The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-18

The Chicago circuit court having decided
the tramp law, passed by the last legis-
lature, to be unconstitutional, and it being
understood that the supreme court of the
state will affirm the decision whenever
opportunity is offered. the good people of
Illinois are sadly perplexed in regard to
the proper means to use in dealing with a
great and rapidly growing nuisance. 1t
was PLAIN to any unprejudiced mind-be
fore the verdict Of legal tribunal-that
law which allowed the arrest of an individ
ual without a warrant, and his trial and
conviction without jury. was violation
of those fundamental principles which lie
at the root # republican institutions
Even a tramp has rights which,in free
country, must be respected; no matter at
what inconvenience to the rest of the COM
munlty.
The problem which is vexing Illinois is
national and not local, and is felt more or
less throughout the country, but especially
IN the North. When, two or three years
ago, the tramps became recognized ele-
ment in the body polite, creating more
surprise than sofcitude, We expressed the
opinion that their presence among US was
an exceedingly bad sign Of the times, and
should not be disregarded by those whose
business 1t is to invent and superiutend the
machinery of political and social reform.
The essential truth of this opinion has
been so thoroughly established since that
no intelligent and thoughtful person is now
willing to deny it. The magnitude of the
evil is universally admitted, and the ad
mission carries with it confession that
there must be something radically wrong
| in the theory or the practice of American
llfe-else such an evil could not exist, much
| less flourish as it does 1t is not our pUr-
pose to inquire into the causes which have
produced this dangerous effect. That is a
task belonging TO other hands. We sim
l ply wish to remark that any legislation -
/ municipal, state or national which is
| based on the idea that the tramp is nee
essarily q criminal, either developed or in
process of development, will Tail 10 accom-
| plish the desired object. That many, pos
sibly the majority, OF tramps have those
low moral instincts which, when aided by
temptation, lead to crime, there is unfor-
Iunately little doubt; but the charge can
DOT be sustained against the whole, and
should not be made-much less take shape
in legislative enactment. The law assumes
the innocence of the accused until his guilt
is proved, and there is no good reason why
tramps should be an exception to this
ancient rule. Instead of including then
all in sweeping condemnation and treat
ing them accordingly, they should have
that charity which all need, and thai
Justice all have right 10 demand. More
over, it ought to be remembered, as 1
guide to the proper kind of legislation, tina
tramps were an insignificant factor in tn,
social aggregate as long as the Commercial
and industrial interests of the country wert
10 prosperous condition. Not until thes'
interests felt the destructive effects o
hard times did the army of vagrant
march through the highways and by way
. of the land. And whatever remedies ma,
!: be applied, it is entirely safe to assert tina
!: this army will not be permanently muster
ed out of service until national prosperit,
is permanently restored,-St. L. Republi
can