The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-19

the criminal beforehand to do the crime in hopes
to escape, and comforts and relieves him after
the act 1t ought to be made an indi ctabe OF
Tense for to act the part Of a criminal
lawyer" as we now understand that term. Let
the co urts class the crime with "embracery;'
and let the public rank the criminal lawyer"
with the criminal classes Of society,
Ill Mob violence is to be entirely discOunte
nanced We have witnessed some riots. There
was the draft riot in New York, then the Pitts
burg railroad riot, which threatened 20 extend
over the land. and the Cincinnati riot and others
of lesser note almost continually occurring. We
have had enough of this thing already TO show
us plainly the existence Of intammable mate
rial in the land, especially in our cities We
may rest assured there is finder enough
% 0ny b needing here spark to End fn5S
We have an unusually moral city. Indianap-
oils is far above the average for its population.
We have on the whole, a noble press. Our city
press is far above the average in its vlndlcaaon
of morals and sympathy with religion. Yet
even here are elements whi"t ,,,'''Nt eoe', hH
gathered into a mob Nearly all mobs are com
| posed largely of young, unmarried men, 1t is so
with the mobs of Paris 1t has been so here. 1t
was a cyclone of three hundred, largely boys,
that broke upon Cincinnati You may see
just such on our streets. They are ready for an
outbreak of violence They want chance to
use their passions.
There is precocity of crime which is rapidly
! developing itself. Do you ask, what shall be
!
ton and let the streets be cleared of the juvenile
| elements which supplies adults in crime. Then,
| let every boy whose business calls him on the
! street be licensed and made accountable to the
proper authorities. There are enough bootblacks
! and newsboys in some cities to constitute dan
| gerous element. Let the tramp business be
made Improbable and let it be understood that
street corners are not to be monopoized
| by idle vagabonds Let the nebul@ out
of which mobs come be scattered,
aud then let there be stern public sentiment
which shall relegate all matters belonging to
| law out of the hands of mobs, and riots, and
lynching parties. to the courts, and then let the
courts be held to rigid responsibility.
This is not question of politics, it is not a
question of religion, it is not even question of
morals alone; this whole question although it
touches politics, morals and religion is SUI
| premely one of public safety. 1t reaches to
every interest in this land; it touches every
public and private right; it has to do with
! the security of our possessions, the quiet
of our homes, and the safety of our persons.
! Crime and violence are on the increase What
would be condition were it not for our
! churches or press and our schools it would be
hard to say; but we have reached in this land a
| yearly crop of l, 800 murders, out of which we
are able to less than 200 convictions
Every daily shocks us with its new budget of
crime Stabbing and shooting daily; persons
murdered in cold blood while in their own
houses; the most horrible methods of murder,
whole families butchered while asleep persons
|
medical subjects; poisoning, roasting, strang
ling, very carnival of crime. Blood toucheth
blood"
Reformation is demanded. Let it begin in a
stifening Of the public conscience concerning
all that is honest just and pure. Let it begin in
the complete evaporation ofsentimentalism with
reference to criminals. Let it begin in a renewed
interest of all right minded men in public affairs.
Let it begin in decided public expression that
shall sustain the legitimate prerogatives of the
courts. Let it begin in a stern public indgna-
ton against, and contempt for. every collision
with crime under the name of law or the garb of
the legal profession Let it begin with us to-
day - but let it not end tomorrow.
Do you ask why have taken this theme on the
night of this Resurrection day? Because this is
just the resurrection we now most need-a res
direction from lavlessness Would that every
pulpit in this land had forgotten for part Of this
day the first resurrection and taken part in this
and then let the people talk it tomorrow, and
the press thunder it.
Our civilization is we-nigh divine. butt is in a
temporary sleep; it sleeps in the sepulcher it
smells of corruption. Would that some angel
might roll back the stone and give it us quick
ened and stripped of its bands and grave clothes
"a civilization glorifed in its resurrection.