The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-04
THE INCREASE OF CRIME
-Prqsidfnt Hayes Says 1t Is Largely Due te
Unrestricted immigration.

BALTIMORE. Dec. Sat the annual meet
ing of tho National Prison Association,
held In this CITY to-day. ex- President
Hayes delivered q very interesting ad-
dress, reviewing tho work of the society
and the growth of crime through immigra-
ton. In the course of his address he said:
The prime object OF the true prison-reforme H.
IN the protection OF society and individuals by
we seek to attain this end are: First. the speedy
and certain arresI. conviction and Imprisonment
OF the guilty; second: the reformation OF con
religion, education and productive labor; third,
the permanent incarceration of all prisoners who
are not reformed; fourth. the most effectual
scientiousness and wise care In the
training of the young. In all OF
these paths, the progress at any given period
seems difficult aud slow. but In q generation it h
unmistakable and encouraging. An able man of
large experience has said nine-tenths of our con
vlets have been made criminals in character or
twenty years of age. Therefore the training OF
the young Is the most indispensable duty and
chief business of every generation.
But plainly. immigration, as il exists to-day,
is the lion in the path OF the progress of America.
A high authority places the number Of criminal
and defective classes in the United States at one
the awful significance of an Increase of our
criminal population in q single decade of
many thousands by emigration from Europe
alone. Formerly the love of liberty and the
laudable desire TO better the condition were the
leading motives of emigration from Europe t.
America. Now employers of large bodies OF men.
wanting cheaper labor, the agents OF steam
ship companies. spectators In land in the
thinly-settled States, stimulated by their greed
for gain, and. worse than all, the increasing
efforts OF the European communities to send 10
America their chronic paupers. lunatics and
criminals. have given TO this question a gravity
that has not before belonged to il.
Thu full infant and fnnantn nP wonrISoo., 81
free institutions-seem not to be yet full under
country. The old world ideas still prevail
among us. It is thought the government
here, as in the despotisns abroad, ought to per
form all the duties, or a large share of the
duties which society owes TO itself or TO its
members. The tendency of power is always to
the hands OF the few-tO irresponsibility and
despotism. The individual member of the or
ganizatiOn Is gradually superseded and sup
pressed in the supposed interest of the oreaniZa-
ton itself. This IL tantamount TO saying that
the arbitrary viii Of despotic leaders has
Of the organization. One remedy for the evil is
found In voluntary associations of citizens inter-
ested in tile welfare of their less fortunate fell
lOw-men, where intelligent discussions are open.
free and public, where the press and its repre-
sentatlves are always welcomed. and where
the effort and the tendency are to counteract
that Indifference to the condition of the poor
and needyl which is at last the enemy
most To he dreaded In a free country. namely,
the apathy OF good citizens with respect to the
evils which do not seem directly TO concern
themselves. With a vivid sense of responsibility
TO the unseen and "a constant and living purpose
TO aih our fellow bein gs-especially those who
most need our aid. we shall surely find the
largest measure of qualification and happiness
that belongs TO this stage OF existence.
Cardinal Gibbons opened the congress
with prayer. Prince IsenbnrQ accom-
panied the Cardinal to the hall and sat by
him On the stage.