The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-11
The Problem. of Crime.

"Heredity and Human Progress" is a
work by Duncan McKim, and its general
scope and character are indicated by the
! title. The author has well-defined theo-
ries about the treatment OF crime. and the
influence Of heredity, and il may be added
that his ideas are as far as possible from
anything which could be called sentimental
philanthropy He represents the purely
mate-ialistic school of social science which
regards the general good rather than the
individual. and reduces the whole scheme
first sight TO be a machine-like succession
OF cause and effect.
The danger OF such a course OF think
ing is. naturally, that IL is apt TO lead one
TO minimize the power OF the will and
generalize toe hastily. without due allow
ance for the natural variations OF human
nature, the general human tendency tow
ard progress, and the influence of environ
ment in overcoming hereditary tendencies.
Dogmatizing about human development is
one Of the easiest and most dangerous
things 10 do. ii is so easy that the who'e
human race, from theologians to doctors
and from the philosopher TO the leader of
society, has been doing Just that thing for
centuries: and il Is dangerous enough 10
have caused several religious wars and in
Vulnerable sociai and political disasters.
Mr.. McKim does not altogether escape this
trap, though in general he is both logical
and cautious, and some Of his statements
supported by statistics which really prove
something, are worth the attention OF s.
biologists
In mis- introduction he takes up. definite
ly and without waste of time. the ques-
tion: How much good does philanthropy
really do?' AS this introduction is the
key of the whole book. II may not be amiss
10 deal with il at considerable length
First, Mr.. McKim notes the compare
lively small number of the human race who
are really what may be called intelligent.
and the limitations of the human intellect
in general. Comparing mans development
with that of the animal he then considers
the question whether society. in its arti-
fetal environment. works as benefcently
as nature in securing the development OF
the best type. He touches on the idea that
society is in a state of decay and that our
civilization is already going the way OF
earlier ones. Then he comes to the real
problem-the influence OF the humanitari-
an. which has, practically. been felt only
for about one hundred years He makes
statement which. though it may seem ex-
treme. will on reflection be found true;
that the hopelessly weak are regarded
nowadays as a special charge from heay-
en-, on whom a special portion of wealth
and affection must be lavished: while the
criminal is regarded as a being who must
be reformed though ninoty-and- nine just
persons suffer severely thereby. He cites
as an instance scheme recently proposed
in connection with a reformatory prison
for women. II was suggested that this
lion Id
tor for the preservation of prematurely !
born children of the criminal inmates
This is almost an exaggerated case of |
the sentimentalism against which Mr.. Nc !
kim protests, but it is very good one. |
These children. for their own good ana |
that OF society ought not 10 live. In ;he |
course of nature they would die: and no |
possible good end can be served by the |
preservation OF such weak tainted. almost |
certainly vicious lives. The children of |
such women as these. If healthy and |
strong. have perhaps a chance OF growing |
up without lapsing into the ranks OF the |
criminal; but II too feeble TO live in the |
natural course Of things extraordinary .
pains certainly should not be taken 10 /
keep them alive. Then the author goes on |
TO say that the philanthropist makes ire
mendous mistake in claiming that the |
criminal in his cell is "a man Just the |
Sdtif sOu VI L. vi v. Mr. I
McKim claims that the habitual criminal. /
defective in some of his moral organs. is /
not man in certain important respects. |
and must be taken on the plane where he |
belongs. not on that OF the highest repre-
sentatives of the race
He does not believe in the abolition of |
the death penalty. He contends that this
lessons the safety Of the social organism,
and is not merciful TO the criminal him
self, who often becomes a lunatic, an i'm
beetle, or hypochondriac through the |
OF long Imprisonment. When 1t |
is considered that most desperate crimi-
nails are OF two types-the british and the
keen witted and adventurous
this may very well be-. Both, by impris-
onment are deprived OF Qualifications and
pursuits which are second nature to them.
Is 1t better that they should live through
thirty, forty, or fifty years of this mo-
aotonous and, TO them, maddening exist
ence,. or pay the penalty of their crimes
at once by the infliction Of the death pen
atty? Perhaps the testimony of the old
Burman dacoit, given In "A Conference OF
the Powers" may be apropos in this con-
nection. He begged the English officer
who captured him 10 shoot or hang him at
once, and not TO take him TO Rangoon,
for" said he, they will keep me In Jail
all my lie, ana that is a ueatn every time
the sun gets up or the wind blows"
There is something to be said on that side
Of the question. even by the humanitarian.
or course. in this argument one must
recognize the fact that Imprisonment for
Iife-which appears TO be the only safe way
Df disposing of the congenital criminals
dangerous to the guards and not particu-
arly improving TO the prisoner. The ques-
lion then remains. What Is TO be done
with the cr!minal7" And having asked this