The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-09-03
INEBRIETY AND HOMICIDE.
The Remedy for the Many Murders Is 70
Shut Up the Saloon

SnuL up the saloon
DR.. Andrew White finds that there
were over $1,000 homicides in the United
States in 1S95-21s per cent. more than
in 1890, and constantly increasing. He
is convinced that the leading cause Is a
lax public sentiment and failure of the
law to punish criminals for this crime.
Judge Parker, of the United States
court, has taken up this subject and
reaches the same conclusion, only he is
more emphatic in his conviction that
the laws delays and uncertainties, with
mock sentiment for the criminals, en-
courage murder. Other causes are
noticed as contributing, but of minor
interest, such as the degeneracy and low
criminal immigrants from Europe who
coIumit murder from slight proyoca-
tons.
Both of these studies assume that
correct, and all first causes and means
of prevention insignificant.
The statistics of the failure of capital
punishment to prevent murder, so pos
itively urged by earnest, capable men,
are ignored as if unworthy of notice.
An appeal to facts of cases of homicide
reveals a different view of this subject.
In ten homicides in and near Boston,
eight were committed while under The
influence of alcohol. Three were
clearly insane and sent to prison for life.
OF the seven, two were hung, one was
liberated aften q years confinement,
and four are now in prison. Five OF
these cases were VIGOROUSLY dangerous
and maniacal when drinking. OF the
others history of degeneracy and con-
tinuous drinking for years was clear.
In six homicide cases in Connecticut,
five were committed while intoxicated,
and one was hung-the others are i'll
prison. In IL cases in New York, nine
were prominently intoxicated at or be-
fore the homicide. These facts repre-
sent in a general way the condition OF a
very large percentage of the 10000 MUIR
ders of 1895. The statement that from
60 to so per cent. of all murders in this
country are the work of inebriates and
persons under the influence of spirits,
has been confirmed in many ways be-
yond question. Here are causes that
these authors have not noticed.
The punishment of inebriates by
death for crime has been repeatedly
proven worthless. Increased vigor and
severity of punishment has never
stopped inebriety or checked crime by
inebriates, because it failed to reach the
first causes. These causes are the free
dom allowed inebriates to go about free
ly, using spirits at all times and places
without control, and the open licensed
saloon encouraging and making attract.
1--WE the ind:scrimate use of spirits
The first causes, heredity, anaemia, ex-
haustion, mental defect and degeneracy
are intensified and exploded by the ga
loon. Like the powder and Lighted
match, the degenerate finds relief in the
narcotism of alcohol, and although the
dissolution goes on under a mask, il is
certain and inevitable.
Homicides of necessity will increase
yearly, uninfuenced by the administra-
ton of law or sympathy for the of.
fender, because the causes are unrecog-
nized. If murders are most frequently
caused by inebriety, and inebriety in
tensified and developed by the open sa.
loon, the remedy is clear. If the degen-
eracy of inebriety predispose to crime,
the inebriate is dangerous and should
come under legal control before crime
is committed. In many cases of homi'
eide by inebriates the crime was clear.
ly foreshadowed and was certain to oc-
cur, in favorable circumstances.
Rational preventive medicine will lock
up the inebriate and shut up the sa.
loon, and thus prevent the crime. A
new study of this subject is essential
before causes and remedies can be men
toned authoritatively. Who are these
10000 murderers of 1895? What were
the conditions of the crime? A study
of these facts will reveal the means OF
prevention and the proper remedies
All theories and specnlations on other
lines are farcical and absurd.-Journal
of Inebriety.