pun
ishment; but the certainty, rather
than the severity of penalty, we be-
lfo.,a fu Tho curacf dicaOura