The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-24
The Church,s Responsibility for Crime.


One Of the mos! important subjects thsl
sAould command the attention Of any commu-
nifty, government or nation, is that which bears
upon the relation Of crime to religious ins,rus-
ton or tho absence of it; aud for this city it
is subject of the most vital interest, because
here, in great measure, is formed that moral
and religious sentiment which gives tone to
the whole country. From New York, as the
centre of commercial and political power, there
is disseminated an influence for veal or woe
which is felt in the most extreme quarter oF
the United States. If, therefore, we would
have the streams pure, the fountain. must DO
pure also. But how shall this thing be accom-
plished2 Certainly not as the Christian con-
gregations of this city have for years been
trying to do it, by removing themselves as fast
and as far as possible from the source and
from the place where their presence iss most
needed. With an ignorance which is unpaT-
donable, or neglect which is criminal, they
have violated the plainest precepts of the law
OF relationship between crime aud religion,
and have HE'D themselves away from the con-
terminating presence Of the vicious and crimi-
nal classes. OF late, however, they have been
awakened to a sense of the great danger in
which they constantly stand by the fearful
reaction of their neglect, and are trying as
far as possible, to remedy their mistakes. We
refer especially to the removal and demolition
of Protestant churches in the lower parts Of
the city, where the greatest need for them
exists, and the later attempts to establish mis-
sions here.
This error Of the churches will be moro ap-
parent il We take that section OF the city lying
south of the line of Houston street, where
we find population Of 2GS,06 souls, for
whose religious accommodation ninety-eight
churches and missions have been founded.
This disproportion of churches to population
allows but one church for every 2,7O4 per-
sons-an average nearly nine times greater
than the entire country, taking its most des-
titute borders, exhibits. We need not WON
der, therefore, that in this section of the
CITY, where the peopl, are many aud the
churches and missions, Protestant and Catbo-
lie, are few, reside mostly The hordes Of crimi-
nails and paupers who crowd our prisons and
almshouses every year. Last year the number
of paupers cared for in the public institutions
of the city, in charge of the Commissioners u
Charities and Correction, was $4,000,
and by the Commissioners of Emigra--
ton, on Wards Island, $4,000 per-
sons-the latter, of course, composed mainly,
if not wholly, of newly arrived emigrants..
But, besides these, another large number have
been cared for by voluntary benevolent insti--
tutions. Tne arrests for crimes of violence
during the year numbered about nine thou
sand, and for crimes against property and other
violations Of law several thousands more. To
support this large army Of criminals and pau
pers the people had to pay in taxes, besides
voluntary contributions nearly one and three
quarter millions of dollars, together with three
millions more for q police guard to watch and
arrest them.
But, while we say that the criminal popula-
ton reside mainly below Houston street, IL Ia
true that high crimes and misdemeanors are
committed in other sections of the city by resi-
dent scoundrels in those sections. And now,
why is it that such condition of society
exists here? We believe that it il
owing to the lack of churches and reli-
gious instruction. Professionalism, whch
once held this ground, has, as it were,
shaken the dust from its feet and no longer
eats and drinks with publicans and sinners, as
the Master once did, but rather with the
wealthy and the polished and the moral por-
ton of the community, and Catholicism has
hao 1ofl ct - e..
the people. 1t may be replied that the popu-
lation rightfully belong to that Church but in
a case of this sort no sect should have .
monopoly of ius.ructing the masses in the
truths of Gods holy word, and it is very mani
fest that no single denomination can do this
work unaided. The criminal classes, thus left
to themselves, as far as moral restraint is con-
cerned, have developed freely and fully.
They are restaIned, therefore, ii at all, from
the preparation of more and greater crimes
only by the fear of the legal consequences Of
their acts But this influence, weak as it ia
in itself, is made much more feeble
by the diatoriness of the law and by
its evident Partially in many instances.
And it is, perhaps, doubtful whether tho
wicked and the ungodly are not as often en-
boldcned in their crimes by the knowledge Of
the many like themselves who escape punish
ment as they arc restrained by the examples
of the few who receive the just reward of their
deeds. We are glad, however, to notice the
growth of different and better sentiment in
our criminal courts, and less Difference paid TO
pothouse politicians than formerly. 1t has
come late, but we welcome it as better late
than never.
While New York has grown, immensely In
wealth and commercial greatness
she has remained dwarfed morally. The first
Al. IL - Ia o;t ;nsr