The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-20
PEOPLES FORUM
CanttAl Punishment.
r of The Nirrininn.

To the Editor of the Virginian:
sir.-Much having been said recently In re-
gard to capital punishment, some favoring life
Imprisonment instead OF death. others consider
Ing that IL Is better for the protection of life to
punish with death those who have taken the life
Of their feliowm not in self with
malignity. Some believe 1t is cruely t. take the
life OF a murderer in the first degree.
Living in this the twentieth century In the
land where the blessed gospel Is preached AMI
we take the truth revealed In the Word of God
as our infallible guide. are we not obeying the
teachings OF Scripture when we infiict the death
penalty upon the criminal guilty OF murder in
the arst degree7
Let us examine the holy record and be led by
IT. Gen. o. q. Who so sheddeth mans blood.
by man shall his blood be shed"
This command was given TO Noah for the pro-
lection of life If We we're without the light
OF Revelation we would be cropping in darkness
Let us now turn to the New Testament we
nave no evidence that this law was ever changed
Matt s: IT. IS. Think not that am come to
destroy the law or the prophets; l am not como
to destroy but to fulhi. For verify say unto
YOU. Till heaven and earth pass. one jot or one
little shall In no wise pass from the law till
all be fulfilled This moral law In Genesis has
n6t been Changed" Matt & ~, 2a,Ns.stg harce.
heard that 1t was said by them OF old time
Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill
snali be In danger OF the judgment bur saw
unto you that whosoever is angry with his
brother without cause shall be In danger Of
the Judgment Cor death by the sword, This
uw Is strtcter than that In Geness 20: Ia
There Is no change, but 1t extends further In
the same direction.
II we ignore the law pertaining to punish
ment of the murderer, we disregard the teach
rigs OF Scripture. Jesus said: IAN power ia
given unto me In heaven and earth" we as
Followers OF Jesus ought to do what ne has
commanded or endorsed
The assassin with malice prepensa tsr.s +ha
life Of felfow-man without giving hin, anv
time to prepare to meet the Judge of all the
earth, leaving his wife widow In mournip q
and his children without his proteetion ana
guidance and frequently dependent upon charity
for support The divine law SAYS the erinninal
shall die as penalty for his crime Criminals
n the face of death in the chair continue 10 use
the missiles Of death II the death nenaltv is
commuted to imprisonment ia II nroba M. IL I,
Even n 1t is found that there IL leo. cr,r,a
",ent wonld 1t be right to disregard the law
nhicting It?
Is y IN act % mercy to the race to allow the
murderer 10 ivef
IT Is well 70 note that the decalogue recorded
m the twentieth ehaDter OF Exodus has never
been changed. The sixth command yec,raad ~
1tone roads; Thou shalt not kin" Al God ia
not willing that man should be ignorar, ~ thi-
command IT is repeated in Eek. I'll. Deut 10 and
ev. 20 and oath chapters and the penalty ~
Seath. We see further when Jesus was teach
"g his disciples he laid special emphasis anon
this snhject. Matt. s: 21. 20 If anv one has
4 m his heart bitter feeling that would len
him 70 take the life OF a fellow man he Ia IN
danger of the Judgment. This court was com
posed Of seven judges according to Joseph and
according TO the Rabies twenty three It had