Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-13
CLEAR, CRISP AND CLEAN
DUTY OF PATRIOTS

NHE unwritten law has been asserted
again in Chicago, and woman
Il who killed a human being for
honors sake has been acquitted of
crime. Civilization is evidently deter
mined to give to the unwritten law the
force of a statute. But it is scandalous
that a condition should be perpetuated
which tends to stultify the restrictions
devised by society for its own regula-
ton. There is a growing sentiment
throughout the United States in favor
of making the misdeed which provokes
the slaughter a capital offense, so that
society itself and not a victim shall
yindicate the wrecked home, the ruined
woman. the blighted life. the assasina-
ton of the Soul. Some of our foremost
thinkers are voicing boldly a conclu-
sion that has been for some time
timidly entertained that we have be-
come too squeamish about the punish
ment of the guilty in manner propor-
Tomato to or somewhat commensurate
with their offenses.
1t may be true that capital punish
mont is not deterrent; that no matter
how many lives may be taken by an
avenging law, lives continue to be
taken by vengeful or irresponsible men
and women.
GRANTED.
The death penalty cannot put an end
to the offense of murder. Very well.
Does Imprisonment end assault, for
l,st1f7
ness? There are regulars in the Los
Angeles minor criminal court who
have been in Jail so often that in some
instances the greater parts of their
lives have been spent there. 1t is evil
dent that they have not been reformed
by Imprisonment. What then? Must
we abolish Imprisonment because it has
not reformed the prisoners?
IL we are to stop infiicting the severer
punishments why not also stop inflict-
ing the minor punishments?
To formulate a remedy for the criminal
tendencies of modern society might
battle the wisdom of Solomon. But it
may be suggested that, since the dis
ease when it becomes manifest is in
durable, society should take measures
10 attack the source of the disease, and
TO devise effectual prevention. Every
thing that makes for evil results should
be destroyed, If possible, and If 1t can
not be destroyed utterly let it at any
rate be crippled so that it's efficiency
for causing crime may be impaired.
Every agency that makes war on vice
of any kind should be encouraged.
Whether it be the Salvation Army.
dragging the r"uffian from the polluted
slums and setting his feet, much
against his will. in straight ways;
whether it be the rescue mission, help
ing the erring woman to win back her
self respect; whether it be the orphan
home, shaping decent destinies for
motherless waits; whether 1t be the
humane reform school, conducted on
educational and not punitive lines;
whether 1t be prohibition movement,
seeking to take a terrible temptation
out of the pathway Of the poor; whether
1t be Americanism with urgent voice
appealing TO the men and the women
OF the nation to return to its first
fundational principles and to disregard
the pretenses and the falsehoods that
have belittled or obscured them-re-
spond to 1t with heart and voice and
good will, support 1t. Work for it.
Praise it. Give it of your Best. and
you viii be a minister of righteous.
ness, keeping the purifying fires for
ever burning on the altar of patriotism.