The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-11-23
Moral C~0mtagiOms ~

Moral cOntagi0n, being n natural phe-
nomenOn, is consequently one OF the
laws to which God has subjected all
created things. We succeed in the dis
covery of this law by analysing moral
facts and by studying the circumstan-
ces in which they occur, in the same
manner as we succeed IN discovering
the laws which preside owe the phe-
nomena of the physical and organic
worlds, by studying. perseyeringly. the
facts appertaining thereto, as we'll as
duced. Now, the conclusion to be
drawn from the facts which we have
related is forcibly this, which will re-
present the law that has directed the
commission of these acts: Every man
Hesitation of the instincts of the mind,
of the sentiments and passions of every
kind, eXciteS similar sentiments and
passions in individuals who are capable
of feeling them i'll Il certain intensity.
This law explains how Il certain act
may affect some and not others. One
could not better compare mans moral
nature than to a sOunding-bOard. The
sounding OF one note causes vibrations
in the same note in all the boards which,
being susceptible OF emitting, are. in
t1uencedb by the sound emitted. In the
same way, the manifestation Of q SELL
timents of Il passion, eXcites the anne
instructive element in every individual
susceptible, by his moral constitution
Of feeling more OF less acutely this same
instructive element.
If this law acts beneficially in afford
ing us the means of putting into aC-
tivity, of exciting and Strengthening by
good example, the higher sentiments Of
a n IT also hn0nVOnS a EIsF,tn nf nT1I in
causing moral perversi0n by the infu-
acc of had example, by the recOunting
of criminally immoral acts, which yiVi-
fly, incite, strengthen the evil instincts,
sentiments, passions, of the mar whose
natural moral, is already below par. It
is necessary, therefore, to take this law
into serious consideration, III order that
1t may operate as much as possible for
good, and remove as far as possible
those circumstances which tend to make
it the source of evil. And these latter
circumstances occur too frequently in
our day, by the relation Of hideOus
crimes with which all the newspapers
are filled, and particularly those which,
by their low price, are intended to be
read by the lower classes. If the re-
| cital Of immoral, criminal acts is not
dangerous for individuals of good parts,
who from their mental constitution
reprObate these acts with horror, who
have only an aversion of what is bad,
it is incontestible that, for those NOR
ally defOrmed, in whom tendencies to
evil are very powerful, easily excited,
or already developed, either by their in
herent activity, Or by the cOrrupting in
fuence of immoral surroundings, and
in whom the moral sentiments which
0pn nTfa GroJISfTn To f1A IoToTn nod tom
denotes are feeble OF absent-it is in
~cOntestible, | say, and [ have brought
forward numerous facts in evidence
thereof, that the publication of crimi-
nal acts is very dangerous to public
morality and security, because it stimu-
lates in these individuals the same de-
PRAYED tendencies which had Occa-
stoned these crimes, and aWakens
those sentiments, those pendants, those
passions !; and the desire to commit
similar acts then appears. Now, in
such morally-defOrmed individuals
who form the unfortunate dregS of so
ciGty, a class which is constantly re-
newed, and of whom the source is new
er exhausted, the recital of such acts
becomes to them a cause of crime, an6
consequently q cause Of danger to so,
ciety.
These individuals, abnOrmally con
structed i'll the moral part of their Ma.
tHre, real moral idiots, though perhaps
very intelligent, physically well-devel.
oped, and in good bodily condition
these individuals whom the public DIES.
scribe as heartless, whom magistrates
before whom they appear on variou,
charges, ACCUSE of being destitute o.
human feeling these individuals il
whom criminal tendencies are not com
manded by the sentiment of moral du
ty, by moral perception, by religion
feelings, and by other noble instincts O
humanity these individuals who con
slider their immoral and hideOus desires
without adherence, and whom crimi
leaves UnmOVed and without remOrse
who in way of regret, feel only wha
injuresthe success of their undertaking
at being captured and punished-thesu
individuals, ! say, will be tempted t.
commit crime it an evil desire excitet
by example becomes more powerful
than their other better feelings which
while they predpminated, restrainet
any criminal tendencies which thes
persons might have experienced, Thi
miserable scum of humanity so danger
Gus society, which produces ~exelusiYel
all the greatest criminals, and to whicl
wehave directedtoolittle att~entionupt
the present time, ought to be explore,
to the bottom.-[Journal of Mentd
Science, s ~-.