The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-29
The Problem of Crime.


ing in the United States, In the 10
years from 1870 to 1880 there were. he
finds 4,60S homicides and in the fol-
lowing decade there were 7.3S6.an in
crease of about 60 per cent. From
1890 to 1898, according to DR.. Wards
figures, there were in this country
more than $4,000 murders. or an in
crease Of over 500 per cent. Just
think of IT," says he. "More murders
committed in the last years than
in the 80 years preceding. And what
is true of murder is true of other kinds
of crime. In 1850, we had one prisoner
to every $500 of our population, in
1890 We had one prisoner to every 7S6
of our population. At this awful rate
of increase-and it is growing greater
every year--how long will 1t be before
the criminal classes will become so
numerous tina: our legal machinery will
become unable TO deal with them?
Who does not see that unless some
thing is done to check the increase of
crime, old chaos will come again,
and anarchy reign supreme?'
In passing 1t should be noted that
particularly with respect to homicides
represent in the later years quite as
probably an increase in the thorough
mss with which homicides are latterly
reported in the press as they do an ac-
tual increase in the relative number
n hnT ipt1 1nd Do fc he
actual increase is sufficiently formidable
to justify the alarm with which the
Pittsburg clergyman views it. We
proceed to quote him further:
What, then, is the cause of this
fearful increase Of crime. More than
to all other causes combined, believe
IL is due to a growing lack of respect
for law. That respect for law is wan
ing there is no shadow of doubt, and
this is the one greatest danger which
menaces our country today. Law is
not law unless enforced by penalty,
and we seem to have lost the power of
putting down crime by the infiiction
of wholesome pain. There is pre-
valent among us a sickly sentiment of
mercy which indicates lack of moral
fiber, There is a maudlin sentiment
tality which prevents the suppression
of vice by constantly interfering with
the DEGREES of our courts. No mat
ter how brutal crime may be, yet the
perpetrator of it can always depend
upon some sympathy, and when in
prison, flowers and dainties will be sent
to him. Every whining beggar and
drunken idler will find some who think
that he should be allowed to prey upon
the community, and that the punish
ment which would force him to earn
an honest living is, forsooth, an in
fringement of his liberty"
The doctor quotes with approval the
doctrine of Carlyle that incorrigible
members of society should be dedicated
to the gallows and then asks the ques-
tion: us our law worthy of respect
and reverence?" The law, abstractly
considered, may be just and good, but
If enacted by rotten legislators, en-
forced partially and corruptly by
tainted officials or juggled with by
hair-splitting attorneys, he thinks the
opinion of the people is very liable to
fall into disrespect Of it. "Our laws"
says he. "seem to be framed for the
express purpose of aiding in every way
the criminal When a vile woman,
who commits murder, and no one seems
to have any doubt as to her guilt, is
acquitted of the crime on the grounds
of insufficiency of evidence, people be-
gin to ask if there is not something
wrong with the law on evidence.
When a girl slays her mother and is
acquitted on the ground of insanity
again people wonder If there is not
something wrong with the law. When
drunkenness, which is itself a crime
palliate a still greater crime, plain,
simple laymen cannot help thinking
that the only principle on which it
can be done is that two wrongs have
made right. 1t does seem to plain,
simple people. who love justice and
truth, that bubbles and technicalities
in such cases have more weight than
truth ana Justice
These being the conditions, how
may they be remedied? DR.. Ward Of
fers these suggestions: Give more
attention to moral questions in our
schools from the first year in the pri-
mary to the last year in the university,
Seek to develop not only the intellec-
tual but also the ethical side of the
| child, else he may become the wisest,
brightest, meanest of mankind Re-
form our laws where they need reform
alton, and seek to create public opin-
| ion which will demand their enforce
ment. Reform our prisons, where
| criminals OF all classes are herded to-
| gether, and which. as at present con-
| stituted, are schools for the higher edu-
] cation of criminals. Let every Chris
tion, and every one who loves his fell
| low man., in the name of God and
humanity, do something to uplift some
one fallen person, and help him or her
to a higher life."
The pastor of st. Peters here comes
| pretty close to the center of the target.
But we indOrse the one exception TO
his remarks taken by the Pittsburg
Dispatch. in which paper his opinions
| Grst found publicity. In disproof of
the idea that exercises of merciful sem
timent promote crime the statistics of
Michigan are cited by the Dispatch,
which adds: "In the system of that
state capital punishment has no place;
inebrity is rated a. n disease and klep-