The Washington times., 1902-12-29

The eleventh of a series Of twelve
lectures on Darkest Washington" was
delivered last evening by the Rev. John
Van Schaick. jr.. who took as his topic
Grimes Against Criminals" The text
was Remember them that are In bonds
as bound with them" Hebrews kills
The speaker also acknowledged his in
debtedness to Col. Robert Ingcrsoll, who
in 1890 delivered an address before the
New York State Bar Association upon
the same subject, Crimes Against
Criminals" or that orator and his lee
ture. the Rev. Mr.. Van Schalck said.
THE great orator took the ground
that criminals are not responsible for
their acts. Is Il not possible he asks.
is it not probable, is it not true that
the actions OF all men are determined
by countless causes over which they
have no positive control?' He then pro-
ceeds to show that throughout all his
tory governments have acted as il
criminals were entirely responsible and
have imprisoned. tortured and killed in
order to punish. Ingersol said: Crimes
have been committed to prevent crimes,
and crimes have been committed TO pun
ish crimes.
OF local conditions. the Rev. Mr.. Van
Schaick said in part:
Need Doctors, Not Cells.
''I do not subscribe to the doctrine OF
human irresponsibility. I believe that
God has given us wills and that we are
free to use them. But, however much
normal men may be responsible. alb
normal men, feeble-minded. idiouc. in
sane. drunken. and the true criminal
are not altogether responsible. The
state has come TO recognize that the de-
mented should have a physician and not
cell. In Iowa the principle has been
extended TO the drunkard, and he also
Is given an asylum with proper medical
/ treatment.
Great experts have been at work upon
/ the psychology OF the criminal mind
and the results are slowly convincing
mankind that our practice Of shutting
such unfortunates up for long OF short
periods and then turning them loose
upon society. Is a practice based upon
neither reason. humanity. nor common
/ sense.
Let us brings the question home.
have been an Interested spectator in both
/ branches OF the Police Court many times.
I have been impressed with the earnest
ness and fidelity Of able men working
under the handicap OF a false system.
have been startled to see the oppor-
tunity for black injustice in the hands
Of men tyrannical. blgoted or corrupt
II is only fair TO say that our justices
themselves realize the disadvantage al
which they are put by the law as Il
stands
In the first place, most offences may
be condoned by the payment OF money
It is serious thing to take awav hu-
man freedom. II Is a light thing q
impose a fine. When the wheels OF Jus
tice stop running for the day. the pris-
oners are separated. II a man has th'
IS he is released. II he has S4.99 he IS
shut up-as has been said. not for his
crime but for the want Of a cent He
may come up dozen times and buy his
way out every time. It seems to m'
simply common sense that II for the goo,
OF society he should be put away. money
ought not save him. He ought to gJ
because he is a criminal and not be
cause he is a poor man. Congress
should abolish at once the fine as ar
alternative 20 Imprisonment
Condemns Short Sentences.
In the second place. the short sen
Itence should 20. Ten days. twenty days
thirty days. six months even. Is jus
long enough 10 stamp a man as "A iai
bird to destroy his self-respect and {,
harden him in his criminal tendencies
The idea upon which these sentences
and all sentences have been based. is
false one. Il Is the notion that the sen
tsuce is q debt incurred for an 1ffens
and that when the time IS served, &C
counts are squared between the crimi
. nal and the state. That Is why the sam
dreary procession files into the dock O
b the Police Court month after month
That Is why a large percentage Of con
victs drift back 20 the prison. There ar