The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-10-25
MstsIlaneuns :. Selections. |.
Ignorance and IntemperanCe
tlre Parents of Crime.

tne Parents OF Crime.
That ignorance and intemperance ar
the prolific and chief sources of crime
is fact which no intelligent person vii
undertake to deny, for it is too plainly
established by history and the daily
observations of all, to be questioned
1t is chiefly to provide for and protec
society against the evils resulting direct
ly or indirectly fIom these causes, tha
alms-houses and prisons are 7bnilt ant
police officers and courts are sustained
That with universal education and tota
abstinence from alcoholic drinks, there
would yet be some criminals agains
whom it would be necessary to guafc
society, cannot be denied but tn,
number of these would be comparative
ly SO small, that the burthen woulc
hardly be felt. This, it is hardly nee
essary to say, would be due to two
things: 1st. Educated and sober mer
are not as likely to be led into crime,
as the ignorant and Incorporate; and,
I'D With no ignorant or dissolute per
sons on whom to operate, there would
be less temptation to the unscrupulous.
So that. in diffusing education and
promoting temperance, we reduce the
catalogue of crime by cutting it off al
both ends. 'e -lt a.,.s s1afao 7ii tsh
1t is doubtful if single individual
could be found in an American com
munity who would undertake to con,
trovert these positions, for the reason
that their correctness is beyond ques-
ton. 1t is known and read Of all men.
And yet, how difficult it often is to
secure the action which should be in
duced by such important and notorious
facts! How Indifferent are the masses
of the people most deeply interested
in the matter, to any steps proposed
for their protection from these gigantic
evils! How can parent rest indiffer-
ent to such things, while his child is
SO directly subject to the ruin which
threatens the youngi @
Our attention has been called to this
subject by reading the fol
lowing statements in regsrd to the
prisons named: "A fs ss,lr szes. 5ao 6.
The. official report of Sing Sing
Prison, New York, shows that of $40
prisoners, 10 cannot read or write; "a
never have been at a school of any
kind; IS can read but not write; $40
read and write imperfectly; AZ re-
ceived a good common English educa-
ton; 8 went through college; 485 of
the prisoners had been habitual drunk
ards, and about one-third of these COM
mitted their respective crimes whilst
intoxicated. '1sr '-,53 10 =
Rev. B. G. Smith, Chaplain of
Auburn State Prison, reports that of
the whole number of prisoners, $40, 8
received collegiate education; 8 an
academical education; 204 common
education; 2s7 very poor education;
1S8 were without any education: ex-
cessive Incorporate, 258; moderately
Incorporate, 245; total intemperate,
sos; temperate drinkers, l59; total
abstinents, 8. .'oH tr s''7'i..g' Ta
Mr.. Pilbury, Warden of the Con
nectIcut State Prison, reports: Whole
number of prisoners, $50, of which not
a single one received collegiate or
classical education, nor has any one SO
educated ever been an inmate of this
prison. Of this number s per cent
,onld read and cipher; 46 per cent
could read and write; % per cent.
could neither read nor write; 70 per
cent never learned trade; "a per cent.
began to learn a trade and did not
inish, or learned and did not follow it;
per cent. followed regular trades; 44
ger cent. nearly one halt) committed
heir crimes whilst intoxicated; only 2
,er cent. of these convicts were temper
tie, and could read and write, and fol- |
owed trade; "a per cent. were never
IS per cent. acknowledge
themselves babitual drunkards, and not |
single one could be found who was
lot only married but was temperate
nd followed a trade. ,ihsa 0i loi5aii|
There is another point made PROM
nent III the above statistics, and that Is J
be great Importance, not only of educa.
ion and sobriety, but of usefulemploy-
,ent which can best be secured
trough a regular trade. Next to good
rinciples well established in the heart
nd life of young man, there is
othing SO valuable to him as the set
ement of his mind on some one
pecifc Gfe7calling-something that he
an feel to be his permanent depend
nee for success. The range of choice
/ this respect is ample, and beyond
lat of any other country on the globe.
70 youth-male or female-need to be
EMBARRASSED in making a selection, ex-
spt from the great variety Of useful
nd safe avenues which constantly in
|
tie the young to ways of honor and
While the degree of success
lay depend in measure on the
laptabilityq of the individual to
articular. calling, there is little danger
failure in any earnest and persistent
fort. Better, far better, that the per-
IN best fitted for what the world calls
menial position should undertake the
ost difficult calling, than for him to
aste the talents he has in crime Or
Ileness. ..-.,..,.-.,. II
This subject is too momentous and s
'mprehensiye to receive more than (
'rsory notice in this place, but it is t,
,ped the few facts and thoughts here ,
ibnitted may be of use in suggesting ,
rther reflection on the part of the /
ader, TO the end that more effective /
easures be taken toward the remedies !