The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-14
THE CAUSE OF CRIME.

A correspondent Of the Standard,
writing from Carlton, under date OF
August 10th, gives some sensible views
Of the causes which lead to crime. The
letter is in reply to the assertion Of
the New York EUening Post, approx
ingly copied by the Standard, that the
present alarming era Of crime is due to
the teachings of such infidels as Robert
G. IngersOll. The Posts position is that
Ingersoll and his colleagues have with
drawn the fear Of post mortem punish
ment, and there is no restraining infiu-
ence to keep the masses in check. The
correspondent says that, looking
through the whole catalogue Of crimi-
mails, il will be found that very few were
not orthodox in sentiment, and that
most Of the victims of the gallows die
devoutly orthodox. He adds, SIS 1t not
pity such blood washed souls should
be cut of just at the point they are made
fit to live ?' He plainly sees that the
cause which is productive Of the increase
in crime Is found in our social and po-
litieal system, and not in religious un-
belief. This extract embodies his views,
which, it must be admitted by all care
ful readers and thinkers, are correct:
The fact is, the increase Of crime is but the
elimination Of our false system Of social rcla-
lions. Il is not the result OF either belief or
unbelief. but OF bad organizations Criminals
are made wrong they are bred they are the
victims OF vicious parental conditions from
which they have Inherited crime-bent organi-
zations; and crime is their natural and appro-
pirate vocation from the accursed heritage
transmitted % them from the inharmonious
relations Of domestic hells, where no bonds OF
tender affection exist, but only those OF law
and perverted public sentiment II you want
10 know the cause Of crime in an individual
look for Il in his organization-in his parent
age-nOt in his belief; not in his learning, nor
the lack Of IL, but 10 his moral heritage. Crime
is the natural and appropriate result Of our
false and contrary conjugal system, under
which woman is neither free, equal, nor indie
pendent; but in every case where the natural
bond Of love and attraction is lacking, she is
reduced 10 a legal prostitute, and breeds and
nurses criminals.
We are indeed glad to find the above
in the Standard, although there is nc
evidence Of endorsement further than il
is allowed a place in its columns. 1t
shows that its intelligent correspond
ent's arguments were potent enough to
impress the brain OF even so willful an
unbeliever in the political and social
rights Of women as the editor Of the
Standard. The conversion Of this jour
nal is another evidence Of the progress
Of liberal ideas and the continued ad-
vance Of public sentiment in favor Of
the wOman's cause. The extract quoted
is as good an argument for the enfran-
chisement Of women as can well be ad-
duced. With free mothers, there would
be a comparatively small number of
instances in which prenatal conditions
would engender vicious habits. Bright,
happy and contented mothers always
have well-behaved and intelligent chill
dren. Miserable, degraded, ill-treated
mothers bring into the world the crimi-
nal classes, but the conditions with
which they are surrounded by the laws
Of men are responsible for the vicious
tendencies Of their offspring. The jour
mails like the Post, that are so worried
about the alarming increase of crime, I"
can do society a great service by using
their influence in the right direction for
the abatement Of the evil that so alarms
them.