The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-18
Wednesday, Oct. 1S. 1899.
Educatfon and Crime.

Education and Crime.
Prof. E. c. Branson, OF Athens. has been
enlightening the schoolmasters OF Georgia IN
reference to the effect Of education in reduc-
ing crime.
The learned Professor quotes statistics
galore to prove the moral advantages OF edu-
cation, and shows that a large per cent. ol
crime ia committed by illiterates.
The figures which he quotes are specsous'
having the appearance of truth, when they
are as misleading as possible.
Asa matter of fact, in point of morals, eau-
cation Is a negative. II simply enables the
bad man to be worse, and gives the good man
the ability to be better. Only this, and moth.
ing more.
Now, as to the learned Professors figures
Accepting the statement as true that large
Der cent of crime is committed by the Hitter
ate, is 1t fair to charge crime to illiteracy
Not at all. AS rule, we'll to do people give
their children at least the rudiments Of an
education.
:. lllNsrates, then, come from the children OF
parents who, from misfortune, or other
causes, are unable to educate their children.
It is, therefore, just as fair, and much more
I66bOu6Olc, W Suaik Cii"O " Po'SASJ 49, ~
charge 1t to the lack Of the ability to read and
write. It would in fact be just as fair 10
charge the poor people with furnishing the
criminals as 10 charge 1t to q lack Of educa-
tion.
The learned Professor would not make 80
grave charge against poor people, as such, but
he and his statistieions do charge it directly
to their uneducated children, and their lack
Of education Is in consequence OF their pow
erty.
The moral qualities Of a child is not formed
by the amount Of cash his father may have.
Bnt by the lavish expenditure OF money a
bad boy at heart may be 80 accomplished
that he would avoid the petty crimes for
which, III committed by an illiterate or friend
less boy, he would be punished. The rich
mans son, who may lack the sterling quail
ties OF honesty and integrity, is too often
placed in q position OF trust. That class OF
boys often get "short on their accounts" or
have committed some "irrsgularity," or may
become "defaulters." The rich parent OF the
educated boy. being member Of an influen-
tial family or coteris, settles up for the stolen
money and such educated" gentlemen are
unknown as criminals.
Another thing. A plain illiterate thief will
break open q store, or steal something when
the owner is not looking, and when he
10 caught he goes to the prison; but the edu.
Gated scoundrel, with blacker heart, while
possibly moving around in the livery OF
heaven, with the blessing Of the church rest
ing upon his head, will rob the unwary, but
win do 1t In lawful way-in suchsa manner
as to avoid the penalty Of the law. These
arsful thieves steal under the guise Of con-
tracts, by which the unsuspecting gudgeons
part with their money or their property.
The educated thief has stolen it according to
law, and is, therefore, beyond the reach of the
minions OF the law.
II the learned Professor would charge crime
to poverty, and proceed to show that poverty,
and not illiteracy, is menace to this coun-
try, he would not miss the mark further than
he does. The moral qualities are as we'll de-
veloped in the poor az in the rich.
But there are more poor men than rich
men, and Of course greater per cent. OF re-
corded crime is charged TO the poor. The
poor, who are not educated, are easily caught,
and when they appear in court, moneyless
and frtendless, the prisons yawn for them. If
they had been rich, their learning and their
money would have taken care Of them.
But, whether poverty is crime, or whether
education shields the criminal and teaches
him how to steal under the guise of con-
tract, 1t is true that both riches and education
are necessary TO shield the thief, as well as to
give the greatest comfort and the greatest
pleasure to the pure in heart and to bless the
most upright Christian life. Therefore, get
money and educate your children.
Let the learned Professor teach our people
to be industrious and thrifty. When men
get money, they buy homes, then they fur
nish them, the children are educated, good
morals are instilled, and they become Chris
tisns. When they become Christians in the
true sense, they will be restrained from crime.