Show for meditation by LEONARD A BARRETT WHO PAYS THE PENALTY phe iniquity of the fathers shall be upon the children un to the third and fourth the pity Is that it Is true children have ultimately to pay the penalty for the mistakes of their parents A father commits a crime and as a punishment he Is sent to prison lie may remain there tor a beir or two or even for a much longer period but rhen he Is rp leased doubtless he Is in a worse condition both mentally and spiritually than ho vas the first he tried to sleep within prison walls the result of his crime however doe not end when he leaves the prison during his imprisonment he has been denied the opportunity of working at tits accustomed trade with the result that those dependent upon harn have to shift for themselves ahe mother being forced to work during the day to support the little family left alie children without moral and spiritual oversight conditions of this nature are responsible for a large per cent of the crime today who Is at fault of course the father Is primarily responsible but does confinement within prison walls ultimately dolve the lem so far as justice to society Is concerned while it Is important that the prop er degree of punishment be imposed Is it not also important that the cause of the crime be ascertained if the fa ther in the case has been a hopeless mental degenerate the condition Is an abnormal one and deprivation of lib erty the only remedy but if a per son paying the penalty for his crime by imprisonment has the ability to earn a living for those dependent upon him should be not be compelled by law to do so it some mental or physical condition Is responsible for ats crime should that not be discovered and an attempt be aada to correct it crime Is punished for the protection of society and surely this end Is many times by efforts which while satisfying justice the exer else of mercy toward those nho ulal pay the penalty protection to society dennnis not only eliat crime be punished but also that the cause for crime be discovered ind remedied and that dependent be not deprived of adequate support at the expense of a judicial astern which reuses to justitz d with mercy 13 western newpher New union |