The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-27


carnival? They are several. For third
OF IA century ambition to become rich has
been beyond all precedent. Never before
in the history OF mankind have oppor-
tunities been so great to acquire immense
fortunes in SO short time. The mass OF
the people had run wild in the pursuit of
pecuniary fortunes, and tine acquisition
Of wealth has been re garded as the great
est human achievement More honor has
been lavished upon the millionaire and
multi illionaire than upon the states
man, the scientist the philosopher, pub
licist or phllanthropist, and the distinc.
ton enjoyed hiss been regardless OF the
manner in which wealth has been ac-
quired. This ambition for riches, to-
gether with the esteem manifested to-
ward monied nabobs. have destroyed or
weakened the moral sensibilities. and led
men to contemplate crime without COM
Functions of conscience.
There are few men of immense wealth,
the accumulation of which has been in
unnatural and in more or less reprehen-
sible ways. By their side is a vast
amount of poverty. Railroads and banks
are supposed to be the property Of the
opulent and there has grown up process
of reasoning which. il it does lot Justify,
it psllates the in minds of criminals TAX
ing from them in any mode. The ethics
of Iago was that he who is robbed of
what he does not need and not knowing
it, is not robbed at all. The bank and
train robbers have adopted ethics which
leave out the knowledge part; it is
enough for them that the parties robbed
do not need that which is taken from
them. Hard times are prolific Of crime
if of nothing else, and in this country, of
bold crimes, for the American criminal
carries into his occupation that courage
and daring which are American character
istics. The American murderer or robber
is not Malta; be does not use the stileto
or gimlet-knife, but he performs his
bad work in holder manner.
The causes OF criminal disposition being
known, their removal is the work of
those who would protect society. Moral
debasement will not disappear until other
achievements than wealth getting are
given the first and highest place in public
estimation until our young men are
taught that it is better to be learned and
good than to be rich, and especially that
acuirlng wealth in other than honorable
and just ways is disr-putable and NOR
ally wrong. In the church and school the
doctrine taught by the Great Master
should be persistently impressed. The
foundation of good conduct is thorough
belief in moral responsibility.
Methods of business which have enabled
the few to acquire what has been pro-
duced by the many and all legislation
granting privileges not conferred upon
the masses must not longer be tolerated.
Public policies hereafter must have
in view only the general welfare. and so
far as practicable and just. nearer ap-
proach to equality in the possession of
wealth should be brought about. These
things are not only necessary in remov-
ing the causes of individual crime. but to
avoid public disorder. There is much
unrest in the country, which is always the
case when times are hard and enterprise
is checked, and there is greater danger
from Americans when they become des-
perate than from any other people. They
possess intelligence, energy and courage.
Under civilization marked change has
been wrought in the treatment of crirni-
nails. Its humanity is commendable in
the highest degreee, but it has often been
carried SO far as to produce laxity in the
execution of the criminal laws. Sym.
pathy and mercy are divine qualities. but
protection to society must be the first OBJ
ject to be attained, Certainty OF punish.
ment is more effective in restraining crime
than severity. When crime is contem.
plated, and the bulk of crimes are pre-
meditated. the chances of detection, ar
rest and conviction are carefully ccnsid-
cred. The greater the chance of escape
the less is the restraining influence OF
punishment. Hence it is important that
prosecutors. juries and judges should
be faithful to the interests of the public
as well as sympathetic and merciful tn.