The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-04-14
CRIME AND CRIMINALS.
[FrOm Minneapolis Times. ]

One of the cOmmOnest pleas offered
for men who have been exposed in
criminal wrong doing is that of prev
ious good reputation. Probably the
man is almost crazed with grief and
humiliation and his pitiable condition
not infrequently arOuses the warmest
sympathies of those who behold him
Crime did not abash him; no pangs of
conscience troubled him while he was
living in luxury from iIl-gotten gains;
but exposure overwhelms him.
Are such grief and repentance en-
titled to respect? 1t is quite evident
that the mans otfenses did not trouble
him, and that his present sufferings
are not due to repentance for his
crimes, but because exposure has lost
him the good opinion of his fellow
men. Would it not be hypocrisy to
accept his present grief as an atone
ment? Should not the crime itself
have stirred his conscience, even though
the knowledge of it had remained
locked in his own breast? The ex-
pOSure does not make him any worse
than before, it simply reveals his true
character and it is this revelation that
the criminal of good name breads
above all else. If he could 60 on in
secret, his criminal career would give
him little concern; but he breads being
known for what he is.
This fear of exposure is a whole
some, restraining influence upon nearly
all men, though every man who does
not fear to commit crime or a wrong
of any kind, even in secret; is in dan
ger of being led into evil courses.
Whatever the nature of conscience
may be, whether it is purely intel
lectual process or moral sense exist
ing in all men, irrespective of their
training, it is most important factor
in keeping men from vicious courses.
1t can be stilled only by abuse or neg
lect. The man who habitually disre-
CARDS its warnings and promptings
reaches period at last when it gives
no warning, but even such man will
show the liveliest sense of shame upon
exposure.
But such a man is a knave and hypo-
critic and is not entitled to sympathy.
He does not repent of his crime, but
grieves that he has been found out.
Not the crime itself, but its discovery
troubles him.
The case is different where young
man having committed crime or
other offense and being troubled in
mind because of it suffers, in addition,
the shame of exposure. 1t is not hy
pOcrisy to conceal a single Offense with
determination to sin no more, but
exposure is as humiliating to the one
who has been trying to make amends
as to the man who has for years played
the part of a hypocrite.
The question whether such grief
should be respected depends altogether
upon the circumstances of the individ-
ual case. If there is no real repentance
for the crime, the grief arising from
exposure is simply that of one from
whom the mask has been torn. If the
grief is coupled with full sense of
the wrong done and all earnest desire
to repair it, then the victim is entitled
to respect and sympathy. He has
within him the elements required for
reformation of character and should
be helped to lead better life and to
keep active the conscience that tells
him when he goes astray.
Mere sense of shame at exposure IS
not conscience, though it may often be
mistaken for it; when the conscience
is active the shame is present, though
the offense be secret. The man who
has silenced this inward monitor and
can unblushingly lead life of dupli'
city is danger to the community;
exposure and consequent humiliation
are only part of his just punishment.