Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-27
THE SPREAD OF CRIME.

Ii must distress every true lover of his
country, TO know to what extent crime
has spread in this fair. young land.
Statistics show that, at no time in the
history of this country. has the growth Of
crime been more rapid. 1t would seem.
at this rate. that we must be approaching
a crisis. In the vain effort, satisfactorily
10 account for il, thoughtful students of
social conditions continue to differ among
themselves. Some lay the blame at the
door OF the trusts. while others affirm
that labor unions have, in the main, pro-
duced the present condition of affairs.
Ofthis we must be very certain that. UNI
less the cause be ascertained and removed
the situation. now grave, must lead up to
consequences. which, as Ex-senator In
gals says, are "certain TO be immensely
momentous.
Looking north. south. west and east OF
us, we find boycot,s. strikes, lockouts
and disorders OF all kinds known to socie-
". One of the most remarkable features
OF ihe times is that, in many respects.
there seems to be widespread prosperi-
ty. Our exports are large. The balance
OF trade. with all nations. is in our favor.
Money is abundant, while the rate of in
terest is low. Crops were rarely, fever
as fine. There seems to be no diminu-
ton of the yield of our iron, coal and
copper mines.
One would think that with the people
of the United States. instead OF crime in
creasing. as statistics show. that our peni-
tentiaries and ails should be well nigh
empty. Why is this3 We do not think
that the present conditions are the out
come OF any one but OF several causes.
combining to poison the fountains OF So
oiety. Some people seriously blame Mr..
Aston for his self repatriation. II matters
60 on this way from bad to worse, as
they have gone on for the past few years.
there may be greater safety almost any
where in Europe among the older poll
tics. for lie and property. than among
US.
These are painful thoughts. but in no
sense the outcome of pessimistic view
of matters. The best physician is he
who makes the fewest mistakes as to the
seat and cause of disease. Remedy, at
ter this, is comparatively easy. Is there
no way of getting at the true cause Of
our trouble? We throw out two or three
suggestions in the form OF questions with
out affirming anything in the premises
Just now:
First-Did this condition of society ex-
ist prior to the Civil war
Second-Are we better or worse off
than the French were after their fearful
revolution!
Third-Did not the Civil war afford
remarkable opportunities. by army con-
tracts and otherwise. for amassing colos-
sal fortunes. for the proper use of which
there had been no healthful education'
Did not the vastly disproportioned
wealth spring up in this way?
Fourth is the exact relation be-
tween these two giants, Trusts and La
Dor unionsl Which produces the other'
Are they no, double first cousins, both
springing from that Pandora-bcx of tariff
for protection.
Fifth--ln the protection of the few at
the expense OF the many. are We not yio1
lating Gods law. and is not our present
distressing social condition. expressing
itself in the prevalence of crime. the pen
atty of divine law violated by our nation-
al policy in the premises?
Sixth-Can we hope to cure disease
until we get at the seat or cause Of it,
Is not an UBIQUITOUS tariff the prolific
source of most of our trouble?
Seventh-Without this abortion of a
tariff would we have any without
trusts would we have any labor unions:
Eighth-Does not this present. prurient
paternalism. in the general government.
express and extend itself into the present
state government of Maryland. in which
we have never had so much crime. since
the day Lord Baltimore took his stand
for civil and religious hbertys-Cumber-
land E1Uing Times.
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fApACH Ecrred in % MN e. .... s n .,l.