But the letter ends with something
much more ominous than bad metaphysics. Here, in the middle of the
"Clarion," in the centre of a clean and combative democratic sheet, I meet
again my deplorable old acquaintance, the scientific criminologist. "The
so-called evil-doer should not be punished for his acts, but restrained."
In forty-eight hours I could probably get a petition to that effect signed
by millionaires. A short time ago a Bill was introduced to hold
irresponsible and "restrain" a whole new class of people, who were
"incapable of managing their affairs with prudence." Read the supporters'
names on the back of that Bill, and see what sort of democrats they were.
Now, clearing our heads of what is called popular science (which means
going to sleep to a lullaby of long words), let us use our own brains a
little, and ask ourselves what is the real difference between punishing a
man and restraining him. The material difference may be any or none; for
punishment may be very mild, and restraint may be very ruthless. The man,
of course, must dislike one as much as the other, or it would not be
necessary to restrain him at all. And I assure you he will get no great
glow of comfort out of your calling him irresponsible after you have made
him impotent. A man does not necessarily feel more free and easy in a
straight waistcoat than in a stone cell.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126