The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-17
Total number of deaths in the city in 10
Crime in the Land.

II mas come to pass that an individual cannot
take up newspaper now a days, no matter from
what section OF the country, but it contains the
record OF some gross outrage against the peace
and good order of society. Riots, murders,
burglaries and robberies, follow each other in
raPid succession, and in such variety of forms,
as to give tue mind barely time to recover from
the pain and surprise occasioned by some sad
spectacle Of human depravity before it Is again
called upon to suffer from some other act eciips-
ing i.s predecessor in atrocity and cruelty
Why is this SO ? Have the penalties OF crime
lost their terrors? Have the influences of re-
ligiOn lost their force Is the civilization of
which we boast but mask to cover the eviden-
ees of barbarism which surround us?
This is subject of grave and solemn consid-
Grafton, and, painful though it may be, it is one
which will have to be solved BIZ the rejecting
minds OF the country whilst there may yet be
time TO arrest the progress of an evil which must
essufedy have its origin is some cause beyond
tas mere casual effects of chance, or the occa-
slonA deViations of individuals from the paths of
honesty and virtue
Moral epdemics, like physical ones, owe their
existence to some neglect or disregard of those
0!giemo regulations which philosophy, strength
eHed by experience, has shown to be necessary
70 preserve regular and natural state OF exis
'eAce; hence it is that, although a chance blow
may produce mob, OR angry word be the
cause OF homicide, still there must be some
tIlhg morbldiy wrong in the system when that
o'o", or that word becomes the rule rather than
the exception.
some people attribute the multiplicity of
c'itle and OF wrong doing to the war, while 9th
sss atErlDute 1t to the claws delays" the
.ei.ies OF escape by the defects in the tribunals
VI justice. But these are, after all, only symp-
s' ' OF the dIsease-the cause must lie deeper
sun ana to our mind it is to be found in the
manifest manifest disregard to the long cherished rule
"nicn enIoins the rendering unto Caesar that
when mG belongs to Caesar
me converse Of this maxim is that which pro-
LUIS Tue evils of which we speak A spirit of
siu'o ana OF disobedience co the laws of the
Du"'FF Is the origin of the murders and other
'o'ss' 10 which we allude every man seems
,Ss 'ss up rule Of action for himself-he assumes
ALI rs a1 OIL construction, and sets at defiance
ai, Tglslation and established authority; he
t 10 have law of his own which ia higher
au Judges aid juries, and disproving these,
cb psAas upon his 'own right hand" and the we'll
H. revolver for the redressal of all injuries.
yaIIo anpie Is set in high places, and like the
,oiD lever which has it's origin in q drunken
to-o ol some impudent fool, is spreads itself
ot.L the palace of the millionaire to the cottage
ue isoorer.-Rock Island Union l6h
hopeful sign when members of the party
"1'ch Produced these evils set to work to re.
WIN their own people. The abolition black. re.
rao"ean'union party was the cause of thes.
"' That party, for years, systematically in
1cated disobedieuce to the laws of the coun
"y' set up their own opinions against the legal
a'''oh OF the constituted authorities; assumed
'le right to construe the laws of the land, AM
N''ooey the decisions of tho courts set at def
'1ce legislation and all established authority
"'''eo 70 nave q law of their own, higher tina
JUDGES anu juries; refused to render unto Cass
'nat winch belonged to C@sar encouraged, o.
gained and defended mobs, and gave sanc.io
70 sacn disregard of law and right that rio,
''ooeFies, burglars and murders were the natu