Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-23
The Prevalence Of Crime.

A0 AAOVoAO0OO VI ~ AAAASs
Human life SCENE to be worth but triae,
but it is no trifing thing 70 live In such an
era of crime. Seemingly the wicked are
without g bands" in living or dying. HON.
icides, fratricides, parficides, infantieides,
suicides. The newspaper carries burden of
these items, and probably - the half is not
told"
And crime is putting on the boldest facs
and is plotted on gigantic scale. Swiudling
a million begets riches and name besides.
Only slight provocation and the more de-
liberate the murder, the safer for the assassin
Justice pursues the wrong doer tardily And
oversakes him too late. Especially the rich
and fashionable sinner easily goes unwhipt of
justice.
1t must be that the average moral senti-
ment of the land is low. So frequent, SO
enormous, 80 manifold crimes could not be
committed otherwise. It must be that the
distinctions between right and wrong are
ignored in the dealings Of men. A vitiated
public sentiment has obtained and hence the
vice, the presumptuous sins, the outbreaklng
crimes.
The punishment Of crime will do something
towards staying the murderer's hand, the
forger's pen and the plotting of robbers
Make shorter walk and surer to the gal
lows; let not the blood of twenty murdered
mr. cold hoforo
and fewer men will rick the gallows.
But the prevalence of actualized crime is
not the disease-it is only a symptom. Cap
ital punishment and life imprisonment are
useful and indispensable, like the surgeons
instruments. Offending members must be
cut away. But the PATIENTS life depends
upon the inherent vitality and the toning up.
And no spasmodic virtue, no temporary
or temporizing reform will suffice. 1t is
reassuring to the faith of good men that
renovating reaction occurs when society has
gone long way to the bad. But spasmodic
reform is not enough. Reform must be
maintained.
And in order to the maintenance Of
virtue, public or private, there must be
diigent regard to the foundations. Virtue
is not simply an emotion or sentiment. 1t
is fidelity to principle. The moral science
of the world is underlined. Men are blind as
to the great underlying, controlling princi-
pies involved in questions of right and wrong.
The inclination is naturally towards blind
ness. Distinctions between right and wrong
are an ofense to sin-loving and sin-indulg-
ing soul. Maintaining the right becomes a
task, and the task does not cease No moral
reform is complete and secure in this world
of sinners and temptations. And 80 the
true reformer must be on duty life time.
In doing away with crime it is not enough
to make an end of overt acts. The object
should be to render crime moral impossi-
bility The sources of public sentiment
must be purified. Men must be brought to
see clearly the old and everlasting distinc-
tions between right and wrong, and to cling
10 those distinctions. For instance the deca-
logue is getting 10 be practically obsolete;
but its words are the pillars of truth. These
are the old landmarks, foundations of all
,1od order among men. And these COM
mands need to-day to be Numbered in the
ears of men and written in deepest letters
upon their hearts.
1t is remarkable how every great crime
among men is directly traceable to wrong
training or neglect of training in the princi-
pies of the ten commandments. Thou
shall: not covet" would preclude every Credit
Mobilier operation. But between this divine
law and the current and practical rule, to
wit, that the money belongs to the man that
has it, there lies gulf of ruin and the whole
world seems to be rushing into it. Bur
glars and rake-pockets carry of a half mill
ion OF plumber, and then negotiate q compro-
mise, surrendering a part and going free
with the balance. and they doubtless count
themselves in lawful possession Of what they
retain. Two of the ten commandments duly
observed would have made Stokes d manor
saved him from infamy. Had young Wal
worth learned the fifth commandment az he
needed to receive it, the foulest and coolest
murder of late days would not have been
The law of God must be 50 impressed upon
the minds OF men that it will not rest lightly
and it be counted an optional matter to heed
or dsobey. The sanctions of divine law
need t. b, declared with all plainness, and
[. neeis no prophetic vision
to see that men must do works meet for
repentance, or God will interpose with judg-
nents. This prevalence Of crime canno.
escape the notice OF the Almighty. The cup
Of wrath once filed by Swallowing people,
woe to the guilty land. "God is not Knocked"
Murder. intemperance, profanity, adultery,
Sabbath-breaking and fraud are sins that cry
into holy God. 1t will be terrible to
witness His rising up to " shake the earth.
Truth and righteousness will triumph, but
alas for the victims of the carnival of
rhine and who willingly sell themselves t.
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