The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-28
ENGLAND.
The Rumnuism of Londou

character In barbarous people and in defined
races where the civilization is low and the type
OF life "a Tudimentary, there Is national or pOpu.
lar character, because there is not much variety
OF classes, eoucRtioD, or intelligence. But iu q
large, complex and CT iviliZed community, such
as our own, where tue circumstances Of life
vary from the zenith TO the nadir OF means,
refinement, and in everything that makes
IT is preposterous to speak of gene
rc character at all. 1t, Then, there is no such
thing as English character generally, it is
lower, worse or better, than 1t used to be.
Whether We are, as people, less courageous,
less public spirited, with less reverence tor law
and order than in the old days, Is q matter OF
sterile inquiry. 1t is of much more Importance
to see whether we are suffering under any evils
that beset society, aud that seem likely to m AXE
remedy, but do not remedy. There is one great
fact which we should be glad to think was
public attention, but which at any rate
is u good deal talked aDOut. This fact is the
growing impunity which attends lawessness
and crime in our great cities, especially in
London. 1t is all very fine TO talk Of au English
mans natural reverence for law, and the sub
lime feelings inspired by the cOnstable's stat.
There are among us here IN London-in what
is, by melancholy irony, called the centre OF
civiliZation-many thousands OF meu who laugh
at this old world sentimentality. They have no
respect for the law, for their lives and talents
and strength are devoted to daily breaking it;
and as TO the constable and his staff, they only
consider him vile body on which 1t is their
duty TO experiment with all their skilled know
ledge In the arts OF gouging, mutllanon, and
kicking TO death. They have declared war
against society, aud they find that society is
afraid to meet them with the only arms which
can subdue them. They habitually employ
force, because they know they will not be met
with force. They are perfectly aware that the
Executive is paralyzed, and burst not extermi-
nate them. SO they are perfectly right to use
their strength. Here we all are just in the old
way, reading the police reports at breakfast,
wringipg our hands, groaning after the fashion
OF the Brltons weeping that our houses are not
safe, our watches in daily danger, and only con-
sional burglar, garotter, or highway roboer in
the streets OF London at MONDAY because at
present the trade OF robbery does not employ so
many skilled han1s as its undoubted profits
might reasonably attract
We are not going through the tedious and
m ouotonous diary of London crme; except tor
statistical and so-cale1 scientific purposes, it's
] ust as useless as registering the showers. Nor
time IN rGkiug up all the impressive language
OF all the magistra es, judges of Assize, Char.
men Of Quarter Sessions, Old Bailey Commis-
tioners, ard the rest OF the officials who indIf-
ferently-and many OF them very indltierently-
admuIster justice, to prove the extent and
increa-e of crimes against property, lie, aud
limb IN London. We know all about it. We
kLoW that there are thieves haunts, Just as
there are other hauuts OF social evils which in
their way are not much less pestiferOus to So
ciety. Aud we know that in either case we
don't choose to know about them. II our neigh
Dor or our AGO 1aintance is garroted or robbed,
sibe. The erosser mind, intent only on
the police-rate banishes the unpleasant remi-
niscences OF the highway robbery or burgaryiin
the next street. The grocer's duty to MS
neighbor is one thing; his duty to his own per-
son is another. And though his nelghbOr's late
may be his own next week, 10 pay is Instant
and inevitable; to be robbed may be distant
indeed, he may escape altogether; many do.
~ any rate he chances 1t. To all other con5i-
deIations the sordid psrochial intelligence is
impenetrabe. What is II to the London trades
nan that London is disgrace to civilization?
What does he care that the days OF nigh waymen
ale revived when there is not the least excuse
for our pers onal insecurity? 10 keep do wu the
parish rates is the beginning aud end the
whole duty OF the London vestryman aud rate
payer.
1t has recently come out, though we all
knew it before that there are certain districts
OF London in which it is unsafe for decent
ana in the Police Courts, that Asatia is revived,
and that in certain places, for all practical
purposes, the Queens writ will not run. Law
lCssness denes law; and crime is au established,
recognized. oil but permitted, vocation and
business. Just as, in the Men of the Time, you
know all, and sometimes more than all, about
every body, 40 the police are perfectly acquainted
with the lives and works and daily gains, the
few failures and the many successes of thou
sands OF ascertained and proved enemies of
society. But nothing is done to check or
prevent their crimes, because it is beautiful
and holy characteristic of English law and man
nerB never to assume any mans guilt till il is
soemnly proved, and to allow no guardian OF the
public safety to prevent crime. The policemaus
duty is to walt and see an ofense committed,
and then to arrest the offender. All that the
highest Judge or magistrate can do is to
punish crime; 1t is only oy accident, aud at his
own peril that anybody is allowed but never
encouraged, to prevent 1t. We very much plume
ourselves upon this beautiful aud national
characteristic. When crime is committed, we
delight in the spectacle Of known and eXpe-
repcsd sCoundrel backing himself AGAINST the
Law. In the legal duel between "a murderer and
Justice, we give the prisoner not only a tair
start, but we throw every obstacle iu the way of
getting at the truth. Aud We smack our lips
and thank heaven we are not as those french
men; and a burglar or assassin caplRg pun
ishmsnt is considered legitimate Triumph to
trial by Jury. aud all our other British lnstitu-
tions. "Cnmnal liberty will soon nave to &c
toasted with "clYil and religious hOerty.n.-
London Saturday ReUlfIo.
Antiquarian Discoveries in England
Interesting discoveries have just be n made
by the opening OF a barrow on Eredinny HUI,
SIX miles west of PenZance, IN Corn wall, Eng
land The barrow is nearly complete circle,
with a diameter Of thirtyeght feet, enclosed by
an outer rcle OF large granite slabs set on
edge. trench having been SINK in the middle
OF the mOuHd to a depth of about eighteen
inches, the explorers came 10 a large pile of
granite rocks heaped together promiscuously.
The course of one OF these, which sloped In an
easterly direction at a distance OF seven feet,
was followed, End led to Hat stone three feet
by two feet On raising this stone the run of
an urn was seen, tiled with fine dark earth, and
further exploration proved that this was one OF
the ancient Celtic klst veaus, and one which
has turned out to be unique in that district
Instead OF being formed in the usual way, OF
four stones set on edge, il was constructed of
two stones 10 each wall, the upper one slightly
overlapping the other in such manner that
the urn, which was placed mouth downwards,
was tightly wedged.