Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-25
They asked Lucman the fabulist,
From whom did you learn manners?
He answered, From the unmannerly.
-Saadi.
FRIGHT AND CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT


There are indications that the
public is becoming appalled, by the
increase in criminal conditions In
this country. There is occasion for
serious concern, but not for hyster-
les. We read Of the small percent
age Of murders in England that has
capital punishment. We may jump
at the conclusion that capital pun
ishment is the cause. We would be
we'll advised to look further. In Eng
land capital punishment is enforced;
in this country usually only a small
number of the guilty are hung or
electrocuted. The State Of Illinois
has capital punishment yet juries
and courts inflict this penalty only
on a few and crime is rampant.
It was in that State Leopold and
Loeb committed their fiendish crimes
and escaped the death penalty. 1t
is notorious that our juries and our
courts do not vigorously inf1ict such
penalties as we already have. There
is every reason to suppose they
would hesitate to impose the death
penalty. A death penalty only occa-
sionally inflicted horribly augments
tho inequity with which penalties Of
all kinds are sometimes inflicted,
condition which undoubtedly greatly
aggravates the criminal aspect and
stimulates the criminal mind.
In his brilliant lecture in this city,
Monday evening, DR.. Adler, speaking
under the auspices Of the Laymen's
League, referred to a contrast be-
tween conditions in this country and
England, expressing the opinion, that
. moro homogeneous population in
England accounts for some Of the
difference. And above that is the
certainty Of punishment in that
country.
Tlmid people. who do not like to
be bothered by their obligations, al
W
dump our criminals into prison and
are inclined to ask no more ques-
lions respecting them. although what
is being done with them there is a
very important matter, for most OF
their terms are short and they are
being turned out too often worse
criminals than when the State first
took them in charge. II we can take
a criminal and hang him we think
we are rid of all further bother in
that instance. but there is a lot more
to think Of than that. There is the
temper of our juries, for instance.
Those Fjuries are very hesitant about
inflicting even the milder penalties.
In Chicago, with capital punishment
in Illinois. but three per cent Of those
guilty Of homicide received the full
penalty Of the law.
Is it creditable to a people to fly to
extremes because it is Indifferent or
negligent in applying the means?
Should we not before adopting more
rigorous penalties first make use of
the penalties we now have? Is it not
absurd to seek a remedy by a
severer penalty which is not enforc-
ed? One might present more eff
fective argument in favor of lynch
ing, as conducted by the Vigilantes
of California in the old days, than
for capital punishment inflicted only
on the unfortunate, and semi-occaI
sionally at that.
There is no cure -all for crime.
Patience. intelligence, firmness. rec
ignition Of the need OF training and
discipline. in our homes as well as
in our penal institutions, are needed.
Also conviction that we all share in
the obligations laid upon society by
the criminal instincts, comprehen-
sion Of the very important fact that
anything short of en-handed ap-
plication Of the law without fear or
favor pollutes the spring and poisons
the populace, that neither location
nor station protect our dearest from
the plague, that this must be fought
as consistently and persistently as
the plague of any contagious disease,
these are essential Coddling pris-
oners should not be tolerated, but no
more should be any treatment short
of humane and intelligent. Society
has some Job. 1t never may do it
by making more rigorous laws to be
scorned. Possibly. in process of
time. 1t may be impressed on the
minds Of those seeking pleasure by
way of crime that no one has yet
seen a criminal happy in crime.