Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-02-28

and surroundings effect the moral |
sense? Is it not possible that tyran-
ny of government, the injustice of ma
tons, the tierceness of what is called
the law, produce in the Individual
tendency in the same direction? Is
it not true that the citizen Is apt to
initiate his nation? Society degrades
its enemies-the individual seeks to
degrade his. Society plumbers its
enemies, and now. and then a citizen
has a desire to plumber his. Society
kills its enemies, and possibly sows
in the heart of some citizen the seeds
of murder.
Is it not true that the criminal is a
natural product, and that society IN
consciously produces these children
of vice? Can we not safely take an
other step, and say that the criminal
is a victim, as the diseased and IN
sane and deformed are victims? We
do not think of punIshing a man be
cause he is afflicted with disease-our
desire is to find a cure. We send
him, not to the penitentiary, but to
the hospital, to an asylum. We do
this because we recognized the fact
that disease is naturally produced,
that it is inherited from parents, or
the result Of unconscious negligence,
or 1t may be Of recklessness, but in
stead of Furnishing, we pity. If there
are diseases of the mind, of the brain,
as there are diseases of the body. and
If these diseases Of the mind, the de-
formities of the brain, produce, and
necessarily produce, what we call
wee, why should we punish the Grim
inal, and pity those who are physical
ly diseased? OF course society has
the right to protect itself The great
question is, How shall this right, self
defense be exercised? What spirit
be IN the nation or in society," spirit
to revenge, a desire to degrade and
punish and destroy, or a spirit born
of the recognition of the fact that
criminals are victims?
The world has thoroughly tried
confcation, degradation, imprison
ment, torture, and death. and thu.
far the world has failed. In this con
nectiOn call your attention to tn,
following statistics gathered in GU
own country:
In 1850 we had 100000 of PEG
pie, and between six and seven thou
sand prisoners. In 1860 100000
people and $4,000 prisoners. In 1877
38,000,OO0 people and $4,000 prison
ers. In 1880 5O,6OO,OOO people ant
5000 prisoners.
1t may be curious to note the rela
ton between insanity, pauperism an,
crime. In 1850 there were $4,000 in
sane; in 1860 $4,000; in 1870 $4,000
in 1880 1000.
In the light of the statistics we ar
not succeeding in doing away wit
crime. There were in 1880, $500
prisoners, and in the same year, 81
> 600 homeless children, and $500
paupers in aImshouses.
Is it possible that we must go t
the same causes for these effects?
All viii admit that the indurtrioU
must be protected In this world
is necessary to work. Labor is th
= foundation Of all prosperity.
I If we are to change the conduct {
men, we must change their condition
Extreme poverty and crime go han
in hand. Destitution multiple
= temptations and destroys the fine
feelings. The bodies and souls
= men are apt to be clothed IN like ga
= ments. IF the body is covered wit
= rags the soul is generally in the san
. condition. Self-respect is gone-tI
man looks down-he has neither hoE
a nor courage.
e We need not repeat the failures
g the old world. To divide land anon
e successful generals, or among favo
s ties of the crown, or to give vast e
IS tates for service rendered In war,
o no worse than to allow men of gre
6, wealth to purchase and hold va
e tracks of land. The result Is precis
IS Iy the same-that is to say, a natiC
e composed Of a few landlords ar
n many tenants, the tenants resortiz
IF from time to time to mob violenC
1t and the landlords depending upon
le standing army. The property of ]
10 man, however, should be taken f
IS either private or public use wltho