The Washington times., 1904-12-15
Figures on LaWleSSneSS.


and are hopeful for its future. well
may contemplate with concern the
statistical showing of crime. Figures
are not always interesting, but they
afford a bad medium for transmission
of anything but the truth.
In the period of 1S94-19OO, inclusive,
there were in the United States 62.Sl2
homicides. This is an appalling total.
The mind gropes vainly for the cause,
and seeking the remedy. finds relief
only in generalites.
It may be worth while TO look more
closely into tabular detail In 1881
there were ], 266 murders or homicides.
There were in the country then 40.534
people for each crime of this nature.
There were 24.7 murders or hOmicides
for each million of population. There
were 90 executions. The increase
since then was marked. until in 1894
and 1885 it reached a high tide. and
has been receding. but not to an
extent sufficient TO afford gratfca-
ton.
In 1895 there were 10000 murders
or homicides, or one for each 6,575
OF population, 1922 for each million.
Had the proportion of 1881 been pre-
served there would have been only
1903 of these violent offenses. The
year 1896 was little different. The
total was 1862. a slight increase, but
as population had increased also. this
was one crime for each 6.658 persons.
or 1913 10 each million The 1881
ratio would have yielded a total of
1876 murders and hOmicides. Hence,
for the space of a decade and a half,
conditions had been growing worse,
beyond all precedent. and beyond all
tolerable excuse. The number of exc
eutions for 1895 %as 1S2, and for the
year following 122.
The inevitable conclusion to be
drawn from these facts is that peo-
pie do not have respect for the law.
that the courts are ineffective, and
that behind the law and the courts
there is a low moral tone, whence
derived and how TO be remedied, the
serious question of the times. Amer
leans are not a blood-thirsty people.
That they disregard the statutes re-
specting human life. while holding
other parts of the code in esteer,
is not a possible hypothesis. 1t must
be that in regard 10 statutory re-
straint in its entirety they have, con-
sciOusly or not, assumed an attitude
OF destructive and insolent defiance.
1t is not a wild conjecture that law
lessness in business and political life
has had much TO do with demolition
OF high ethical standard The deL-
Onstration has been made that many
Of the great commercial organizations
are higher than any legislation, con-
troll the courts. the laW-making
bodies, from municipal councils to
State assemblies. and even dare 10
place a collar and chain on the states
man who has been elected to repre-
sent a constituency at the National
Capital
Many men who are in politics as
a trade are known to be corrupt, and
yet this knowledge in no measure
impairs their influence. Many men
elected to serve the city in which
they live make of their whole Official
career a period of barter This is
their purpose. Occasionally there
arises a Folk. and by the simple proc
ess Of performing his duty. sends
some Of these cattle to Jail There
has been in recent years a single Folk,
and yet there is hardly a city from
San Francisco to New York where
the same pernicious activity that Folk
suppressed in ST. Louis, is not in
some measure in control Minneapolis,
With a thieYing mayor. whose guilt
was manifest in advance Of any trial.
had a virtuous spasm and brought
the transgressor TO bar. After three
trials there had been no conviction.
The edifiee of the law is complete,
and 1t must be kept inyiolate in all
parts. Or~lt cannot be kept inyiolate
ia any. The present shameful con
ditiOns could be extirDated if honest
people would unite. But either there
are too few of them or they are
blindly selfish, and willing that this
great nation should present 10 the
world an aspect Of wanton and riotOus
y rufiianism. While a dollar is rated so
far above honor that the method of
securing the coin is too trivial TO be
considered, the United States will
compete with darkest Sicily for the
leadership In crime
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