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Editorial
August 15, 1912
The Wheeling Intelligencer
Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial defends capital punishment against Mrs. Champ Clark's appeal, arguing it deters crime in urban areas like New York, citing the Rosenthal murder as evidence of ongoing threats.
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CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Mrs. Champ Clark moved by the horror of a wholesale electrocution in Sing Sing Prison, makes an impassioned appeal against capital punishment. Mrs. Clark's appeal does credit to her kindness of heart and womanly disposition, but not especially to her judgment. "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
The fear of loss of life is the most potential threat with which to appeal to the depraved and the criminal. A great part of humanity has to be ruled by fear. This has always been so and will long continue so. When society has so developed that the necessity of ruling men by fear of punishment has ceased, crime will disappear and there will be no punishment.
There are doubtless communities and possibly whole states in the United States that might get along very well without capital punishment. Law abiding rural communities which have practically no criminal classes, may do away with capital punishment, but in our great cities, particularly cities like New York, in which there are thousands of desperate and reckless criminals, need capital punishment, as a protection to society.
Even under present conditions with all the rigor of law, the fight against the underworld is steady and unceasing. The Rosenthal murder is a startling reminder that we have constantly with us in the United States, many men who hold life cheaply, and who hesitate at crime, only because of their fear of detection and retribution.
The Sistersville Oil News of the first month ago one of the most liberal and enlightened of the oil country newspapers, said:
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Mrs. Champ Clark moved by the horror of a wholesale electrocution in Sing Sing Prison, makes an impassioned appeal against capital punishment. Mrs. Clark's appeal does credit to her kindness of heart and womanly disposition, but not especially to her judgment. "All that a man hath he will give for his life."
The fear of loss of life is the most potential threat with which to appeal to the depraved and the criminal. A great part of humanity has to be ruled by fear. This has always been so and will long continue so. When society has so developed that the necessity of ruling men by fear of punishment has ceased, crime will disappear and there will be no punishment.
There are doubtless communities and possibly whole states in the United States that might get along very well without capital punishment. Law abiding rural communities which have practically no criminal classes, may do away with capital punishment, but in our great cities, particularly cities like New York, in which there are thousands of desperate and reckless criminals, need capital punishment, as a protection to society.
Even under present conditions with all the rigor of law, the fight against the underworld is steady and unceasing. The Rosenthal murder is a startling reminder that we have constantly with us in the United States, many men who hold life cheaply, and who hesitate at crime, only because of their fear of detection and retribution.
The Sistersville Oil News of the first month ago one of the most liberal and enlightened of the oil country newspapers, said:
ote of the
logdrat and fnlyiret of
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Or Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Capital Punishment
Electrocution
Crime Deterrence
Urban Crime
Rosenthal Murder
What entities or persons were involved?
Mrs. Champ Clark
Sing Sing Prison
Rosenthal
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Defense Of Capital Punishment
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Capital Punishment For Deterrence In Urban Areas
Key Figures
Mrs. Champ Clark
Sing Sing Prison
Rosenthal
Key Arguments
Fear Of Death Is The Strongest Deterrent For Criminals
Society Requires Rule By Fear Until Crime Disappears
Capital Punishment Necessary In High Crime Cities Like New York
Rural Areas May Not Need It
Rosenthal Murder Highlights Ongoing Threats From Desperate Criminals