Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-10-08
ncreasc Of Crime.

In our recollection, there never has been
period more fruitful in crime, in all It's forms,
than at the present. Every mail brings US
some new account Of foul murder, desperate
robbery, or lamentable suicide. Why is this
Is there no anidoic 10 crime! Is there not
conservative, redeeming principle. which shall,
Tor the future, protect the people from such
melancholy occurrences! These are impor-
tant questions and we'll worthy serious atten-
ton Of all heads Of families. We say heads of
families, for there lies the origin Of crime. In
the nursery are taught the principles which gov
srn in youth and manhood. The instances are
extremely rare, in which the moral culture of
children was neglected in infancy, where the
future tendency Of their lives was not to crime
in some shape-if not to murder. robbery or su-
icide, certainly innumerahle breaches of moral
rectitude in other particulars. Sound morals
is, therefore, the sail which alone can sare this
people from crime, and their admirahle,syste
OF government from premature dissolution.
No government that rests upon any other ba-
sis than the broad foundation Of public virtue
can be perpe,ua,ed. All history z,tes,s the
truth of this position. Hence ia our govern-
men,-founded as i, is upon the puic wliland
KEEP, III existence by the action Of the people
arises the absolute necessity that the mass.
who form its character and shape its des,ay,
should be early instructed in tire inmutable
principles OF Christian integrity. Impress up
on the iufant MUD the great and fundamental
doctrines Of moral rtctitudc-and the will Of
God is the only standard-and continue to i,l-
cucaie them as long as parental authority lasts,
and IN great majority OF cases, you SO for,ify
the Individual against the alurements of vice
as to render him invuInerable TO crime. On the
other hand, dIvest child altogether Of the
wholesome restraints imposed by vrtuous
line Of conduct aud he will be led on from vice
to vice-here ensnared and there overcome
until he steps flom the dungeon to the penten-
tiary or the scatIod. Educalion--the moral
aud intelIectual-is, therefore, the an,doie to
crime-redeeming conservative aud principle,
which alone can ensure vrtuous state OF So
ciety, and perpetua,e, unimpared, to future
generations the glorious instln,ions-civil and
religious-of The American Union. The dis
semination ofsuch an education among the peo-
pie will reform all the evils acknowledged to
belong to the government-ensure domestic
tranquility aud the strict observance of law,
and thus promote the grandeur and glory of our
beloved country. We now number eighteen
millions Of people, but we believe the advance
Of knowledge and virtue is in relative propor-
ZION farm advance ofignorauce and vice; and
though the frequency Of crime startles and
alarms. and though many Of our people appear
to be destitute Of that high moral integrity
which should characterize them, we do not de-
spair of the Republic. Its march is onward
and upward. Christianity is laying deep her
foundations upon Rock which will Withstand,
unmoved, the storms Of corruption. It's peace
full, holy, law-abding influence is seen and
felt throughout the ienghth and breadth Of the
land. Its moral beauties and heavenly doc
tfines are taught in every community; i: has
found its way into thousands Of families. and
in schools and colleges its moral philosophy
has become part Of polite and liberal educa-
tion.-And it will continue to advance con-
quering and toconquer." Chr; sian Pairiotism
"a patriotism based upon the observance OF
the moral LAWS the only thing that can and
the only thing that will save the Republic. Its
principles alone can improve The heart and the
affections, and its doctrines alone can lead a
aation to a high and glorious destiny. -Leban-
on Star.