THE CASE AGAINST FLOGGING [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—As an ordinary citizen, I feel I must beg a space in your columns to voice a strong disapproval of the flogging sentences in connexion with the recent Mayfair robbery case. I shall, of course, be accused of being a " sentimentalist " and reminded that sympathy is due to the victim and not the perpetrators- of the crime. I certainly concede that sympathy to the victim, and am the very last to condone acts of violence, but as a reasonably civilised human being I must indeed ask myself whether in this year of grace a.n. 1938, the infliction of torture on the bodies of criminals for crimes of violence can be morally justified.
We are frequently expressing indignation at acts of cruelty in other countries on unfortunate offenders convicted under their respective codes, but are we any better ? It seems that the Continental label of hypocrisy is as true in this as in other matters. There is no difference in substance between methods used now and those used in former days, except a more refined method of infliction—for according to a descrip- tion given by one who had undergone flogging, the act is carried out with a technique and milieu like that of an operating- theatre perverted to the function of causing agony, the avoidance of oblivion and any fatal effects resulting from the lashing. That this form of punishment is merely the expression of sadistic impulses latent in all of us, and which we can legally satisfy upon suitable scapegoats, is a self-evident fact upon analysis. The relish with which such sentences are reported in our yellow Press further confirms my contention. Embryonic as the stage of psychology still is, we now know enough to " debunk " Victorian self-righteousness.
As regards more general and philosophical considerations, I should very much like to know why all the great leaders in thought and conduct who have lived upon this planet have, without exception, taught that violence merely breeds violence, revenge revenge, so on ad infinitum ?
Such sound advice we consider, in our ignorance, sentimental. The churchman will probably remind .me that Jesus drove the barterers and sellers from the Temple with yiolence. Whether this was so or not, there are other quotations which one can make from those highly enigmatical records of the doings and sayings of . Jesus, which contradict entirely the teaching and practice of the Temple episode, so that this can be left out of account.
My voice is probably one in a thousand, perhaps in a million. That torture is still inflicted in this country and Europe today
does not reflect especially to the credit of our civilisation, or to the State that makes use of it,. At the present time many States have fallen back into making the inflicting of bodily pain a recognised instrument of policy and terrorisation, and the darkening veil of passion and prejudice seems to be engulfing what little light of intelligence and reason we have developed in European civilisation. Sadism, mass emotion, self-righteous indignation are exceedingly powerful psychic forces, responsible for many social evils.—I am, yours faithfully, J. D. A.
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