The Detroit times., 1912-02-28
Editorials by the People.
capital PunIshment.


TO the Editor OF The Detroit Times:
What do We mean, on understand
by the expression. Capital punish
meant?" understand IL 10 mean the
right and power OF the state. by due
process OF law, 10 take the lie OF the
murderer. and as regards 10 the
means employed. IL matters not wheth-
/ er by hanging, shooting. oil. the cleo
tF,s chair Now, naturally The Ques-
ton comes up: Where does the state
get its right to take life? | answer.
from God. who gave life. for we must
OF necessity go back 10 the source o.
our being and OF all created beings. 10
get correct understanding of this
question. Now, the most of us know,
and believe. that God, who is infinite
in power, and in wisdom, saw best TO
create man reasonable creature, en-
dowed with two natures-the spiritual,
or moral, nature. and the animal ma
ture; the moral nature, or spiritual,
making man supreme over all or the
lower creations. Owing 10 this moral
nature, man is conscious OF right and
wrong, TO greater or less degree.
and therefore responsible TO both God
and man, whereas the animal that
kills one of its kind is not responsible
because not moral being. and there
fore not murderer. Therefore as
we are moral responsible beings, God
gave us moral law or guide, TO live
by, both for our own good. and the
good OF our fellow men. and while
He promised blessings TO those that
obey His law, He also prescribed a
punishment 10 those that break that
law. And | believe that God Who
created us and gave us His law, knew
better than we, what laws We should
live by, and by what law We should
punish the murderer Now. as / UNI
derstand there are two considerations
in the arrest and conviction of the
criminal; first, the punishment for the
crime; second, the welfare OF society.
And as regard TO the kind or punish
ment, God has told us that He that
sheddeth mans blood, by man shall
his blood be shed, as recorded III
Genesis ninth and sixth, which Is not
or the Mosaic or Jewish law, being
given long before the time OF Moses,
and for the human race for all time,
and like the moral law still binding
on society. And now a word, as to
the prison way OF furnishing the MUIR
derer He is arrested, convicted, and
sent TO prison for life, according TO
the judgment OF Judge and jury. He
proves 10 be an orderly prisoner, be-
cause he sees il is the wisest thing
to do under the circumstances, believ-
ing, that when : few years have pass
ed. the pardon board will have charity
enough TO come along. and set as:-e
the ruling OF the judge and jury that
sent him TO prison. and give him his
pardon. So yon see Justice is cheat
ed and set at naught, and society Is
again in jeopardy By the freedom or
the criminal | concede that prison
is all right for minor crimes, and for
doubtful cases OF murder, but not fo-
positive murder.
Oh. well, some will say, II Is awful
to take the life away; give him
chance to repent. Well, TO that \
would say, that there is, or should
be, plenty of time for the murdered 10
rerent before his execution, IL he
wishes 10 do so, but il is not neces-
sary TO extend that time for years,
and tax society to keep him In prison,
after he has forfeited his life
JOHN McCARROLL,
Birmingham, Mich, Feb. &c, 1912.