The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-04-14
THE BIGHAM CASE.

InlS mucn to be pltied man has BY
tnls time learned at least a part of
the old book which declares that "the
way OF the transgressor is hard;" and
the meaning Of that scripture which
ebJolns upon us to to $50 number
our days that We may apply our
hearts unto WISDOM" has learned
that wrong will ultimately break
Gown under It's own weight. Many
nave expressed the idea that he is get
tlng Just what he deserves. 1t is true
not only of him, but of thousands
that nave travelled the same beaten
track or 'awlessness. IF at one glance
al: Oh the criminals of our land could
see that countless multitude that
nave been punished for crimes. we
teel that it would deter many IN the
commission of like violation Of law.
"hlle we pity any criminal, we must
hold to capital punishment, unless
the sentiment of justice is clean gone
out OF us. We hold to this doctrine
because the life of those murdered
was just as sweet as that of the muir
derer and in many instances sweeter:
because the measure of murder is
death; because the Bible, upon which
our government rests, declares that
'whosover sheddeth mans blood by
| man Cthe State) shall his blood be
shed; because murder is not only
Killing person, but it is a
death blow at the government, which
Is designed to protect life; because
the only way to insure the lives of
others is to make the penalty suf-
flcient to inspire reverence for law:
because the execution of one crimi-
nal prevents the commission of crime
By other criminals, in spite of the
fact that people deny it. The proof
OF which is seen in the laws of Eng
land and other countries where they
do punish with death, and as a con-
sequence have less crimes than we
nave. More murders in little South
Carolina than in all England In one
year. We believe in capital punish
ment because our great example, in
the person of Christ. did sanction it
by saving the soul of the dying thief
without interfering with the justice
{. law. Right here We have no spacel
to discuss a long theological ques-
tlon, but we can say that God deals |
with impenitence upon the princi- |
pies of Justice, eye for eye, tooth for
tooth, and deals with another class,
as did Christ, upon the principles of
mercy, but in every instance, mercy
t" the merciful only, justice to the
just and death to the unjust and
merciless criminal. If this sad Incl
dent was the last of the criminal
records Of this worlds history, it'll
would be a different question, butt
there are thousands ready to walk in |
his footsteps; if we had the power
to transmute the criminal into al
saint, i. e.. to change the whole order
of things, then might we let down
the majesty OF the law and release
the criminal, but not until then. Wei
are too prone to remember only the
living and to forget the victim of
cruelty. The preservation not only
OF life is at stake, but the preser-
vation OF law and order is also.
fThree propositions; viz: Whatever
prevents sin prevents misery '(forl
sin Is the transgression Of the law
and promotes happiness. To inflict
adequate punishment is essential to
good government; and the execution
OF the law is necessary to its eff
cacy. The execution of law is not only
all expression of justice to the trans
gressor, but is an expression Of mer-
icy ana love toward those who might
be victims Of other criminals, if the
law is not executed. Therefore it is
merciful to punish crime. Merciful
not only to the "would-be criminal"
but to the would-be victims of his
crime. However, we are not too
severe toward the criminal in our
feelings; for when We take into con-
sideratlon ones early education and
neglect of education; the environ
ment in which one has grown up;
the unholy examples he has had be-
fore him; the terrible law of "here-t
dity" whereby his ancestors have
dealt hard with him; take into con-
sideration the influences of your
home and the church, etc. Consid-
ering these things we should be hum
bic and thankful, but not boastful;
we should guard against similar
temptations; and in our wrath re-
member ourselves as no better, by
nature, than the rest of humanity
though we may be better by practice
because Of being favored above 9th.
ers. In our supplications we should
pray for the preservation of law and
salvation mems souls.
r C. Bai1ey