The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-20
CRIME AND INSANITY.


Nothing has done more to blunt the
edge of justice in this country than the
disposition OF scientists TO lead their read.
ers to take sentimental view Of crime.
Ii is true that neither I.ambroso, in
Italy, nor Maudsley. IN England, say that
all awful criminals are insane. but the
tendency Of these writer's Is TO abolish
personal responsibility and TO lay the
burden Of all crime on hereditary defects
and tendencies from which there Is no
escape. Great criminals are to these
writers the victims Of an unacceptable des-
tiny. Msudsley says: "The wicked are
not wicked by deliberate choice. but by nm
inclination OF their natures" Crime is
described as lunacy. and the production of
social conditions. for which the criminal
is not respons lille. and 10 - held that men
have either to be lunatics OF criminals,
owing TO inherited peculiarities or defects
This view has been hastily accepted by
a good many preachers who have more
humanity" than horse sense, and the re-
suit Is that sentimental dealing with crime
shows q world vide increase. The opposi-
ton to capital punishment has gained
strength; women are seldom convicted of
serious crime; the prisons have been
made so comfortable and attractive that
their inmates ara better fed. better clothed
and live better in every way than they
ever did before their incarceration. When
the time comes for discharge many of the
conviets beg TO be retained as servants.
and every man OF worldly intelligence and
observation knows that large number of
ofEenses are committed for the distinct
purpose of getting q more comfortable
home than the offender IS able or willing
TO earn for himself
The laws provide for large comsnuta-
ton for good behavior; the punishments
indicted on refractory prisoners have been
reduced in number and only the mild
ones are retained. Tales OF prison abuses
50 easily find popular eredenee that the
famous Elmira. n. Y, ReEormatory has
been under a cloud OF malicious accusation
for year past aud has only been vindi-
Gated by the report Of the legislative COM
mittee. Men who steal millions by breach
OF trust are with difficulty convicted aad
when sent TO the psnileniisry seldom
serve their full sentences. The anarchist
with his torch, bomb and dagger has been
fostesed By the Populisi party; the murder.
Gus crank frequently escape. confinement
because he Is treated as legally sane
when bis actions are such a. 10 snttls
him 10 residence either with criminals or
gunaties; be belongs either ia bedlAra or
the peaissnsiAry. II one of these anar-
ehssts or mardsroas cranks Kills somshody
be never lacks defenders.
There Is beginning TO BE- . reaction
against this sentimental view OF crime
and criminals both in this country and In
Europe. European schoolgirls Of dlstine-
ton are beginning 10 protest against any
further eoddliaK or cossetins OF soci A. out
casts who have become inmates OF cur
prisons IL Is fairly argued that criminals
shoald no longer BE regarded merely ss IN
fortunate individuals. who have .snned hy
force q hsrsaity aaa hardly By their own
fAalt al al, but saoald 10 treated as wicked
creatures rho have deliberately chosen 70
lie enemies OF iau aud order. whose pan
ishrasnt should - Faosf severe. anA whose
PRISON saoaIa bs maize as uncomfortable
and eai0gs place OF residence As Il can
Re Without any violation Of the laws OF
pahlie health.
TIE wash majority OF msa sAo have BE-
cone criminals are Desperate. hardened,
Incapable 81 reform alton. osHeiag tssti-
mony sAess sAas tie great majority o.
tie egiBsnsls in me various psnIssatiAries
of ths eoanuy 90 net .eco9ns II azv
shame o. paalsAnssas 20 - ia prlson.
tssy ezly o6jscs - shsir coaEasasaf be-
cause IL pats restraint On tAslr eel
eoarsas. TA~ most oFtho4ax q pFlsoa
sathorasiss thiak tie n araersr', sea- has
setter chance II g e started promptly
fsoa sAs soAzo.d tAAa Il u il !Sng sab