, 1872-11-23
CAUSES OF CRIME,

CAUSES OF CRIME
There is curious contrast between the report
On the causes OF crime, just submitted by our
local Committee Of Five, and the resultsof the
latest murder trial IN London. The report lays
particular stress on the fact that the use of Iq
uor is responsible, to an extent greater than all
other CAUSES, for the spread Of crime; the er-
dict OF acquittal in the Taylor murder case.w.~
based upon the evidence that the excessive uss
Of strong drink had brought about temporary in
sanity, which relieved the prisoner Of the moral
|" responsibility for his crime. It would be diff
cult to imagine 3 wider breach than ia presented
hare. The Committee Of Five might find
an argument in the Taylor case favor
ing their theory that crime is almost
invariably the result Of drinking, but they
would also find that, if drinking be carried to
sufficient excess, it becomes an e1chse, and pro-
VideB immunity from punishment. The object
Of social reformers must Lie between these two
extremes.
In this view ct the subject, the first impress
sion received from the report OF our local com-
mittee is, that their views arc reasonable and
logical in dividing the causes Of crime into two
classes,-the predisposing and the ecihng,-
but they are unreasonable and Illogical in dis
missing the former with paragraph, and lin
iting the latter to the single element Of habitu-
al drinking. II the report Of the Committee
Of Five be correct, and If the closing Of tho So
looms On Sundays, as they claim, would decrease
crime nearly 100 per cent, then it would only re-
main to prohibit the use of alcoholic liquors to
suppress crime altogether. How aver volumi-
nous and convincing the proofs of I he agency Of
alcohol in criminal matters may be, they will
scarcely justify so sweeping cont lusion.
The predisposing causes OF crime. are Of mora
Importance than the Committee haa 70 given them.
Among them is the idea Of hum 81 depraVity,
which the majority Of the Com mittee, being
clergymen, would probably admit. OF more eig-
nifcance are the surroundings in (which charac-
ter is formed including the pers ona1 examples,
the false systems Of education, Or the total ab-
sence OF it. Bad OF foolish laws, which have be-
come obsolete and are disregar ded statutory
blocks in the way OF he>qnick e1ecu-
tion Of the Law; the hypocrisys which is en-
,countered in professed piety, a1aa the question:
able practices Of business relationB the igno-
nance or dilatory conduct Of those to whom the
execution Of the law is entrusted, these and
kindred things may be found among the pre-
disposing causes Of crime, which are en-
titled to more weight than the Com
mittee have given them. Among Il 1le exciting
causes, that Of intemperance has foun,1 an undue d
prominence at their hands. While citing nu-.
merous instances OF the association oil crime and
tingunsh between cause and effect. Reflection
would undoubtedly induce all Of these gentIe-
men. to admit the existence .cases in which the
Incorporate use of liquor hastfollowed and not
preceded criminal conduct. In the matter Of
upon which the Committee dilate at
some length, it is probable that ths general use
Of Intoxicating drinks in excessibecomes habit,
and not BEFORE :the forfeiture of
claims to social recognition. Women resort to |
drink in their shame or remorse, and alcohol |
melting cause Of their criminal con-
dition. The exclusive consideration OF the SUBJ
iect Of :intemperance~ has also bet tayed the |
Committee into the: error Of aleglecting
>ther exciting causes. EFor instances The ex-
element Of speculation. which has been the |
tarting poin5 Of nine-te1aths Of all the defalca-
ions that hav,, been made; social ambition, or
desire to keel, up in st,1le and display with |
icher neighbours, whichhas 'betrays I'd many men
nd women into criminal acts; the injustice OF !
he rich to the Poor, that frequently urges the |
after to appropn alton Of prope, ty, or acts Of
iolence, in theapirit of revenge; twill passions,
'hich lead to the abandonment Of virtue, and !
. e1traVagance, Whit Oh frequently tails crime.
till other CRUISES would occur; ;uptn mora, mature
ELECTION.
The Committee have smade mi stakp in limit |
'g their consideration tt, intempe rance for 1.-TWO
7asons: 1. Because they have excluded ve.y
'any other causes which, while no zone of then
lay be sofertile in criminal seed ms intoxica-
on, fo1m'in the aggregate-inducem4 4nts, incen-
yes, and'encourag whose sup ppresBion is
kactly asnnuch of q neoeasity as isHt enpara1ce
form. 2. Because if, assthe Committee would |.
ndently have US balieve the. supp1e; seion Of
ime depends upon the general .suppnes sion of .
inking, they will find themse Ives puz :zied to |
ggest'a practicable application Of the + tamedy.
aair diacaaaiona. to ba ,::tp1oducti,te oil