The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-06
EDUCATE, EDUCATE ,


quotes Quetelet thus: 1" Experience de-
monstrates in effect, with all the evidence
possible, this opinion, which may at first
glance appear paradox, that 1t is society
achich prepares the crime, and that the
criminal is but the instrument which ere-
cuteS." Section 26 of the declaration of
principles adopted by the National Con-
gress on Penitentiary and Reformatory
Discipline" asserts While this Congress
would not shield the convicted criminal
from the just responsibility Of his mis-
deeds, it arraigns society itself as in no
slight degree accountable for the inUasion Of
its rights and the scagfare upon its interests,
practiced By the criminal classes. Does
society take all the steps which it easily
might, to change, or at least to improve
the circumstances in our social state that
lead to crime, or when crime has been
committed to cure the proclivity to it,
generated by these circumstances 1t
cannot be pretended. Let society then,
lay the case earnestly to it conscience, and
strive to mend in both particulars.
Offence, we are told by a high authority,
must come; but special woe is denounc-
ed against those through whom they come.
Let us take heed that that woe falls not
on our head"
When profound thinkers like Buckle,
Quetelet, and others, with practical
humanitarians, like members Of the Prison
Reform Congress, enunciate the principles
above set forth, it is impossible for any well
wisher of the society which has, as part Of
its current records, the last report of the
Virginia penitentiary, to avoid, in solemn
earnestness, making the inquiry" Does
the society of which these criminals are
members, take all the steps, which it easily
might, to change, or improve, the circum-
stances which lead to crime 2" Alas per-
Torrance to promise, in this regard, is
proportioned like Falstaff's pennyworth
of bread to all that sack" Society opens
wide its eyes to spy out the criminal,
while it keeps them closed to the crime it
is allowing to be prepared for future catas-
trophe.
Personal freedom of action, without
moral restraint, is fraught with danger,
and moral restraint cannot be effectively
assured, unless intellectual development
brings reason to the aid of superstition.
"The double movement, moral and intel
lectual, is essential to the very idea of civil
lzation, and includes the whole theory Of
mental progress. To be willing to per-
form our duty is the moral part to know
how to perform it is the intellectual part
while the closer these two parts are knit
together, the greater the harmony with
which they work; and the more accurately
the means are adapted to the end, the more
completely will the scheme of our life be
accomplished, and the more securely shall
we lay foundation for the further advance
meut of mankind" Moral and intelec.
tual ignorance broods over our State, like
thunder cloud, from any part of which
an angry stroke of crime, like deadly
fash of lightning, may be launched against
society
To guard our property against injury
from natural causes, we place light
ming conductors upon our houses, which
attract and disarm the thunderbolts Of
heavens artillery aud if we would at
tract and disarm the bolts which are
hurled with such deadly effect against So
ciety, from the brooding cloud of moral
and intellectual ignorance, emanating from
the pit to which heaven and man accursed
slavery has been consigned, we must
erect school-houses, sufficient in number
aud power to attract and disarm the
shafts which ignorance threatens to launch
against society from the gloom which it
creates, and ia which it exists. Daniel
O'Connell's cry was Agitate Agitate |
Agitate Be our watch word and deed,
Educate Educate Educate and the
time to do, be No,c, not Then.