The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-11-12
Crime and Culture.

In recent articles in the AndoveT Re.
Ctetc. Mr.. Geo X. S-eisou has presented
some facts that are we'll calculated to
shake the popular notion that Increased
education tends To lessen the tendency
to crime. Mr.. otetson, for his purpose.
has produced statist les OF population and
crime Ia Massachusetts,, a State which
is cor fess5dly in advance of all others in
the excellence of her common school
system and ether educational facilities.
as we'll as in the thoroughness and care
with which her Statistics are collated.
In 1850, the total population OF Massa-
chusetts was 994, 514 and the number of
prison inmates was 1886, or a crimina;
10 every S04 inhabitants. In 1890. the
population was ,7S3, ,0S5, and the mum
Der OF criminals WAS 1869, OF propor-
tion of one criminal to 4S7 inhabitants,
showing that in thirty years the criminal
class OF Massachusetts bad doubled reia.
lively to tie growth of the whole popu-
lstion.
The increase OF crimiLality in Massa-
chusetts has been Tashly attributed 10
the great influx OF foreigners in recent
years, and this is urged bv nativists as a
strong reason why Congress shouid put
a check to the increase OF this foreign
population. But willis it would be
pleasing to native American pride to Law
the blame of this growth of crime upon
the strangers who have sought homes on
these shores, the explanation is unfoT-
tuuately not a true one, The statistics
gathered by Mr.. StetsOn prove that the
increase Of criminals is proportionately
greater in the native born than in the
foreign population Of Massachusetts. In
1850 the native population of Msssachu-
native conVicts WAS 653. or one 10 every
1867 OF the native born inhabitants. In
1880 the census gives ,339. $40 native
born inha abitants, of whom 2175. or one
in every 615, Of the native born popula-
tion, we're involuntary guests Of the
State in it's penal institutions. Thus It
is seen that the native born criminal
element OF Massachusetts, has more than
doubled since 1850 in proportion TO the
total increase OF population.
Another cause readily assis ned for the
increase of crime in Massachusetts, is in
the rapid accumulation Of population in
its Industrial centres and the CONSEQUENT
coutaRiOn OF bad example. But the
year 1880. TO which these statistics re-
late. WAS above the average in industria
prosperity. II this were the cause. later
OF earlier years would make q worse
statistical exhibit. Working people IA
miliar with honest toll will bptAke
themselves to many u shift; and endnrr
the last extremes Of prIvafinn in lm-s
of strikes or I"ck"u's rather han r. sort
to CT me Tue cause OF this Increase
criminality lies deeper han in hard
times or 10 the con sgiOus Influence Of
bad morals in busy centres OF Industry
While it would he foolish rn put the
Ian N..I nh
education, II is not disputablr that high
rr grades of cTIminality ARE not incnm-
patIhle with higher Intellect ual culture.
In highly cultivated state OF society
many Glasses of crimes have been drvel-,
oprd Of which ignorance would be inca.
pahle. But the fault of our common
educational system lies in its one sided
character. Apart from lie general neg
lect or moral training. 1t cultivates the
mind at the expense OF the hand Youths
are turned out Of schools and academies
with fine educations and swarm into all
the avenues OF life. but without being
able to turn their hand 10 any mechani-
cal employment. This educational error
Is now so we'll recognized that many
public schools have attached TO them
workshops in which the various mechan-
ical crafts are taught. By this system
habits OF industry and respect for labor
are inculeated, and to the pupils are af-
fOrded the means OF earning livelihood
when thrown upon the world. Education
OF brain and hand thus progresses in
harmonious CO operation. Louie Blanc
aud his associates of the Provisional
Government of the French Republic of
1S4o established, for the unemployed of
Paris, national wOrkshops, which proved
dismal failures. Educational workshops
to teach pupils in the common schools
useful trades would be of different
character. They would be q protection
against idleness, aud they would check
the increase OF forced labor in the pen. /
institutions of the eState.-PhiId. Record.