Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-06

WHICH t1cy cdu SUdUQ unLll Lue WAVES VI
Democracy come along and overwhelm |
them.
THE EPIDEMIC OF CRIME.
Newspaper readers must have been shocked
of late at the extraordinary number and
atrocious nature of the crimes with which
our columns have teened. Murders the
most foul, frequently accompanied by the
suicide of the perpetrator; outrages and as
saults upon the person, horrible in their
atrocity; daring and successful robberies and
confidence games, and bare-faced swindling
and breach of trust have been of daily oc-
currence. The bare mention of these crimes,
together with a recital of their more salient
points, has occupied columns Of the daily
press for weeks together.
The questions will naturally arise, Why
this great epidemic of crime? And is the
criminal impulse epidemic? Judging from
the similarity of the transgressions against
law and society, one is led to the belief that
they partake somewhat Of the epidemic form.
It is possible that the constant contempla
ton of the crimes of others may create in
some men mania for the commission of a
similar offense which occasionally becomes
irresistible. There is no truer sentiment in
the English language than Pope's stanza:
Vice is monster Of so frightful mien,
AS, to be hated, needs but to be seen;
But, seen too off, familiar to the face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
hoe boar ofoI,l iob OF c,1ini
sometimes becomes mania-a perfect cpl
demic-not confined to the weak-minded
alone, but embracing men of intelligence
and great mental and physical vigor. 1t is
related that during one of Napoleon's cam
paigns his army was encamped close by
forest. A few of his soldiers, without ap-
parent cause, hanged themselves from the
branches of the trees. Ere a week had
passed whole regiments became dsmoralized,
and officers and men alike commenced visit
ing and brooling in the wood, and the num-
Der of suicides by hanging became perfectly
appalling. Napoleon, with that remarkable
insight into human nature for which he was
distinguished, saw the cause and found a
remedy. He ordered the forest TO be cleared
Immediately, and from that moment the sui
cides ceased and the morale of the army
was restored. If suicide is epidemic-and
of this there seems to be little doubt-why
not crime? There is certainly much to Gre
ate the belief that there are occasional
waves of crime that sweep over the country
that appear to be as universal as disease and
as causeless as the wind, except they are
viewed from a mental standpoint as an evil
dence of moral and mental contamination
But there are other causes that contribute
toward swelling the ranks of the criminal
classes. Ever since the war, and
as an outgrowth of it, there has
been less regard for human life
than ever before. 1t is perhaps natural that
the contemplation of scenes of carnage
should have tendency to lower the stand
ard of morality and cause more or less dis
regard for human life. Men who are in the
habit of shooting at their fellow men as {
matter of business or patriotism soon Learn
to use firearms with perfect recklessness as
to consequences. The habit of carrying
weapons, that is another outgrowth of the
war and the disorganized state of society
that succeeded it, is no doubt another cause
of many of the deadly assaults of to-day; fol
men with the consciousness of being pre-
pared for a conflict, will court instead O.
avoiding it. And many quarrels which
would ordinarily have an Insignificant ter
mination, frequently result fatally simpl,,
for the reason that one or both of the par
ties concerned in them are armed with dead
ly weapons. The practice of carrying arm
ought to be discouraged by all good citizens
and the laws forbidding it should be rigid
enforced by the authorities.
It cannot be denied that to the panic Q
1878 can be traced much of the commercis
dishonesty that now pervades the country
Hundreds of men who had been implicit
trusted by their fellows up to that time
proved unable to meet their obligation
when the crash came. Too many sougt
refuge in absolute dishonesty from the rui
that impended, and defrauded their cree
itors out of immense sums of money. Pro
tected by wofully defective bankrupt la
and the lax enforcement of til
/ laws against breaches of trust, the
have to this day gone UNPUBLISHED. The Il
Ultimate results of such dishonesty are see
on every hand. Bank presidents and casl
iers speculate with the funds entrusted |
their care until involved in ruin and covere
q with disgrace; federal and municipal Office
Y brazenly appropriate the public funds
+ their own use; confidential clerks and bool
q keepers conspire to defraud their employer
and all except the least conspicuous escal
prosecution or punishment. What is nee'
ed to check these crimes is the prompt III
orous prosecution and exemplary punishmel
q of all who transgress, be they high or lov
4 rich or poor. The placing behind prise
bars OF half dozen of these wealthy, fasl
ionable and cody defaulters would have
a better effect on the moral tone of the cor
Il munity than all the sermons that the clere
J: of the whole country could preach in yea
: 1t will pay to try the experiment, at al
rate.
IN ANGLO-FRENCH ALLIANCE.
The hint comes by cable that the Frent