The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-09-02

i Everett duOpl6u as lu6 SuUJGCI udbuOl
Iof one of his brilliant orations, the
theory, that upon the intelligence of
the people rests the security of the
nation. 1t was thought that with our
splendid system of free schools, sup
plemented by ample opportunities for
higher education, the question as to
the stability of a popular government
was largely solved, but since then all
thinking men have become profoundly
impressed by the fact that something
more than education is necessary TO
preserve our institutions from decay.
An educated scoundrel is far more dan
gerous than an ignorant one, and his
capacity for making mischief is in
creased in proportion as his intel
lectual faculties have been developed.
| It appears that the anarchist who
recently assassinated Canoyas, the
Spanish premier, was college bred
man. Our educational facilities were
never so complete and efficient as now,
and yet the criminal classes are stead
lily increasing. 1t is estimated that not
less than 100000 of the young men of
our country are criminals, most of them
under % years of age, and many of
them having deliberately entered into
a criminal life from choice. In 1850
there was one criminal to every $500
people in the United States; in 1890
there was one criminal to every 1856
people. In 1882 there were 1866 muir
derers in the United States, of which
So or about ! in Ii were punished by
the ordinary process of law, and ll8,
or about l in 10 were lynched. In
1894 there were $500 murderers in the
United States, of which only 1872, or
about l in IA were punished by the
ordinary process of law, and 100, or
about / in 81 were lynched.
Thus, while the population of the
United States increased from 1850 to
1894, something over 100 per cent. the
increase of criminals, during the same
time was nearly $50 per cent.
Notwithstanding the APPALLING num-
Der of homicides in 1894 which has
been increased since, to upwards of
10000 per annum, the murderers stand
chance of 80 to l that they will es-
cape punishment altogether, either by
due process of law or by lynching. No
country in Europe, except that of the
uns peakable Turk, however ignorant,
degraded and misgoverned may be its
1 oh n fr11 r,f
human slaughter in a time of peace, as
does our own country. 1t is estimated
that it costs the people of the United
States 1926, 100000 annually Tor the
support of it's criminals, including costs
of trial, sustenance and police surveil-
lance.
Life is held cheap, and often there is
mawkish and sentimental sympathy
for the criminal which defeats justice.
| The enforcement Of our penal laws is
| too lax and uncertain, and our methods
| of procedure in the trial of criminals is
entirely inadequate to carry out the
ends of justice. And yet the acquittal
of murderers and other criminals, is by
LURES who are taken from the people.
1t may be that we shall have to
abandon the time honored trial by
jury, and to substitute for it trial
before bench of two or more judges,
who shall decide on the guilt or inno-
cence of the accused. "
What our country needs today is a
revival of conscience, the up building
of moral forces, which will uphold right
rather than expediency; which will
demand justice and enforce law. Why
should not pure and exalted moral
sentiments be taught in our public
schools, and become the subject matter
of our text books. The state taxes
your property and mine, for school
purposes, although we may not patron
ize them on the theory that its stabil-
| ity rests on an intelligent citizenship.
Does not its stability rest as much or
more on the character of its citizens,
and the existence of all those noble
virtues, upon which the fabric of
society rests? Why should not the
state then, for it's own protection, re-
quire that the dissemination of these
principals be made part of our public
school system.
A great deal of attention is given in
public discussion to the evils attending
the aggregation of wealth, the concen-
tration of business, and the gigantic
trusts, which have absorbed so many
branches of industry.
In regard to the aggregation OF
wealth, the vast fortunes which are
accumulated by individuals, here and
there, scattered over the country, have
their unfavorable side, and are against
public policy; and yet the dangers
which are threatened are more fancied
than real. How little are these private
fortunes, in comparison with the vast
aggregation of wealth of the whole
people. The entire value of property