Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-09-13
IRRESPONSIBLE CONFLICTS.
Alcoholism and its Relations to
Crime and Criminals.


Editor State Journal: A late number
of a medical Journal contains an article
entitled the Liability to Discriminate
between Right aud Wrong" in which the
responsibility of persons, victims Of Al
coholism, is considered in the commission
OF crime. The writer describes the effect
Of alcohol upon the various organs OF the
body, whereby in consequence of the in
crease of the connective tissue At the
expense OF the substance Of the
organ its functions are impsded,
and more or less dsrangsd. in
the brain the effect OF this
process is to strsngAlats the nerve con-
nections and vessels 30 as to obstruct
mental operations, in some cases to such a
degree that the victim loses all sense of
individuality and moral responsibility
with the power to discriminate between
right and wrong, or to reflect upon the
nopse quences of his actions, although
from confirmed habit acquired by educa-
ton aud long practice he may outwardly
perform all the ordinary operations Of life
as others, yet In ersly automatic
manner without exercise of reason, or
special exsrtion Of tue will power.
The Importance of recognizing such q
condition will be appreciated when it ia
considered that a large majority Of all
crimes are perpetrated by persons
addicted to the abuse Of alcohol. The
question might properly be asked, how
far those under the fscis of acute alco
holism, are responsible for their acts
while intoxicated; for, if the intelligent,
Intentional commission Of crime ia
II. cessary to constitute guilt, an intoxi-
Gated person cannot be held responsible
tor hs acts, the Only ofenss of which he
is actually guilty Is that of being intoxi
Gated, during which state he is as an
insane person, and should be dealt win
accordingly. Until means be perfected
for accurately gusging the moral respon-
sibility Of criminals, the administration,
Of justice must necessarily be difficult
and misdirected. The plea of insanity
or moral responsibility could,
with but little ingenuity be
made to cover all case of crime to such an
extent, as to render conviction impossi.
BILE. The main obstacle to the more per.
feet conviction and punishment of offend
era against the law, Ia the wrong spirit
in which the penalty is appointed and
inflicted, for much as We boast of our
| progress In civilization, we still retain t.
| great degree, disguise 1t as We may, the
barbaric sentiment of rsvengeful retslia,
ton In the punishment of oonvicts. a
true penalty would have corresponding
relation to the offsnse In such manner
| as to have for its objects the prevention
Of e repetition Of the ofenss, for the pro.
| lection Of society, the reformation, or a,
1 1aan ~ INV, ID =
| the reparation as far as possible of the
| injury Inflicted.
II such were the case no possible in
| justice would occur In the undertaking
| infection OF penalty in all convictions
| provided the means used were adapted tc
the mental condition Of the convict. The
welfare of society demands that when
ever any individual can not be restained
by himself or friends from the commission
Of crime that public means should b,
used for that purpose. In our dis.
4 pensation OF Justice, as regards the
treatment OF criminals, We should Ger.
tainly consider that the present state o
society ia largely responsible for tn,
commission OF all great crimes which
occur in our midst. Few persons becom,
great criminals by sudden impulse
however 1t may appear to superficial OBJ
servers, but by a gradual progression
whether from the effects OF alcoholism
insanity, or voluntary intelligent com
mission OF evils. When We become
thoroughly enlightened people, we shall
be able to recognize these causes In thei
incipiency, and use means to nip them Ii
the bud, 80 that the development o
great crimes and criminals will be i'm
possible. &. W. G..