Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-11-26
THE INCREASE OF CRIME. "

-
THE rscREA.E Of cRiME.EI
When the future historian, whose lot has
fallen 10 the midst Of . wiser and better
civilization, comes TO evolve from musty
tones the narrative Of our time, he will
Be scarcely less astonished at cur weak
ness in some things than we are At the
weakness, in some respects. of people Who
have long since passed into history. We
wonder thss those v ho were so eminent in
the Arts should be - benightcd in RsIi-
giou that those who were SO sound in
theory should so utterly fail in practical
life /; that those who were so accustomed
70 battle should be 90 unskilful in the con.
strucsiou Of weapons. In like manner
will the page sha, glows with the descrip.
ton the form sndspirit Of our institusioos.
the intslligencs and prosperity of the peo.
ple--their patriotism and philanthropy
will excite wosder BY the story Of crimes
that are daily committed in low places and
high-agsinst life, property, and even gov
srnment ITSELF And we'll it may. The
small corner heretofore devoted to police
matters, 10 now swollen into columns in
asarly every village newspaper in the
land. 1hs increase of crime in this coun
~ 10 BY no means in just proportion to
orr growth Of population, and il becomes
journalists 10 ascertain il possible the
cause Of this increase, and labor for its re.
inoval. We think tho remedies to be ap.
piled ere found in greater domestic disci.
pline-in a more wholesome, unreleniing
public opinion, and in . more faithful ex-
ecution Of the laws. We have virtue, in
telligence and stringent laws enough if
only properly and timely exercised. In
nineteen cases of twenty the character is
formed and the future man made, before
his sixteenth year. Particularly 10 our
cities, with large portion Of the popula-
ton those are years Of the widest extrav-
agance and unres,rained indulgence
Poverty and want scarcely afford any time
or encourage any desire on she part of the
parent to firm the character of the child.
industrial and public schools operate to
some extent as remedy, but as yet they
have not boon able to fully reach the evil,
much less cure it. In an intelligent, viz
tuous age, public sentimeot should be
made the great governing power. That
sentiment should be founded on pur. and
correct principles, always right, inaexible
and impartial, so that every person who has
head to think and heart to feel may
know that it Is no desirable thing to come
in conflict with it. We want no high seats
for criminals, but one eye and one judge
ment for criminals Of all classes and all
conditions. Public opinion can work So
ciety pure and keep it pure, if only prop
erly formed and upheld.
The administration Of our criminal laws
has become to great extent a solemn
farce, the object Of which too often seems
to be, to make the criminal as miserable
~ possible during the trial SO that he may
the more enjoy bis acquitta'. Our mode
Of selecting juries il almost destructive Of
the ends OF justice. 10 this day every
man whose opinion is worth consulting
keeps well versed in current events, if tn:
opportunity is afforded. But if perchance
he has read newspaper account of .
crime and ventured thought of his own
upon tho subject be is disqualified for
juror in that case. as il on honest, in,elli.
gent man, under the Obligations of an oath
could not disregard slight bias and give
an impartial verdict. Then again the
pardoning power il grossly abused. There
10 no necessity for an appeal from the de-
cisioD Of twelve men concurred in If ne.
cessary by the highest Courts, to one man.
II 10 delicate, unpleasant trust, and not
at oil conducive to the ends Of Justice or
the supremacy Of the law. It is time
that " gave greater heed to these things.
Reform il certainly desirable and il will
never be easier than now. When I'll can
10 brought to concur in the efforts to pre-
vent crime and hold wrong doers to tina.
responsibility which the laws contenp plate
very much will have boen done towards
securing better order and protection.