The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-01-19
THE CAUSE OF CRIME.
From the Evening Wisconsin.

From the Evening Wisconsin.
Professor Huxley recently created con
siderable sensation by stating, in pub
lie lecture in London, that he had Wit
messed as striking evidence OF barDarlty
in the streets of that great metropolis as
had ever met his eye in the remote por-
ton of the British colonies. This state
ment reminds us of Sherman's remarks
upon the Indian question when ne SAID
that in large cities it was necessary TO
station policeman on every other cor
ner to protect life and property; that
when such is the case in the highest CIV
liz Christian community, it Is strange
that better conduct should be expected
from the savage of the plains. These two
lessons should awaken inquiry as to what
claims we have to superior civilization.
Certainly when CRIME exists to the extent
it does at present in New York and some
of our other large cities; when people
are permitted to starve to death, as they
professionally do, in large numbers, In
England and Ireland, and as they do in
exceptional cases in this country, because
of misfortune, and the neglect OF the
busy world, there is certainly great room
for improvement in our system OF char
tiles and of punishment. The congress
now in session at Cincinnati, it is to be
hoped, may develop some suggestion
which may be of value in the solution OF
the numerous problems which, arise In
connection with our criminal jurispru
dence; but we also need the best efforts
of thoroughly organized association to
develop and control system which shall
prevent pauperism, thereby removing the
principal cause of crime. This subject
has attracted but little attention IN our
country up to the present time. we are
mindful Of the efforts which have been
made by denominations at different times,
also of the efforts in behalf of the news
bows homes. the women's homes, and the
noble efforts which have been so success
ful in reclaiming the FIVE Points, and q
few other localities all Of which is work
worthy of the highest commentator.
But we need moro general system,
which will reach the mass OF the poor,
prevade the whole social system. exer-
ting an influence at all times among them,
in such a manner as to become Ieit
through its beneficial acts-whlch must
be seen before it can become popular and
useful. Such system is possible. The
greatest cause of pauperism and conse-
quently of CRIME, is the lack of proper
preparation in youth for the pursuit of
some useful calling. This lack of proper
training exists among other classes than
those who may properly be designated
as the poor, and to quite as great de.
gree. There is a spread lack Of
interest among boys in regard to the
learning of trades when they become
of proper age. But worse than this,
there is more powerful organization In
every guild which denies the privilege of
such necessary preparation to large
number of those youths who are anxious
to become proficient as mechanics. Those
who never tried have little idea of the
difficulty of finding situation even for a
good, steady boy, because of these tyran-
nical organizations There can be no
doubt that this system is directly respon
sible to a limited degree for the Increase
of crime in the United States. In Eng
land, where the system of trades unions
is almost, if not fully as powerful as in
this country, we witness precisely the
same results. Crime is upon the increase,
and among several other reasons, because
honest labor is practically denied to a
large class who are willing to earn a lv-
ing, but who, because of this system, are
denied employment. Men and women
will generally steal before they will
starve; stealing begets familiarity with
all other crimes; consequently the present
labor system is, in measure, directly re-
sponsible for an increase of crime that is
becoming appalling. This being the
case, the labor system becomes legiti-
mate subject for legislative control, to an
extent which will remedy these we'll
known defects in its workings. Such an
interference would benefit the workman's
family directly if not himself, and we
think that we could demonstrate that
the best interests of the mechanic would
also be enhanchei by curling the arbi.
trary power of trades unions, which have
proven to be such expensive Injuries to
tens of thousands of poor mechanics
Here is an ample field for the explora
tions of the students of social science. aDd
it is to be hoped that their Investigation:
may ere long result in measures which
shall improve the class from which Grim
inalsar recruited.
a.
A xryac a..