The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-25
Did Rum DO III

In the inspection OF jals and pentcntiarlcs
undertaken 10y our Prison Associations, ono
incident is constantly repeated. A convict
bcckons the visitor into corner. and asks
whether he desires to know the cause of the
prisoners durcss. As this is n main object
Of the visit, an Affirmative answer Is given;
whereupon with great solcmnity this axiom
is propounded: 1t wasn't me, II was rum
did it," Now this explanation Of crime may
be acceptable to the offender, but it Is OBJ
vlously dangerous to the community, and
we propose 10 inquire how far it is founded
in fact.
There are considerations which should
make us Hesitate TO accept the current opin-
ions rs to the part which ardent spirit plays
In the carnival Of crime. For many years
the temperance movement has assumed n
partisan character, and become an element
of politics, with this inevitable result. that
the discussion OF the subject has been shifted
from the domain Of dispassionate study into
that Of sentimental agitation. the conclu-
sions reached being too often hasty deduc-
lions from cherished opinions or equally
hasty inductions from irrelevant facts. We
find a more discrlmnativc and trustworthy
view Of this question set forth in n remark
able report lately published 10y the New York
Prison Association, which cmbodics the re-
suits Of a patient, wary, and reasonably ex-
haustiyc inquiry.
In this investigation II Is not denied that
incompetence is n factor in the evolution Of
crime and pauperism, but the scope of its
action j. greatly narrowed 10y careful an
alysis. There seems to be no doubt, for in
stance, that tho dcoccudants of incbratcs
develop forms Of nervous and brain diseases,
prompting to vice or crime which can only
be referred 10 habits Of drinking in the pa
rent DR.. MAGSUs HISS of Stockholm
affirmed that drinking produces partial
atrophy OF the brain, which is handed down
to the children. In France Dr. MoREL has
traced through several generations the same
result of diminished brains, leading to
crime, imbeclity, and final extinction. But
the victims Of congenital incbriety const-
tutc only a small percentage of the whole
number OF criminals. The law Swallowed
forth by the evidence so far collected is that
Righteousness, which seems to be the prinun
mobile OF crime and pauperism, COM
monty precedcs the use OF ardent spirits, and
induces IA physical exhaustion that makes
stimuants grateful. In other words, in
temperance itself is In most cases onlya Sec
ondary cause. As regards the classes which
furnish the ma lorlty Of offenders crime Is
the outcome OF extremely complex anteco-
dents, which may be grouped under the gen.
eral heads Of Inheritance and environment,
and which generate vicious instincts, coupled
with an impotency of the will With the
children Of respectable parents. on the other
hand, the excuse Of environment Is wanting;
but when such persons fall into crime, IL Is
commonly found, upon inquiry, that the In
diligence OF the appetites had become fixed
into habit, and the power OF self-control
fatally impaired 1t seems to be clear from
the facts collated that the outgrowth OF
criminal character In such cases may be
traced far more frequently to sensuality
than TO incompetence.
The limited role here assigned to drunken
ness in the perversion Of character by those
who make close and systematic study of
the criminal classes, will DO found by many
persons TO tally with the result OF their per-
sonal observations. Forms OF dissipation
which are charitably supposed TO DO engen-
dcred bya habit Of drinking can often DO
proved, In giyon case, to have antedated it,
and it is not observed that the signing of
the pledge Is always, or genorally, fol-
lowed by abstinence from certain other
vicious courses. The man who in his cups
reveals himself ms bully or a knave,
has probably In sober moments dis
covered his unpleasant traits to one intimate
acquaintance or another. Few Of the at
tempts TO shoulder the shabby or riotous
excesses of human nature upon that invisible
devil of strong drink will bear sharp scru-
tiny. 1t is no doubt edifyng to see the
topors in an audience wag their heads when
CASSIE laments the inane procliyity of man
to put an enemy in his mouth to steal away
his brains. But, according TO the record the
Moor's Lieutenant was in moro ways than
ono an exceedingly loose fish, not at all
accustomed to hold any of his passions in n
leash. Drunk or sober, no was apparently
Incapable Of scf-control; and therefore,
when he IS provoked by gentleman of Cy-
pru- wine Is not the voritable cause, but a
mere ancillary promoter Of his outbreak.
There is douhtlcssa large class in the COM
munty to whom those conclusions may
prove ungrnteful. There are good many
dcfultiuS clorlIe, broken paymasters and
ca-hiorrd officers Of the army, floating here
and There about society, who will probably
continue to uphold tho orthodox opinion.
We do not blame them or their relatives
/ for prcorring to explain tho awkward
facts of fraud and cmbczzlomont by the
bancfu influence Of wue There are some
young mon, too about town, whose sporadic
exhibitions Of scandalous and Indecent con-
! duct are condoned, provided tho offender