The Death Penalty

     The national murderer has been obliterated. He exists no longer anywhere in the world. Whatever may be speculated in regard to his thinking part, his soul, he is no longer a man among men. With what object has this been done? Assuredly not for vengeance; the old Jewish idea of revenge in punishment has disappeared from our legislation, although many street speakers and some editors are willing to have it appear still to animate them. The penalties of the law are inflicted nowadays with a view either to reformation of the offender or to protection of the public. Those who may thereby be deterred from further offending are deprived of a portion of their property or of their liberty; those whose existence is too serious a menace to the rights of others are wiped out—put to death. If a man is too dangerous to live with other men, the law does not think of punishing him that he may become better; still less of making him feel the suffering that he has caused others; it simply decrees that there shall be no such man.
     This is the enlightened modern idea, on which coming generations will no doubt act more generally than do we. And there is little room for doubt that instead of restricting they will broaden the use of a wise and merciful death-penalty. There are many beings born of human parents, to permit and assist whom to live out the full term of life is cruelty to themselves and injustice to our children.