The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-10
RELATION OF INFIOELrTY TO
CRIME.

l.
CRIME.
TIE epidemic OF crime Is the s1bjec. of
Mr.. @. n. Reeves contribution TO the Sem
tinel OF to day. To very many OF our
readers the appearance OF Dir. Reeves
name with an article Is guarantee OF
profitable perusal. He is given TO reason
ing, and bis reasoning Is never less than
strong. His style OF writing is forcible,
compact and correct. His current paper has
the added interest OF discussing a topic of
serious Importance Toe epidenic OF crime,
OF murder and suicide, ia commanding Won
dermsnt and earnest inquiry into its prooa-
BILE source. Mr.. Reeve assigns a cause for
its existence. II is the spread OF spirit OF
hopelessnsse, the result OF infdel teachings.
The point OF his arguments are too clear TO
need revisv. Bat Ii Is possible, and We
think likely. that he saddles upon Ingersoi-
ism an undue amoant OF responsibility for
the prevalence of life-taking. Not bat whai
the tendency OF infiisl teachings may be
such as Mr.. Reeve argues. but these teach
ings have no. bsen so extended as to be
Justly chargeabls with ever the majority OF
suicides.
The.proposition that hopelessness amount
ing to despair causes many of the crimes
deprecated in the paper is, doubtless, we'll
asserted, But Ia this state Of despair caused
by doubt concerning the future existence so
much Is by the disappointments and vexs.
tons of the past and present and the lack
hope Of prosperity and happiness during an
extension of mortal sxistercs?
Only the other day an aged husband upon
being informed that his wife of nearly sixty
ytsrs could survive bat few days, went of
Immediately and hung himself, after writing
q nc tie saying, "they tell me she must die;
can not stand it." RaIstoD. the California
banker and supposed millionaire, shrinking
from the modification of facing depositors
in his bank WHEN he realized that he
could not pay them. walked into the bay
to expire in its waters. A lover
failing TO win the heart and hand he aspires
to, becomes frenzied by jealousy at the
thought CT another being so blessed and takes
her life and then his own. A father and
husband OF religious character, though hav-
ing striyen msnfully to insure to vile and
children comforts and pleasures, sees bis ex-
pectatiors knocked over by the rude hand OF
misfortune, and in his despair of the seem
ing prospect of only hardships for him, kills
them and himself. The young man trusted
by and collecting money for his Employers,
imbibes too much strong drink. is tempted
into gambling. loses money that does not
belong to him, drinks yet more to drown
thoughts Of his wretched situation, wakes
with fsversd brain torturing him with hor
rid fsncies OF arrest. imprisonment, disgrace
and broken hearted parents. and in q frenzy
Of despair ne seizes pistol, and by his own
hand sends bullet crashing through his
brain.
Within q year two ministers of the gospel
in the United States have com mitted suicide;
Is there any record OF one known in6del
having suicided? We have seen no account
Of q self.murder attributed to hopelessness
concerning the life beyond the grave.
We intend no depreciation of the stress
Mr.. Reeve lays upon the inestimable infiu
epces on human conduct and happiness
swsyed by Bible teachings. "a correspond
ence fixed with Heaven" through the chan
mel of eternal hope is an anchor which moors
millions to morality, rectitude and virtue.
And yet those who treasure the glorious aud
beautiful story OF salvation are still but
humsn-are subject to human ills. h1man
weaknesses, human disappointmsnts, human
sufferings. And
As long the heart has passions,
AS long as life has woes.
there will be s1rrov and DESPAIR to- in In.
stances, dethrone reason, even among the
good, and nerve even hands that vers never
before cruel, to suicidal grasp. As long IS
the demons of ayarice and lust and revenge
and dissipation are lsing their trades among
men, there Will be murders and suicides
6del argument.
So. while having no more sympathy with
Ingersollism than hiss Mr.. Reeve, We hold
that there are many more causes OF the pre-
vailing epidemic OF crime than the brilliant,
though foolish, speeches and writings of In
eersoll and others of his ilk. There are
causes which the laws and society need to
watch and restrain since the church in its
spiritual capacity can not reach them. But
let us hope that the epidemic complained OF
will, like epidemics OF other diseases, prove
to be only for q season. and thst we may bs
approaching an era of such prosperity aud
happiness that Mr.. Reeves strong pen may
find only cheering subjects for its discussion.
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SOME VERY OLD-TlME WISDOM.
The Tslmudic Proverbs afford striking