The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-11-13
A CURE FOR CRANKS.
Remedies Suggested By the Rev.
Daniel Halleron.

"a Cure for Cranks' was the title of q
prelude to the Rev, Daniel Halleron's
regular discourse at the Sim pson NJ. E.
Church last evening. He said:-
1--WE hear the term crank used so FREE
quently and find society many times en-
uaDgertd by The aux that we dean 1t
proper to look into the subject. Indeed.
socially, we are at the mercy too often OF
the cranks. They have appeared in the
role of phiIapthropists with schemes of a
utopian nature; sometimes as the high
avengers of law; again us the red handed
murderers desming society an organized
mob for plumber which they lave been
com missioned to remover; again with
schemes SO ludlcrous as TO excite
laughter. But the matter has entered
into a very serious stage. After the kill
ing of Mr.. Harrison, Inspector Byrnes of
New York City expected ah Invasion Of
tue craDks. Society has been paralyzsd
with fear, and no remedy has been pro-
posed.
1.-THE term was originally. and. indeed.
is still. a handle for producing or accel-
Grating motion. Then it cane to be 40
piled to specialists in any field or pecu-
liar enterprise, aud has bsen used III a
contemptuos III
we have the scientific crauks-men
and women VIM pursued q science from
sheer love OF 1t. without any hope of gain.
They are cranks in the mind OF the sordid
business man. who can think Of no ~
terpriss only as 1t turns to gold.
I'VE have temperance Scranks; men
who are o%utspokeu against the saloon,
and pray u labor for its suppression.
A employer wapts his work done in
a certain manuer. The employe. through
a bent of mischief or careless method,
him Il crank.
Webster says that crank Is q weak
uess, like a suio not properly ballasred.
which is liable to capsize. 9.
4 MONO-MANIAC.
ITO us the crank Is "a person afflicted
with dementlA, an Unoalauced mind
n mono-nlauiac-;ane In all points but
one.
81. This individual is dangerous aud
should be guarded against, He may not
discover the weakness of mind until that
his mania tax On a s'old front, and life
and property ars IN jeopardy.
"2. SucI persons are fit subjects for
police surveillaucs. Dangerous classes,
or those with criminal intent as well as
those persons WHOSE term OF imprisonr
ment has expired are fora Time closely
scrutinized by the authorities, aud are
GERS Of the law. They may resent
this as an infringement Of the
liberties. but personal liberty is not so
Scored as social liberty. 1t IS better that
the ones rights shouli be abridged than
that the rights Of the many should be
imperilled. We find On public demon
str tions the professional Dlckpockst Is
instantly seized and without trial jailed
till the demonstration ceases. Fney may
rail against our law as they please, but
there is no redress. Public safety de-
mands 1t. Tue weak minded person
should be known to the authorities and
strict watch kept on his movsmsnts.
"3. The safe method is that on discover
ing evil intent weak minded or
fined in y hospital or asylum. We
houses for weak minded
children, why not have homes
for weak~minded meus What right la
Guiteau to be abroad! Not any. He was
a subject for police surveillance for years,
and his nearest relatives knew this.
But a false family pride refused to ad INIT
I'LL his ia, All work was accomplished.
and then willingly enough would they
have admitted it SO as TO screen him from
the gal1ows 1t be WAS too'daugerous to
live after shooting President Garfield, he
was TOO dangerous TO be abroad before it
We haye been Rfh cted with a
sentimeutalism touching the liberty of
OF the person in general without sufd-
Gent Inquiry as to whether the person is
worthy Of liberty.
VILLAINS AT HEART.
sit must also be known that many
persons pose as cranks who are villains
at heart, and under q g ,rb of a partial
insanity perpetrate crime. knowing That
the mercy OF a jury aud judge will pro-
tect them from condiga puDishm ent,
Let it be known that life imprisonm cut
awaits the crank. aud we will not D.
afflicted with Bedlsm let loose when a
raving maniac takes a valuable life. The
remedy may be deemed heroic, but deep
diseases demand the probe to their eradi.
cation, aud so here. Fear is a whole
some astrinRent to the commission OF
wrong. the soouer we appreciate these
truths the better for society at large and
the individual in particular"