Evening journal., 1896-03-19
How TO Prevent Crime


Il has been shown, beyond question.
that q large proportion Of the crimes
Of this country Is caused by the use OF
liquor, and tho idea lately suggested by
the veteran chaplain OF the Tombs prison
Ia New York city, that lt would pay the
authorities to make stronger efforts FOR
the reformation OF criminals from lntem
persts habits while they were serving
out their sentences in prison, strikes
us as one OF very great i'm
portsnce. The clergyman re-
isrrsd to has probably seen more
or the misery of drunkenness among
both sexes than any man living. and
after careful consideration OF the subject
be advises that the authorities arrange
for the application of the gold cure to all
criminals while undergoing imprison-
ment. He Is satisfied that many-indeed
a large proportion OF the criminals con
fned-become penitent and would, II
their power OF self control were restored
to them, 60 out Of our jaIls and psriten.
ilaries, at the expiration OF their sen.
tences, reformed and conscientious men
and women.
As It is now, the criminals, while
under punishment, are actually growing
In sin, and their only desire on getting
their liberty is to'plungs into it afresh
To be sure they feel thsir degradation,
but this only enhances their desire to
drown their feelings In liquor. The
chaplain believes that intempersuoe Is a
disease, and that 1t must bs treated aud
removed from the system. like any othoi
disease, before moral inhusnces will bs-
come effective with the vlcslm OF the
drink habit.
This opinion 10 getting to be that OF
most pbllsnthropic people who have
examined the subject, aud It lead to the
conclusion involved IN the idea OF this
old clergyman, taat thu right way TO re-
duce the criminal classes Is by reforming
them while thsy are In custody This
plan is not xpsnslvs It Is humane aud
It possesses the advantage OF no other
ever considered by .the laws which are
put In useSto restrain crlmlnallty. Then
why should It nos b adopted; not oaly
In our large cities. bat Ia our country
towns and vlllages2
In considering this matter we speak Of
the gold cure only incidentally as that
cure was recommended in the New York
case We are BY no means prepared to
say either that 1t is or Is no. an absolute
cure for the liquor habit, This Is ques
tion which does not Affect our vlew OF
this matter for It 10 not In our mlnd so
important what means are used for this
purpose as It is that some means should
be used and every effort made to give the
suggestion herein made fair trial II
Is practical In It's nature. sndlsvsn II the
clergyman citsd ware not seconded Ia his
opinions by many other ministers and
medical men who have had experiences
with criminals, the sehems would be
worthy OF trial
Can anyone conceive OF a grander
achievement. from a moral point OF view,
than this changing OF our jails and pen
itentiaries into reformatorles2 Lst It be
tried, not only In our cities but 10 our
country jails throughout the laud II
every inebrlats criminal sentenced for a
sufficient length Of tlme-saY a month or
more--be treated medically aud turned
out OF all with desire to battle against
intemperAncs, the question As to what
we shall do with our criminals will soon
be answered satisfactorily.