New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-21
THE CRIMINAL CLASSES.

n. Rsr.E
The Rev. Edwin c. Sweetser preached III the
Third Uniyersalist Church. at Beecker and Downing
sts yesterday morning. from the words Brethren'fa
man be oyertagen in fault yc which are spiritual re-
store such a one In spirit OF meekncss, considering
thysef lest thou also be tempted Bear We one an
others burdens, and SO fulfill the law OF Christi
Galatians, VIZ Ia
The text, lie said teaches the general principle OF
Christian conduct This morning 1t may be considered
as applied to special topic, the treatment OF the crn-
inal 1t is plain that crime is on the Increase
mainly because of the hardness OF the times. Winter
always makes more numerous the oenses against the
law and 1t already evident that this Winter Is and
will be dangerous one with regard to violations OF the
law The newspapers abound with the repusye details
Of crimes % a." are 20 ." Sar re-,
auy com nna ' deals ''' With its criminals is
nent in that community What is the condition OF our
criminal classes and what the extent OF our resosi
where do they come front Statistics will show conclu-
sively OF the Criminals in New-Iork institutions IN
the 400 in NewYork institutions IN that year, more
tnan 600 were thus llterae and the education OF the
given in our primary schools. This proportion OF ig
and iterlcy holds good In the criminal classes
generally Agan, the creates. part OF our criminals are
of foreign brtn foreign parcntage o. the i923 re-
fered u 3232j we're foreign born and many OF
the remainder had foreign parents. source from
which the criminal classes largely recruited is
shown bv the fact that OF $500 births which take place
Orphauace profile supply for the classes OF wrong
doors OF the inmates OF our reform schools In 1870 IS
per cent were orphans or half orphans. Almost the
entire body OF the criminal classes Is gwen TO ntenpe
OF the 4s423 gwen above 5ooOo admired helr
iutempcIate habits aud most OF these embraced these
habits in their youth Chas L. Brace than whom there is
no better authority on the subject Of when he speaks,
saws that OF vagrant criminal children 90 per cent
are offspring OF drunkards. The surroundings OF
those who violate the law have mach 10 do with their
crimes Most OF them lived in the most wretched
dwellings miserable with filth, OvcrcrOwding and dis
comfort ana where deccncy selfrespect of
the question One-alf Of the population OF NewYOrk
is crowded into its 1900 tencment-honses with AN
average OF families each house. Those abodes
supply the sior part of criminal classes. From the
suns novels the gin shops, and the crowded rooms
CITY do speak now Of fashionable sin or OF the
ofenses which are hidden but or such violations OF the
law murder, theft arson and otner oleoses of that
| stamp.
But it docs not need the evidence Of statistics to know
how Inuch ignorance, poverty. wretched surroundings
lack 2l rsnng aud absepce OF good influences have to
with The production OF crime. DO ne? say that these
things are an excuse for crime. but they. with what
they presuppOse aud entail, often make pallalions at
least. Let any one VISIT the dispeusares OF this city aud
notice their wretched appearance and the sad and
deeparng faces Let him the little Children three
or four years old the hardened looks their faces the
weary and mournfdi expression taer precoeious Gun.
ming and their look OF being old before their time, Let
him follow these miserable ones TO their homes II homes
| they can ~ eallsd-he very holbeds OF crime and
standing what the springs of the crime OF great CITY,
But the respectable classes rarely have any conception
OF the degradation and wrctchedne,s near at hand In
this city. Thee IS the most appalling aud
pagaDism IN New-YOrk within u haif-hOurs walk. /
have seen sights in this city which overturned nv
equanimiIy for days aucrward ana made me review
alt to be sure that is sufficient to provide for
such things
There criminals of different kind from those all
whose surroundings and influences have been evil Bmt
they who have had good parents, who have
been brought up under salutary Influences and have
had mora training who are numbered among criminals
When such persons commit crime II Is generally from
strong temptation and under peculiar circumstances.
the world to get back TO their former place.
What is tue character OF our criminal code, its spirit
ana intent It's spirit think Is one OF utter selfish
ness and It's workings aIc often aD0mnabe II only
to get the criminal out OF che way where lac harm
society Or time IL does not consider sufficiently the de.
gree OF responsibility 10 De attached 10 acts OF crmnaity
and makes no allowance for the consequences OF bad
training unfortunate surroundings and evil prOchyties
LIS teclD ates also make unequal IN It's wOrkngs
it often like net which let's the Dig fishes escape
and imprlsons Iite ninnows. Men who are competent
speak the subject say that IL dOrs presen
der. It's most greyous fault Is s utter seness IN
dealing with prisoners, making provision for their
welfare but simply exactDg vengeance Inscalled Just
ice. IL criminal Is hung the public feast with morbid
appetite on the story " his dying agones. II he to
ana progress are smut out forever. Associa-
ton with men hardened IN crime mbrues aud degradcs
may have been bitterly repcnted or Their bodies are
often Ill cared for 40 proper provision for cleanliness
whose u,efulness may be nearly nuhed by the crcum-
stances they are ~ generally the only arrangement
country are disgrace to our civilization No man
made better by being In them. but the wicked
inals than the prison, and the hangman welcome
than the iarr. Every year our prisons let loose on
their prison lite. All The avenues 10 honest employment
have been closed 10 them they are cut of BY all decent
men, and further crime is their only resource. We
fuse To treat the criminal as man. forgetting that no
has asoul 10 he saved. The true idea OF the
pity Is ia regard II M family, each Of the members
OF which l. interested IN, aud, 10 certain
extent Is responsible Tor the welfare Of The rest Ina
family when member does the Others 30
not east him on but Try 10 Influence him 10 return To ii
right and to take again his place IN the family.
Society should act toward the criminal In similar WAY,
ana should cndeavUr 10 bring HIM 20 Christ Tue law
properly administered should bring men 10 Christ. I
"A h.N. NADIA amin
eent, but they should he used 90 bring such inf
eDccs 10 bear On the prisoners ~ VIII Wake better
lnau Of him.