The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-05-29
CAPITAL PUN
ISHMENT

| MUkMIVMA n
We have noticed several communi-
cations in the public press discussing
the hanging of Seward, who was con-
yicted for killing his sweetheart. The
murder was done in north Idaho and
we are frank to say that we know
nothing about the intrinsic merits OF
the case. We presume, as the matter
has never been seriously questioned,
that Seward is guilty. Tn only ques-
ton being as to the matter of punish
ment.
The law that metes punishment to
the offender has it's roots sunk deep in
the past. The growth has been long
and the changes not infrequent. The
ancient Hebrew punished murder by
death. The relatives of the murdered
would seek to destroy the murderer.
AS indicative of the best in the Jewish
law we find in Leviticus that eye was
to be taken for eye, tooth for tooth,
life for life. 1t was the law OF ven
geance. Later was established the
cities of refuge and the offender was
accorded a glimmer of justice. But
the grand idea came with Christ. He
gave the law of kindness, of love.
But let us eliminate the past; the
peoples of that day had their prob
lens and our present law is their so
luton of them. And to clearly present
the idea to our minds we should ask
the question of ourselves, Who and
what is lawbreaker?
If the murderer is one like unto a
wild beast seeking only the opportuni-
ty to destroy, we should do to him as
we do to other noxious beasts: de-
stroy him. Because alive, he is a con-
slant menace to society. Should he be
Gagged, he may break away and tEen
the lives Of none would be safe. So
life Imprisonment is foolish, under
such conditions. If, on the other hand,
the murderer is a creature like our
selves, subject to the same conditions
of trial and temptation, or the act is
the result of burst of passion, then
we have another problem altogether
to deal with. And it WOULD seem to
us that life Imprisonment would not
apply. The case of Lyons, of this
county, is one in point. Lyons killed
a fellow in cold blood, it is said, and
after serving about 10 years in the
state penitentiary, was pardoned. The
problem that confronted the board Of
pardons was a serious one, and as the
facts lie, is the action of that body
justified or worthy of condemnation
| Will Lyons form a lust for blood an6
destroy others, or will he prove wor
thy citizen? Can he serve society bet
ter as an inmate of the state peniten
tiary or as a working member OF th'
social organism? If the former, the
action of the board cannot be too Sc
verely condemned, If the latter, it car
not be too highly commended.
We hear of life Imprisonment as al
opportunity for atonement. There Il
no idea in morals more silly, more per
nicious than the idea of atonement
In barbaric times an offended thing o
being needed a victim. And any oil
victim satisfied. If flood menaced tn
land, a garlanded maiden was slair
If a man murdered his friend or hi
enemy, some one must perish an
many a murderer has acutely suffere
in the agonies of substitute. But tc
day we know that the food is not tn
result of the devilish cunning of a
I angry god; we know that murder, al
son, theft, etc., are the results OF III
usual conditions and that the healin
balm of love and the cultivation OF
, better condition are essential, in othe
words, our prisons should be reforms
, tories and schools and not punitive II
situations.
We note some interesting by-prt
ducts of this discussion. We read
iustifications of murder because OF II