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Show A HARD CASE. B When the case of a convict, serving out a life M sentence, is called in court and the Dlstrirt At- H torney moves that he, be set at liberty, there Bl being no ca30 against him; it seems to us that n the state should at least pay him the wages he H might have earned during his confinement, to say ' H nothing of a compensation for the anxiety of mind H and humiliation suffered. We claim that our H Courts are created 'to execute justice between man , H and man and between man and the state. Where ' H is the justice in incarcerating a man for years a H and then turning him out on ihe confession of H the prosecuting officer that there never has been H any case against him? H It seems that as a people we are not much H civilized after all. This case, and swift on its heels, the execu H tion of one man here and one-in Wyoming with J H page after page in the newspapers of description; H with every detail elaoborated, with pictures of , H the wretches and of nearly every one else in tho , H vicinity and the great head lines announcing that fl "the men died game," have been about enough B to start half a dozen weak and vain and con- H scienceless men on a career of crime. We are H sure, too, that it has made many a thoughtful pei- M son stop and ask the question: "Is it not possi- M ble, after all, that in the treatment of great crlm- M innls we are but keeping alive one of the sav- M ageries of the primitive and half barbarous M world?" fl Some months ago a learned surgeon came to fl thi3 country from Austria, and taking children de- fl formed before birth, made them well by his skill fl Where tho deformity is in the brain, no effective fl surgery is possible. There are more children fl born with congetinal dislocation of moral attrl- H butes than of the hips. Has society the right to H permit these to run a natural course until some fl monstrous crime is laid at their door and then to kill them? I Would it not be better when such a crime is proven to, without noise or advertising, or illustra- H Hon?, consign the wretch to a secure cell and H leave him, dead already to the world, to wait his fl death from natural causes? Again, is it right to , fl wait for a criminal culmination before insuring fl society against known degenerates, when their in- I fl flrmity is pronounced. A fearful murder was per- fl petrated last winter in New York City by a de- fl B l& I ' generate who grew up in this city. The boys who Bf nji ! Avent to school with him in this city years ago, B jg I f I believed then that he Avas insane. His near rela- Bff ' ( i II tvo lcnew tuat ne was not QuU- right and knew, Bl 1 I '1 II t00' "ua lle was charged abnormally with pas- H ' , J 1 1 ' sions that are prone to lead on to crime and often B ; 1 1 I 1 to violence, still ho Avas never restrained until B , ' ' I 1 the culmination in a merciless tragedy. The B J i Pi Spartan mothers took their deformed offspring to Bp f ' 1 the forest, hushed them to sleep, then giving them Hi I ! I a last kiss, laid them softly d wn and left them Hi j fj I to the cold and the Avild boast. It Avas a frightful HI ' j j ' I custom, but it resulted in the most perfect race, Hi i ,'$ I physically, that the Avorld has over seen. Ought HIJ! J , 1 not the thought in the mind of the Spartan Bf l I 1 mother to take shape in civilized form in our age? Bli ' w 'I' Not a11 men and women liavo u rl.Sht to become B . ' p i i parents, not all children born have a right to B i , ( i 1 Avork out a criminal career without restraint. B 'Mil By and by this -will be recognized; the Avorld B ! ' 1 1 will begin to enact quarantine laAVS against tho B ' 1 1 germs of crime as is noAV done against contagious B 1 1 111 diseases, and a better race will succeed. B h i fill And by and by, despite the old barbarous j) ill! Mosaic edict of an eye for an eye, and a life for B ' " 1 1 a life, lesser criminals will be colonized and glv- B U I 11 en the PPrtunIty to sroAv out of their evil Avays, B ! ; l but never to be a depraved extmple for younger Bi A ' 8 miscreants for a little season and then be turned Bj 11 out, again to prey upon the pubMc; mal-formations Bf? 'fill Avill bo reduced or made harmless by surgery, B' j jjjl while capital offenders Avill I tiied in secret H ' 1 1 Avithout noise, and if convicted will bo place'1 B j j , i i Avhere they will be dead to the outside Avorld, and B 3i f! 1 1 soon forgotten, but Avhere tlv y will have time Bl ? IM I to reflect an(1 rPeilt before being called away. |