Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-19
THE CARNIVAL OF CRIME.

We are in the midst of great sarni-
val of crime, and Heaven only knows
when it is TO come to an end Human
life in Memphis. it would be dishonest
not TO confess, is insecure. Let US not
misunderstood the causes which pro-
mote this state Of things, and not at
tribute our woes to innocent agencies.
Certainly politics have nothing to DO
in the matter The rebels are not kill
ing the Union men, and the Union men
are not killing the rebels So far as the
observance Of the peace is brought into
question, there is union and concord be-
tween the two peoples There is an IN
sidious poison that nestles in the under
stata of society, and silently, but surely,
springs forth bearing all manner of evil
fruit The preacher will tell US that
it is sin. Very we'll, but the
term is too broad Certainly sin
IS at the bottom of all our woes but
sin is an abstract idea, and develops itself
in a multitude of different forms. Let
the pnlpi. as II cannot eradicate the
cause, strike at the most prominent devel-
opment or symptom, as some physicians
DO in the treatment of disease. But first
ascertain what that is. Other classes
wall aserbe tue dangers through which
We are passing, to different causes. One
win say that our drinking saloons are the
great promoters Of Generalization, aud
plunge the country into crime, Another
will pirate of defective training, and pro-
ceed to preach homiles upon the govern
ment of the young. And SO every one
has theory by which he judges the
moral status Of society
1t is quite apparent, however, to all
of every theory, that the public safety
demands action, positive, energetic ac-
lion. The administration Of justice
uust he sure, if we would have men
dread the consequences Of committing
crimes; and without going into discus
sion of the origin of the present state Of
things, we have to say on our own ac-
count, that so long as the criminal law
is loosely administered, men will over
ride il without dread of its penalties.
A man of any considerable address,
nossessed of little money, is absolutely
certain to escape punishment for the
commission of the highest grade of
crime. The fear of the death penalty de-
nounced hy the law against the murderer,
does not for n moment influence him to
lorbearance He knows he cannot be
hanged His chances are ten to one of
escaping the State prison. Where
there Is no fear of punishment there is
no restraint on the passions of men.
What protection then have We for SO.
ciety None whatever. If we are alive
to-day, we owe it TO the forbesrance OF
muIderers, not to the awful terrors Of the
law
Rut there As al under strata of society
that can be bought with money, either to
commit felony, or to go upon the jury
and acquit felon. Our daily reports of
crime, ranging in dignity from the of.
Tense Of stealing pair of boots to COM
hitting murder, show how great is the
criminal proportion Of our population.
1t is beginning TO be feared that it will
ultimately, in numbers, acquire the as
cendancy. What farce, then, is a muir
der trial Good men struggle to escape
jur.es and though certain qualifications
are required, it so happens that they are
composed Of those who are slow to con-
Yict. This under strata Of society can
govern the administration of justice. If
il cannot command the juries by SIT
ting on them, il can determine their
verdicts by the testimony Of per-
jured witnesses What, then, are
We to do Tor protection If We
cannot punish crime, and thus make
criminals afraid to commit it, can We not,
by system of local administration,
drive them oat from the cityf Can our
police not arrest every man Who is un-
known by them 10 have some honest EN-
ploymen;, or character sufficient to raise
presumption Of good intentions Our
city is oyer-run with men whom 10 one
knows What their occupation is, may
be ascertained by tracking them to those
dark, aamnsble dens which the public
administration permits to exist in all
parts Of the city. Let the honest people
be quick TO make some sort If more
men, for mutual protection
'- SUSPENDED.