The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-11
the LIMITS AND SPHERE OF GOVERNMENT



by Mrs. woodruff, the female esndldAss for the
Presidency
There are no circumstances existing within fhs
range OF government which arc deleterious TO tha
conditions among which they are found that DO MOI
come within the sphere OF ils control n il were at
tempted to enumerate all such conditions a very
large proportion existing would cone n tyr men.
tion Special reference will 10 made 10 such ony A
are represented by crime. Indulgence hellae-sness
ana perverseness While government las lss Outs
to perform regarding all these. Ia their relations "a
society In general and the pubic welfare, n must
not be lost sight OF that they form part Of taa
general public, and. as such part. IL has a duty 70
render even 10 them ana 10 the relations they ses-
tain as individuals TO other individuals.
The criminal Is not only the s0n aud brother boa
often the husband and father. Though be mas have.
by ACT forfeited the guarantee n liberty gov.
eminent extends to the people. he has not iaercbY
sundered family relations, responsibilities and da.
ties. IL IL the duty OF government 10 foster tncse
while protecting public welfare by prescntiag tha
criminal from pursuing his course q individual
freedom at the expense OF the freedom or hapyl.
OF other individuals the pubic. In this view
penItentiarics should not he what they are bas
should be changed into vast workshops, WHARF tho
convicted may labor at some not altogether dlstate-
full employment, 10 the same end that he should
labor when free. The theory OF puntnlng crime is
not all that should be taken into consideration r..
garding the criminal As now practised IL 10 ex.
ceedingly doubtful whether the State does not 10
the individual greater injustice than ~ has doac
the public. The state should pursue sach a course
as Is perfectly clear from injustice such a. can con
scentiously be held as committing no crime agansi
the criminal. 10 render 20 him what ami only what
he has rendered another Is maintaining the ola
Mosaic rule OF can eye for an eye,r which
in these later times should be obsolete. The world
mas from the conditions OF Mosaic times by the
experience OF thousands OF years. Pear was the
only controlling power then. Should IL be so now;
Prevention is better than remedy besides there
such thing as remedy Tor crime already committed.
The criminal can by no possible means-nor can the
Statc-undo the wrong Rcparation IN most cascf
is Impossible, but should be rendered whenever pos
slbe. 1t becomes then, the chief duty OF the STATE
to prevent the recurrence OF wrong by putting such
restraint upon those who are inclined to II as viii
efectualy prevent their nclinatons 1nding express
sion.
Suppose that all living persons who have ever
committed any Infringement upon the rights, iber.
ties or privileges of others OF sufficient moment ia
warrant preventative means being applied were
restrained from miugling win the public. what
would be The ratio OF decrease IN crmes These per-
sons have trespassed upon the public welfare and
it must be protected from further tespass II IL tho
duty OF the State TO see this done. At th6
same time the means OF prevention mus,
cupable ones rights further lhan such pre-.
venion actually requires. AZ member of society
he has forfeited 10 society," 10 certain extent, ths
freedom OF expressing his privileges ana rights
individual, 10y the Arrangement upon the priv.
leges amt rlghts OF another individual, also a mems
Der OF the same society; ana ios tins society IL In
duty bound 10 restrain hn. 10 only requires thas
tno present nniyersaly adopted theory that crime
ing be carried TO is Legitimate sequences to teach
the proper limitation 10 this restraiat. Having
rived at shat IL remains for the State To colcede
every other individual privilege 10 hin
u should be his right ana privilege to labor and re-
ccve ITS fun recompense 10 which the State should
have right further than the cost OF his maintc.
nance. The profits should given those dependent
| upon him. or should go towards PREPARATION ior tue
| damages done by him. lie should have the prlyi.
lege or amusements, shouldA aye access 10 puble
| library and tie dliy news. His whole restraint
should be made as nearly as possible analogous To
the everyday liIc Of useful ciiizen. He should
longer be tue condemned crimlaal but The nembeI
OF society whom the puDc welfare requires shall bo
restrained rom following The freedom his prociiyi'
ties Indicate.
There is another class OF individuals, who, either
from circumstances beyond their control, from indo
lence, from incapacily from settled habits or from
perverseness, do not perform sufficient labor to main.
| tain themselves ana families in condition thai
| renders them useful members OF society. Society,"
suiers more or less from al The different representa-
tives OF this class. They must live and society mus
In some manner fnrnlsn the means to them OF living.
II II is not earned 1t Is begged or stolen. There
those also Who being too honest to steal and proud
to beg, suffer untold priyauons. All who would can
not obtain rehluneratve occupati0n or that which
they are suited TO perform. 10 ali o these a, nembeu
OF society," Us part Of the people, government owes
Il duty. Society, OF which they are part owei
them The necessities of life, even Ii it be compelled
to force them to them. IL cannot he made tnd
duty OF Individual members OF society 10 look after the
| amelioraton OF these conditions. II is u general
condition growing out OF the relations OF all ita
| members and hence becomes governmental function.
not only SO far they as class are concerned, but
also TO protect individuals of other classes nom being
made 10 bear the burdens of Icln either by v0iun-
taly contributions or from she i1positons " beg
| gary ana THEFT Every one VINO mas attained proper
age and Is possessed OF moderate health IL capable
OF performing sufficient service TO support him
her.sl, and by doing useful member or So
prodactlons II he clS 70 te sam ao,ss o. us
clety should supply IL 70 him. Il he win lshar
socley should compel him. Il he cannot labor So
cieLy should maintain him. We're this practice once
instituted the dens OF namy aud vice, the snkholes
VI crime aud disgrace, the pest honses OF disease
ana the crammed o-suiocation attcs and cellars OF
our large cities would be empted OF their occupants
aud they be made useful instead Of as now inlqui-
| tous, members OF society. Taey are dead weight
society has to carry. IL Is duty society owes them
ana Itself 10 compel tnem 10 assist in maintaining
Its general progress The same principle that APP
| plies 10 the criminal should also include them. Inc
| general innuence they exert upon society Is even
worse than that or the downright erin nal, FOR
where the criminal Ii one they number thousands.
II 1t Is necessary for the interests OF the people that
oi his liberty ana IL Il tile sphere OF government
TO do IL, how much more would it DO FOR It's
interest 10 transposc these leechcs upon the vitality
OF society into producing members oil 1t. AS sub
Ject wherein tho public welfare suffers II Is strictly
WitHl Inc sphere VI governments Otuer Citations OF
Improbable members OF society could be made, but
sufficient has been alluded 10 indicate the general
limits and sphere OF government wnen considered
pnilosophcay. The evidences OF perfect govcrns
mcnt must not be sought among the most powerful
ana useful members OF society, but among the very
lowest classes good government can have no
classes 80 low In tue scale or Development use az
10 be detrimental 10 It's interests. And here Is the
test or governmental perfectabiIity II the United
States as nation occupies ANY superior or conspicu.
Gus position in prophecy which il 10 make IL repre-.
seniatiyef IT Is The point around which consOida-
= mr.
from which central shall reyolve until the world il
ITS object, 1t becomes the imperative duty OF our
statesmen and legislators to extend tho sph ere OF
government untt ils limits are bounded by nothing
that IL detrimental 10 the general welfare OF the pco
pie. such government, and such only, can DC Gu.
during while becoming universal.
VICTORIA q. WOODRUFF, a Broad street.
u2NAlSIlC ARIES