The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-16
LIVE CUES TONS.
A Series Of Articles Contributed to These
Columns by Advanced Thinkers

ASoTHER LEssoS FRoM THE LAST CEN
srs-THE PRESIDENTS MISSIONARY
ADDRESS AND CRIMINAL STATISTICS
The duties Of president are onerous
and numerous. His responsibilities are
undoubtedly great It j. serious ques-
ton how far his duties extend. Il Is
generally conceded that conferences with
great financicr5 for the welfare Cf the
country. recroations ii hunting and fish
ing, delivering missionary addresses,
instructlng the country on wise Or other
wise financial theories, twisting the tan
Of the British lion and vetoins sundry
bills are legitimate exercises Of the pres
idential prerogative. There are those,
however, who think that the president
should be somewhat acquainted with the
conditions and needs Of the entire coun-
try. That he has az interest il the west
was eviuced recently III missionary ad-
dress, delivered III Carnegie hall, New
York, before the Home Mission society
Of the Presbyterian church. This was
clear ana strong address, and some Of
its statements are peculiarly interesting.
The knowledge Of the west eylnced by
the speaker is not as thorough Is one
would wish it to be. The west Is a
great country, and like al other great
subjects it IS complicated and difficult
to understand one cannot know the
west thoroughly by casual observations
from, tbs windows Of flying trains nor
from the pelUaal Of the Arizona Kicker.
A better source Of information Is at
hand. Before drawing on this source let
as read what the president said Of the
condition II the west:
''No one charged with the duties and
responsibilities which necessarily weigh
upon chief executive can fail co appre-
c,atc the Importance Of religious teach
ing and Christian endeavor IN the new
y settled portions Of our vast domain.
Il is there where hot and stubborn war
fare between the forces Of good and evil
is constantly invited. IN those days the
vanguard Of occupation il a new set
Element j; never without its vicious and
criminal element. Gambling houses and
dramshops are frequently among the first
establishments III a new community. 1t
must also be confessed that removal
from old homes and old associations to
new and more primitive homo has
tendency among honest and respectable
settlers TO smother scrnples and TO breed
liberation C evil and Indifference to
Chr ializinG and elevating agencies.
These conditions, i unchecked and I'M
cor.cc.1d, tx upon the new community
bythe.r ..awth and expansion charac-
ter and disposition Whicn, while dan
goIons to peace AID order in th8 early
stages Of settlement, develop into badly
regulated municipalities, corrupt uI!d IN
safe territories ana undesirable states.
tie Emphasizes what lie presumes to be
facts-yiz, that IL the west there are:
First Vicious and criminal Classes:
second, gambling houses aud dram
shops; thicd, the general laxity il
morals consequent on leaving old homes
ard associations. The Inevitable result
is badly regulated palities cor
rupt a2a unsafe territories and unde-
silaile states.
Th8 people Of the west are not I'M
grateful fer the many and excellent
blessings conferred ny the east. The
missionary has been received with open
arms and given a prominent and nonored
place IN cSe,E western community. The
policy e sending out well trained
preachers ana teachers into new fields is
wise and rieht. But when we turn to
the statistics of crime, taken from the
last ceGSas, we are made to ask the cues
tIal whether missionaries are not need
ed ii other sections Of our country.
Cine might ask II there are 10 saloons
and gambling Gens IL New York and
Boston, whether there IS any political
corruption east of the AIle,,.,,nies,
vine. her or not there is any general
lay.ty q morals even III New England.
1t hes been limited that there are a few
Immoral people and 4 few saloons even
II tie District of Columbia But, how
ever this may be, q brief study Of our
criminal census viii be both profitable
and Instructive 10 people IL ali sections
Of the country. IN The Outlook for
March : NJ. i. y. Eewes presents q
careful diagram stHdy CT the criminal
pcpul"-ion q the various states and ter
rito1is-. THESE statistics are the best OBJ
teina5le. In each million Of the popula-
ton there are 2,.35 criminals in Mas
sachUsGtts and 1924 III Washington,
1921 ii New York and ,11S in Idaho,
] .62l III Rhode Island and 1924 in
Isah, 1,313 il Connecticut and ,335 i'll
New Mexico, 900 III New Jersey and
1919 III Wyoming, 1924 in Pennsyl-
yania and 3u1 III North Dakota
Below IS given the general results by
sections: