Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1912-06-07
Capital Punishment.


Much is being said about the abolition Of cap
ital punishment many of the leading citizens OF
the community advocating it's adjustment.
The reasons advanced by opponents of the
death penalty are usually on the grounds of hu-
manity and religion Not long ago. in discussing
thequeston. one Of the judges Of the Third Ju-
dicial District said to the writer that he was OPP
posed to the infection of the death penalty. But
his only ground for holding TO this view was be-
cause Of his religious beliefs, that it is wrong to
take life, even by law.
We can not agree with such views. While OPP
posed to the taking Of human life at all times
even in times Of war, for war is nothing less than
wholesale mmder-yet we believe in the infliction
OF the death penalty in every case where the life
of the slayer was not in actual danger or unless he
had excellent cause to believe his life in danger.
While one of the Ten Commandments prohib-
it's the taking of life, there are numer Gus instances
mentioned in the Bible in which the christian
hosts were favored by acts Of divine interference
in their battles against their enemies. David slew
Goliath while the former was but a boy, yet he
afterwards became one Of the greatest and most
favored of kings received special blessings from
God.
Once a murderer is placed on trial for his life,
unthnkng persons begin to express sympathy for
smother him with gifts and other evidences of
their belief in the right of a man to kill whomso-
ever he will. where he will. and when he will, and
that his crime distinguishes him as a hero.
But out in some graveyard beneath the Sod,
with face upturned TO the broad expanse of blue
sky the murderers victim lies He may have
been tender. sympathizing. considerable, always
ready TO help the poor the distressed, the weak.
In lonely home there may be- and usually is,
wife whose life has been wrecked by the deed of
the murderer little children who wait in vain for
the coming of father who long for but are never
again 10 enjoy his loving caresses his comforting,
assuring words.
What does II matter if he who took his life
was a cruel heartess bully, who delighted in see
ing others suffer. who sneered at the refined.
cursed ut law and order. caroused and consorted
with the most low and debased of humanity as is
usually the he is about to pay the penalty for
his awful crime-he is to DIE, and it must not be-
Brute. cruel monster though he is he may kill
man who was worth thousand such as he. but
must he pay penalty with his life? No. never!
il would Q wrongl.
Let US Danish such IDEAS and arrive at facts
The ONLY deterrent for the murderer is the pros
pect Of having to forfeit his own life. Make the
taking human life light matter and those born
with murderous instincts are sure TO be ever ready
10 Kill il another dares to interfere with them.
America has larger ratio of murders than
any other nation on earth, even of italy and Tur-
key 10 which we refer with an ar Of contempt
because of their crus instincts. And this, in spite
of our hoasted civilization. In foreign countries
q murderer is tried promptly, and in nine times
out Of ten, pays his life as penalty. In the Unit
ed States, a murderer is tried some time usually
4 long time after his crime is committed, and
in nine times out of ten is given very light SEN
tence. or acquitted.
Enforce capital punishment and discourage
crime; abolish capital punishment and encourage
crime. Which do We went?
IudeneudenCe DaN