The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-29
Crimes, and the Remedy.

To the Editor of the Indian polls Journal:
BY consulting the index to the Revised
Statutes of Indiana for 1881 1 find GIG Sec
tons relating TO crimes. 1t is astounding
to know that 1t requires so much legislation
to repress crime in one State Assuming
626 for each of the forty-six States, if it
requires the same number for others, it
would take 1886 for the States and GIG
for the United States-in all, 30,422-to re-
press crime in our country. What a de-
plorable and astounding state of affairs!
Legislation, education and Christianity
have failed for six thousand years to ade-
quately protect society.
A large per cent. of persons are consti-
tutional and hereditary criminals Since
Cain killed Abel crime has cursed the
earth. Courts. penitentiaries, jails and the
gallows have failed to properly protect.
Usually when a man commits crime, if
it is not a capital one, he is fined few
dollars, and, if not able to pay. he is con-
fined for a certain time in a Jail or state
prison and given probably better food and
shelter than he had before. AT the expira-
ton of the allotted time he is set free upon
the community again. While confined he
is fed, clothed, housed and has all he needs.
except during that time. liberty to prey
on society Society is protected for n short
time, but foots the bill all the time. When
he gets out the hereditary rascal commits
a new crime, is jailed, let out and SO il
goes on during his lifetime. While confined
he is fed. clothed. warmed humanely
treated. and On getting out he commits
another crime for good winter quarters,
and is let out in the spring to repeat his
| crimes.
| The law-abidng, Industrious. honest man
| Is taxed heavily to pey police sheriffs
| deputies, bailiffs, jurymen. jails and state
| prisons. This is serious burden, which
he must pay to protect his property. wife
| and children from the criminal classes
| Six hundred and twenty-six enactments in
one State and six thousand years of the
| present system have proved ii to be a
| failure.
| Now. why not try something else? If We
could get rid of the criminal we could
! tighten taxes 80 per cent. and secure life
and property almost 80 per cent. If Grim.
| inals were not here crimes would not occur
Would 1t not be wise for the United State.
| to set apart some of the two Thousand
| islands in the Philippines and transport and
colonize the hereditary criminals there
| 1t would lessen crimes and lift the burden
| of taxation 80 per cent. In time when tn,
| criminals are gone, could sleep with
| doors and windows open and have a grea
deal more money in our pockets. In som,
| of the Philippine islands live cannibals ans
! head hunters, whose wealth consists in tn,
| number of dead mems heads stuck I'D OF
| poles around their houses. and these islands
| could justly be taken by and made Grim
| inal colonies These islands produce spon
| taneously nearly all a lazy man desires I,
| eat and Ii would be act of kindness I,
send such criminals there. who could liv
| without preying on society here and al
| most without labor. Only murderers, raw
| ishers and wife-heaters should be sen
among the head hunters. Criminals of les
grade should be colonized on other islands
| Anderson, Ind, June q.