The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-06-20
What Is the lsfter.

One of the saddest features connected
with the crime record of our little city is
the fact that nearly all Of them are com.
mitted by lads or young men reared in
our community. Within the past two
or three years alone some twelve or
thirteen arrests have been made for lar
cenies, burglaries or robberies-to say
nothing about petty thieving-and in
every case they have been found to b.
BY boys from twelve to fourteen years
Of age, and from that up to twenty-five.
Take for instance the Juvenile gang
that were arraigned last March-.the old
est was not more than sixteen the brace
who burglarized Corbett's some months
had only crossed their teens, while the
three young men who were sent over to
the Fond du Lac county Jail, last week
for gross crime, were not far past
their majority-all young in years but
old in sin.
There is something sad in all this, and
the question naturally arises - to what
communicating Influences can b at work
to overcome the impressions for good
which the religious, intellectual and 60
cial culture of Ripon afford. Every Of
feet must be associated somehow with .
cause, and if We only look far enough
perhaps We can be enabled to find some
of the reasons which have conducted to
this deplorable end.
Without touching upon specific cases,
let us deal in q few generalities. The
great promoter Of mischief is idleness.
Young blood is active. 1t cannot remain
supine. If not employed for good, evil
will attract its energies. This, therefore,
is one of the misfortunes of our city.
Not blessed with shops, factories and
mills, it has always been difficult mat.
ter to find employment for tho young,
and many have become hayward in con-
sequence. Tho evil, however, can be
largely overcome with necessary precau-
tons on tho part of principals. In the
first place let parent instil into the
minds of their children love for home.
Let them DO mado to feel that this is the
happlest spot On earth to them, by filling
it with pleasures moro attractive than
the streets and bar afford. Let
them teach them carly love for school
and books, the necessity of education,
and the importance Of methodical work
for their future success inlifc. This donc
our boys will be comparatively trust
worthy, whore otherwise there will be
no telling what vices may overtake
them.
Parents have weighty responsibility
npon their shoulders in this matter. If
they find the boys love to be "down
town" at night rather than at home; if
they find that they shun school for the
streets when they are small, and shirk
work for idleness when large, they can
safely conclude that vital mistake has
been made in the training. No young
man should be allowed to reach his ma.
jority without some visible means of sup
port. If there IS no work at hand in the
city let it be sought in the country. 1t
makes but very little difference what the
service Is at first only so it is honorable,
tor afte. lad has learned how to do,
time and circumstances will suggest what
to do as occasion requires.
Beyond all this, there is also duty
that Ripon society owes to its young men
after they become somewhat independ.
ant Of home influences, and that is, some
kind of interesting and profitable enter
tainment. Here We have thirteen hell
holes of vice open day and night to allure
them into the paths Of iniquity, and but
very little to counteract the influences.
Perhaps club room of the proper kind,
or few social and literary societies con.
Quoted in an entertaining manner might
be of some service, if they can only be
made to reach the class of persons most
in need Of them. They are at least
worth the trying, for If young men de-
mand relaxation there is no reason why
it should DO left wholly to the public So
looms to satisfy their craving.
While in this connection, we might
speak of an untoward influence that has
tended largely to increase the number of
offences against law and order in our
city. We refer to tho leniency with
which punishments have been inflicted,
and the tardiness with which justice has
been administered even in clear cases Of
guilt. Nothing so tends to augment
crime as easy or tardy punishments. Tho
protection Of society and the good of the |
CEiiuiuoiy tuoEcAOEcy ucm1uU pTOupt ouO
sentences for all misdemean.l |
ors. If you would not have tho laws
broken make it hard for those that break |
them. This may be sore doctrine for pa
rents and friends having loved ones who
have in an evil hour committed criminal
offences, but once let it be understood
that justice respects sad heart and
pitiful excuse and recklessness is with
put bounds. But let it be understood
hat punishment, being for tho benefit Of
society and not for the good Of the indi-
ridual, must be certain, speedy and un-
,ompromising-and the very surety that
ustice will be answering becomes .
of crime and protection to
he COMMUNICATIONS Wis., Common
wealth.
The Tooth anniversary of the battle Of
Wyoming will be duly celebrated at
Wilkes Barre on the Sd OF July. Ex.
ensive preparations arc being made for
he memorial service in honor Of the