Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-11
The Wave of Crime.
ATLANTA Constltutlon)


There Is a wave Of crime passing over
the country which seems to omit no Sec
tion and which embraces all classes VI
people.
In a very remarkable article by former
Senator ingalls, he traces the sources
from whence crimes originate. and shows
that they are the result OF defeat OF
law which drives men 10 seek protection
through other means, and out u which
evolves the great troubles with which
the newspapers OF the country have been
laden for some time past.
It will be seen that Mr.. ingalls, Is fair
enough to acknowledge that In the iT0u-
blous condition Of the present the South
is the least Of the offenders. and the most
dangerous demonstrations come from tho
thickly populated centres Of the East and
West. Strikes. lOckouts, boycOtts-all are
the result Of organized effort in "A vain
appeal from the ineiiiciency OF law Tho
trust OF the rich man on the one side
the trust Of the labor union on the other.
are each seeking by extra legal means 10
do that which strict enforcement 81 the
law would render unnecessary. Enemies
arrayed one against the other, waiting
but the word or the sign Of some incon-
slderate leader, when the forces clash
and blOOdshed shocks the country.
In his recent speech before the Bar OF
Macon Chancellor Hill spoke beautifully
OF our fabric Of law which. built upon
strong foundations. though individuals
govern the individuals In time 20 come
and lessen crime. IL IL a pity that IN the
prospect opened up by this discussion
there should be flaws and that the viola
tons Of law do not make mad either tho
ignorant masses nor let escape the OBJ
scure offender, but going further into tho
very precincts OF the courtroom, into
the very sacred presence Of the executive,
such men, for instance, as Captain carter
can snap their fingers az courts ana
Iuries and walk the ground with all the
freedom and indifference Of innocence.
When the verdict OF a court-martidi pre-
sided by a commanding general u the
American army in the held. finds an Of
fender guilty, and that offender, stepping
over the head Of this Judge can una de-
fence and delay and be enabled 70 bid
defiance 20 those against whom ne mas
offended, what are We % thlnk " those
lower down In the scale feel desperate
and resort 10 desperate means2 IL Is not
the backwoods Judge who - slapped IN
the face.
II is not the ignorant defendant who
breaks loose from custody. N II were only
this we could AFFORD 90 leave the remedy
10 the touch OF time. But when We see
parody made OF the court by those higher
uD I'm life: when We see war Depart
ment official impose his presence between
the court-martial and the convicted thief
when we see New York millionaire abba
TO hold court I'm a back room and the
fudge compelled TO give a verdict OF d.
vorce 20 suit his master, ana that naseef
within a few moments consummate hls
foul conspiracy all through the channels
OF law. n begins 20 look rs N there are
evils higher up In the scale 10 he attended
60 before we lecture the common masses.
who can only reason from cause 20 ef-
feet.
AS pointed out by Mr.. ingalls,. there is
a great crisis over US. and that Is 10 bring
the people-the educated and the con-
trolling people--to a sense OF their duty
20 law. before We can go to those whoss
means are not so abundant and whose