The Omaha guide., 1933-08-12

BALANCED Our ideals are dreams that
can be realized through de-
crees, hanging scaffolds, nor electric
chairs. The restraint, lies deeper than
Law, OF any contemplated law. The
hand Of the law, however severe. does
not reach deep into ones conscience
and remove the cause of any natural
or habitual desire. 1t rather ~intensi
flies the craving by its restraint. AT
ter centuries Of dungeons, prisons,
~guillotines, firing squads, hanging
s~caffolds, and electric chairs, we still
have ~the master criminal F." More
base, more cunning, more intelligent
Outwitting the law; because he is
born to the end of beating it. How
few are persons born, if any, with the
inherent desire to respect purely leg
i~slative laws; in the face of penalties
for their tr~ansgression.
First, crimes are conceived in
thought; stamped indellibly on ones
conscience, transmitted to the off
spring that develops the negative
restrained in the parent, and the
brutal criminal, preconceived in
vengeful thought; is a reality Re-
spect for law, rests not on the sew
Gritty Of its punishment, which is VIC
latable; but on the Institution of
ideals, which if perfected are inviol-
able; because virtue begets virtue,
which cannot transgress nor onsum
its town. perfect state; for they are
lionel inseparable How then, can the
presumption that capitol punishment
Is right; countermand the violation of
human life, with a second act; that
compounds the first.
THE false patriotism instilled in
millions during the world war; that
Il was noble to die for ones country,
or the desire to kill; which was drill
ed into them, are major reasons. AS,
is also, the truth of too many need
less laws, city, county and state. Peo-
pie are being hemmed in too closely.
Literally speaking. Like JAPAN they
want some personal latitude that
they may draw their breath, without
being stiffled or regulated.
Law is to blame in many cases for
the quantity Of criminals that are
foisted upon the public. 1t guarantees
Life. Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness and adds, "'by the due
process Of law" Then, what is due
process of law? Yesterday" it was
unlawful to have liquor in any form
Tomorrow" it may be had in every
form. Sometime in the distant flu
ture, It might become unlawful again
EVE though a habit shall have been
formed, personal desires inherently
created and conceived-with the con
sent of the law. Has law power, to
purge ones conscience of taking a
life; ven though it gives the man.
date? Surely a disregard Of human
life. will be as inherent in the off
spring Of a Hhangman" as it was in
the ealloused affections of the father
to such CHASTITY deeds. Conscience
cannot be disregarded; for it is by
conscience that we suffer the ills of
folly; know transgression by its con
v%iction, and atonement by its demand
for retribution. It is through con-
science, that we climb toward the
perfection Of an ideal; not through
prisons and scaffolds. They are only
splints that we try to bind broken
hearts, and broken character with.
"The application Of criminal law is
founded on force. 1t is something
without a conscience to be merciful
IL forgives not the soul that has
sinned and repented to God 1t teach
es no present, nor sets an example of
the love that was Christ's 1t asks
God to have mercy on your soul-it
viii not 1t commentaries the taking
Of human life for hire; at demands
its pound of flesh" For some men
the penalty is death for taking a life;
for others it is a living with a good
salary 1t depends on which side of
the fence you are on. Neither is right;
morally they are wrong. Through
right living, we can overcome the
criminal instinct in those yet unborn
By thinking clearly, doing honestly
and s~ubdueing the desire to deprive
others, Of Life, Liberty and the pur-
suit Of Happiness. We SHALL Certain
ly not in this generation; but with
the next a little less criminally in
clined; and the next even less 50. and
so on; until we crave not for the lives
Of others, both lawfully and unlaw-
fully; mercy unto a civil power to
purge 4 people Of its unrighteous-
ness; but recognize, that in the blind
force Of lawful restraint; there is no
power to make Of a harlot-a virgin;
Of an aduiturous man-a Christ; nor
Of America land of Canaan"