Newark post., 1912-11-20
WHIPPING POST

Mr.. Beverley Robinson, of New
York. has written a letter entitled,
1.-The Benefits of Flogging,' i'll
which he says:
In answer to the title above. |
would state absolutely there are
none. It brutalizes both prisoners
and keepers. It is revolving to our
senses. It it barbarous. unfeeling
and worthless. It should be toler-
ated in no civilized community. It
is to me disgrace for any State
or people to tolerate it. Prisoners
are helped only through discipline,
Justice, kindness. Cruelty makes
them hard, rebellious. revengeful,
Thus it is and always will be with
human nature. When one knows
prisons and prisoners and has done
what is possible to ameliorate con-
ditions if is sickening to hear or
read any statement or report which
would help return to methods of
repression which are a disgrace to
those who dare infict them. ven
ture to affirm after long experience
that there is little excuse even III
prisons for undue severity. Ward
ems can be firm and have obedience
but without too severe or degrad-
ing punishments. The dark cell on
bread and water with solitary con-
finement is bad enough. Don t,
for PHYS sake. have anything
worse or more terrible. Flogging
to prisoner is an infamy without
excuse or palliation.
For many decades the whipping
post has been one Of the most firm
ly-established penal institutions in
Delaware. 1t has been assailed
from within and without the State,
and, from time to time, its abolish
ment has been urged. Robert Ing
ersoll denounced it as a 'relic of
barbarism. Others Of prominence
have attacked its maintenance. AT
no time, however, have the people
of Delaware manifested a desire to
do away with it. The sentiment in
its favor as a deterrent and an in
strument for the punishment Of GER.
tain classes of criminals probably
is stronger to-day than it has been
in many years. Many of the things
written by DR.. Robinson relative
to the treatment of prisoners un.
questionably are true. We doubt
however. that in this State, where
tiogging has been a recognized lega1
punishment so many years, such an
opinion with regard to it as is ex
pressed by the doctor will serve tc
weaken materially the weight of
public opinion now existing in IA
vor of fogging.-Erening Jouynd
True, shameful to admit. the
whipping post seems, at present
firmly established i'll Delaware. Al
the same time it is ''relic of bar
barism. y SO far Police Courts
have succeeded in holding the
sentiment in its favor as deter
rent but in direct contradiction
to statistics gathered by practica
students of penology. The whip
ping post is not deterrent and moi
only the sense Of civilization but
facts will bear out the statement
We do i'll in needing advice Of Po
lice Court theories. Prison re-
forms, abolishment of the stock;
and thumb screw, all utilitarial
theories Of punishment have beer
brought about against strong oppo
sition of Police.
In the punishment of crime, tn,
one supreme idea is social welfare
The aim of criminal law, like civi
law, or all principles Of conduct
is { eeghneral
is the general veal And just al
society has advanced have forms
of brutal punishment decreased.
TO lash the back of one man t,
deter another from crime is toda,
poor argument.
I'm the first you release the Grim
inal who has paid the retrubutiol
and send him back to society will
evil passion against law and state
Men" says George Eliot, cd
not become penitent and learn t
abhor themselves by having thei
backs cut open with the lash; rath
l. er they learn to abhor the lash.