The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-31
EPIDEMIC OF CRIME.
Accounted for on the Basis OF lire.
ligion.
Human Nature In It's Relation TO
Morals.
NJ. W. Carr rake- High Ground Upon which
60 Hsse His Philosophy OF Ac-
counting Tor Crime.


mouth, and Mr.. stackhouss, OF this city,
have been discussing from apparent opposite
slsndpoinb. These gentlemen seem to DO
rather In conflict on the subj ect: bat on oare-
fully reading them, ! hnd that each. Ia bis
way. accounts In part for the increa.e OF
crime in our day and generation.
II We regard crime Is violation OF the
social moral and civil statutes rather than
In the restricted sense OF lis being simply q
SIN sgainst the State, we can then see how
Mr.. Reeves judgment touching Ingsrs,llism
and his theory OF perceptions" CO ne into
play Ia explaining the growth OF criminal
ity. In this light also will appear tue force.
iulness OF Mr.. Stackhouse's notion OF impov-
s,ishment and his statistics on the subject.
Had these gen tlemen multiplied their ass gn.
ment o: causes, even TO tho extent OF enu.
merating ana ong them special sealons
OF the year, the hours Oh dsrkness, the inc.
dents OF mas meetings Of the people tbs i'm
moral atmosphere OF large cities, lack OF edo
cstion, the detailing OF every feature OF
wrong.doing In the public prints, int npsr.
ate habits, laxity Of family govern ment and
other such conditions favorable 70 the chrys.
ial!zsiion OF evil in the mind into actual
injulness. they would still be right in part
in the wsv OF accounting for our az pide mic
Of Crime" The lameness OF their efforts,
however, would be chiefly ia degree only, for
the question is almost beyond human cOm-
psss. When very pious saint saw In Wis
ion the pathway OF men all covered with
snares for their entrapmeut, he cried out:
20, Lord, who can escaps!" Without at oil
implying belief in visions, the case In ques.
ton suggests that with the corporal eye we
can see ell around Us such Inducements and
temptations to crime and sin rs more than
explain tt the close observer why wrong
doing Is epidemic Ia our mIdst.
Bat why Is darkness favorable to crime
Why do certain conditions suggest 1t? IL we
find that false conscience can not discern
between good and evil, right aud wrong,
what then is to be seid Of perceptions"
We find, on investigation, tina, there are
winter; more 10 bibulous than
in an abstemious community; more
by males than by females. Under
certain con comitart conditions the ignorant
ortsirip the educated in the commission OF
crime, but in the refinement OF snfulnsss
and in special feats OF criminality the learns al
with no religion are FAR in advance OF every
other class. These considerations lead up to
the truth that in human nature largely
and In physiological balance OF organization
we must look In great part for the solution
OF thia problem. IL favorable conditions are
fruitful OF crime aud the germ OF evil is ma
tive 10 the flesh, then the different degrees OF
crime or the entire absence OF 1t are largely
owing to the fortunate or unfortunate organ
ization and surroundings. The man with
small veneratioD, large combatveness and de.
effectiveness and little spirituality, can not
easily help being sturdy trudgsr on the
high road Of crime. he might be SO trained
however, as to restrain his tendencies by the
dsvelopement OF the opposite cranisl organs
but unaided he follows his inherent tende n.
cies, instincts and passions. Here, then, is
work for the schools, for the pulpit, for the
parent. The influence of home Is sslatsry.
Christianity Is Indispensable. Nowhere is
there need for Ingersollism.
Apropos OF Mr.. Stsokhouse's impoverish-
ment theory might be mentioned In con-
irast the strengthening induencs OF religion
IL can not be successfully denied bat that to
those unscouainted with morals pinchlng
poverty tends to increase crime; bat poverty
is poxerlees Tor evil where religion a1d NOR
slity are in the ascendant And. I might
add. are there not those who make SPECIAL
privstions the Stepping stones TO higher
life? Tse spectacle OF the Irish Nii)n even
when Ii counted . 100000 OF people psaos
fully enduring enforced povsrty-'egAl zad
famine and 0pprsSiol-for the past 100
years is proof OF this. o. countless coca
sions white gloves have bsen presented to
the Assize judges in nearly every district in
Ireland as an evidence of the entire absence
of all crime. This is an arsur-ent that
makes Us confess that, while poverty may be
favorable to crime, religion, as incu,c .tsd ~
The priests OF the church, successfully leads
the masses in the pathway OF morals peace
and good order. II, however, different
state OF affairs prevails in Ireland to day the
reverse of what | have lust affirmed will ac'
| count for IT.. IL is not in Ireland alone tina :
such showing for moIa's can be obtained
| The Polish people have q history much the
want that has been visited upon thsm never
succeeded In reducing them 10 the level OF q
lswless or specially vicious people.
Nan. when his organization IL not SIP ,cially
unfortunate, lie religions animal to very
pronounced degree. His intentions. by the
aid OF kindly direction. can be mase to tend
in the way Of good His rational faculty
aids in the accom- plishment of the schems of
morals and law. and more than countsrbal-
aEces as IL In the order OF grace. his vicious
propeDsities and passions. To snch the Cos
! eel OF love, the doctrine OF rewards aud pan
ishments, and the entire religion OF Cnrlst
constitute an anchorage, q protection, a
guide. Deprive the human family OF sush
Influences, leave the people to their fate In
world Of sin. aud the white-csppei waves
on the great ocean OF crlne will mock a. tbs
fewness Of the saved and sealed. To teach a
msn that this world Is all there Is of this life
in body aud spirit Is to fit him for crime. To
take hope away from him IL to make him
strorg against your rights aud your property
and your life. 1t may smack OF certain
grade of bravery to scout thess things bat
The prip ciples OF the Christian religion saved
the world from anarchy when, through far
OF danger, this brood OF hooking vipers we're
/ skunk to their hiding placas
Thou shalt not kili'' Is a command that Is
very often violated In our day, and glaringlJ
so in the case OF suicides When fat. headed
man, who is wide between the ears aud st
headed, talks to me about the courage OF tn
self destroyer think about the days of DR.
Gall, and how much there is ia organization
and surroundings. The suicide evidence
eitt er insanity. cowardice or irrelig,oa. TIT
two latter are frequently . team in such in
stances. A man may be physically brave
By virtue of a good nervous system, and a
the same time be the veriest moral CO ward
/ would venture such an opinion Ia the ca,s
of MIR. In gersoll. He does not fear his God
cir ce ii is only bis belly; but let him fs,e the
death scene of the young man whose anch Or
age has been torn Loose by Ipgersollism. LIS
Robert descend to the depths to which hs
n ~ - II -