The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-06-14
Crime an Pauperism and their Principal
Causes.

Causes.
The people of New York are becoming
alarmed at the frightiu increase Of chine
and pauperism in that city, and looking a.
bout for relief from the fearful tide which
threatens to engulph their best interests.
Judging from the revelations made by
the press Of that city, there is abundant
cause for anxiety. The Times says that
35,l72 persons were arrested and commit.
ted to the city prison in 1853, and that
$4,000 or about ninety per cent. of these
We're "iatemperatc," SO much for crime.
The story Of panperisw is very similar.
The official statement Of the Ahnshouse
authorities shows that the number of pau
pers has reach tho prodigious proportion of
about oneseveaM part of the population
an increace of 37,0ll within the pas.
year. There is some cause for this; what
is it? The Backweli's Island Hospital re.
port, says, "Eighty.tive Of every one hun
dred persons confess the use of intoxicating
drinks in greater ar less degree; sixty
one in every hundred admit that they are
Incorporate drinkers or habitual drunk
ards"
In tracing this vast amount Of crime to
its causes, il is found that there are ~ Il
censea liquor shops in the city, while 1902
sell without license and in defiance of law !
aud chat The great mass of these sell on
the Sabbath as freely, if not more so, than
Other days.
So glaring and great are these evils,
that the better portion Of the people ale
moving in the matter. A double delega-
ton OF citizens, American and Gcrm9n,
waited on the Police Commissioners reccn.
tly, to present memorials on the Sunday
Liquor Traffic. Messrs. PelLiah PERT,
James Brown, G. o, Halstcd, Norman
White. Roswell Spraguc, A. g. Nelson,
James W. Bcekman, and Other well known
gentleman, with Mcssrs. MoIlcr Rcchcr,
and other Germans, composed tue dclcga-
ton.
Mr.. PERT, i'll presenting the memorial
briefly stated its objects and expressed The
hopo that, 50 far as they came within the
81 ace Of the Department, they would be
carried out.
Mr. Brown thought the responsibility for
the exciting state Of things was largely with
the magi,tracy and 10 prosecuting officers.
Numerous complaints had already been
made which bad Rot prosecuted. lie was
not certain as to the power Of the police
to arrest o.tenJtls against the Sunday Ii
quor Laws.
Mr.. White said the evil Of tho traffic
under consideration were 50 obvious, and
affected 60 deeply the moral condition of
the city, that the Press and public would
demand, or they had q right to demand,
The execution OF the laws. Surely the
magistrates would not obstuct their enforce
meut, WITT overwhelming proofs that while
they were left IN neglect all law was com
paratlycIy poweIless. He directed the at
tcution Of the Commissioners To- the City
ordinance Of 1855, which makes every
sunday sale Of liquor II mislcmcanor; TO
the excise law Of 1857; which provides a
penalty cf $50 for each Offence, cither OF
selling on any day without license, or Of
'eiling on Sunday ii licensed, aul makes
the duty Of every policeman 10 arres' Of
Icnlers; to the Metropolitan Police Act,
which ailiXcs Il fine Of $50 TO every Sun
day sale, and requires the Police Board to
execute the laws protecting the SABBATH,
aul to the statute piohibling ail traffic on
that day, under 4 penalty of contiscation
Of the goods exposed for sale, whether ii
quors or dry goods.
1t is well remarked in this connection,
that no law has power, and no executive
department is entitled to respect, So long
Il, particular classes or interests are permit
ted to defy public authority and pursue
their dopr dations upon the morals and
woif.nc Of society. The principle is IS ap.
piicable TO any other community as New
York and is worthy the serious considcra-
ton OF good citizens cverywAcre.
Tolcdo Blal2.