The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-09-21
THE INCREASE OF CRIME.

States III particular. arl0uS reaS0n
have been assigned for it. The growth
of population, and the increasing de-
mand for skilled labor which has re-
duced a large number of common work
men and laborers to dire pO~verty-the
subversion of Christian faith and NOR
atty by the materialistic teachings of
a new and popular Philosophy which
deprives Man of all accountability to a
higher Power. Add to these pernicious
9 isms which have destroyed the very
foundations of American society, and
the facilities of the Press through it's
ubiquitous reporters to ferret out all
dark deeds and make every little par
ticular public, and still when all is said
the problem remains unsolved. Places
where there is little competition of in
dustries-where the very name of the
new Philosophy or it's founder is I'M
known, and where no New England
free light and free love- has pene-
trated, are yet as crimeful in proportion
as an Ubiquitous Metropolis.
Perhaps the last cause, the ubiquitous
Reporter, and the morbid taste he fos-
tiers by his loathsome details has. more
to do with the increase Of crime than
any two others. The spirit of imitation
is one of the most dominant faculties in
the human mind. By a kind of unrea-
soning fascination men who witness
the execution of a criminal are often
known to perpetrate the same crime
and meet the same punishment. Some
English law-givers recognized this
fact, by opposing public punishments
upon the plea that after public execu-
tons crime increased with fearful
rapidity.
Our newspapers TEEN with horrible
details. The Aqua Tofana of the Bor-
gias-the poisoned gloves and boquets
of Catherine de Medecis-the love phil
tres of Brinvilliers, all, and more are
repeated in the criminal codea0f to-day.
Is wife or husband weary Of the mar
rage tie9 The most subtle of poisons
whose effects simulate natural decay are
at hand to rid them o Teach other. Since
the decision too in the case of DR.. Paul
Schoeppe's chemical tests are found ut
terly unreliable to convict any careful
pOisoner.
Is an heir weary of waiting for his
Inheritance ? Pistol, knife, or hammer
even, come naturally to his hand
Whole families are murdered, packed
away in straw, OF chopped up in hogs
heads according to the convenience of
their murderers. The public taste
feasts upon these horrors, and alas, to
the shame of humanity, the public
mind assimilates the poison, and is
seized with murderOus emulation.
The last cas- we have heard of, and
n which we must acknowledge has
left a most painful impression upon
us, is the lynching of three men for theft
in Florence Ala, on the 9Th inst.
In frontier places, or where law is in
sufficient to protect people and proper
ty, the community in self-defence are
forced to band together for mutual
protection. Of course many desperate
and needless deeds of blood are com
mitted, but still there is an evident me-
cessity for speedy and red-handed JUS
tice. There are other cases where com
munities, outraged by some unpremedi-
tated act of guilt in their midst, are I'M
willing to allow the criminal the slight
est chance of escape, and too impatient
and excited to await the tedious law
process. But these are usually cases of
great exceptional crimes which put the
criminal outside the pale of humanity.
But what a we say of the lychingin
Florence The mel were only thieves,
(there is a lame attempt to fasten I'M
proved murders upon one,) had stolen
watches and jewelry, and other things,
all of which were recovered. Thereisno
doubt that the law wouldhave punished
them to the fullest extent of it's powers,
as the law always does petty criminals.
But the people were eager for human
sacrifice. They forced the Jail, took the
men out and hung them. One had been
wounded mortally in attempting an
escape, but life enough remained to
feel the rope around his neck.
The idea may suggest itself to many
persons that the punishment rather ex-
ceeded the offence, since thefts unless
aggravated by other offences rarely
meet the death penalty. But more re-
mains.
The ladies of the community Gender
hearts, and the co1ored citizens, refused
TO allow the bodies to be buried within
the cemetery. A little corner of con-
secrated ground was refused the ashes
of these Pariahs.
Blessed Womanhood Of Florence
Death which wipes out all old scores,
couldn't wipe out the memory of the
gold watches and breast-pins they
missed for a few hours.
Yet We remember the story of a thief
who supped with his Master in Paradise,
and women in general are too apt to
apply it to themOst God-forsaken Grim
mails.
No such weakness for the fair and
ebony F~lorentines. We don't think
thieves viii trouble them in a hurry,
nor will other things, such as humanity
charity, and q few nconsidered trifes.
This page in our criminal record is
sickening, but only adds another to the
list which Is fast assuming alnnsfrnne