The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-08
Some Obligations Of the State
Suggestive and Valuable Paper Read by Judge w. S.
Hamilton of the Lee County District Court
Before State Board Of Control.

| II Is generally aomilteu luaL tnt
mistakes and neglect of society have
much to do with the crimes of the in
dividual. While We do not say tha
too much attention is given to the
pound of cure, we contend that the
ounce of prevention has not received
| from society and the state the consid
Grafton it merits. Crime has its OWL
natural and social causes, and nc
matter what great and laudable steps
be taken toward humanizing the law
crime Will keep pace with our popula
| ton until society has awakened to
the performance of its duty toward
its members-that OF providing them
sound minds and bodies and healthy
environment in which TO thrive. Legis'
lation that would tend to make the
struggle for means of existence less
arduous should be enacted. Such legis-
lation as the homestead exemption
laws have been OF untold benefit In
this direction.
i would suggest further legislation
which would give to every citizen i'm
munity from taxation for certain
amount This immunity from taxa
ton for the minimum necessary for
existence will to some extent prevent
the increase in the number Of the
very poor. from among whom many
Of our criminals come.
Education is not performing its full
function. II is conceded that one
great purpose of all education should
be moral Education aims to lake
good citizens. yet it needs no argu-
ment to prove that any educated man
without morals may not and probably
will not be a good citizen. Only indi-
rectly do our children receive any
moral training in the schools. The
teachers assume that they viii re-
ceiye it from their parents. and we
know that in a large number OF cases
they do not Commencing with the
primary a part, ii but a small part Of
each day should be given over to in
struction In fundamental moral prin-
eipIes.
Morality for the individual must
come a.ong the line of development
It was along the line OF development
that morals came to the human race,
as this is true of mans other pos
sessions. The highest painters art
was once only the ability to make
marks or scratches upon stones or
shells. So the morals of today were
once only a faint notion that a man
should not kill his own wife or child
and should not steal his neighbours
property. This power of the should
not" expired few miles from home
and beyond stream or mountain
any child might be murdered and any
property might be stolen. And the
human race have not reached uni
form plane of morality. We still
seem to have morality suitable for
one in high station and another for
one in the ordinary walks of life; a
morality for a church member and a
lower code for one not encountered
with religion. In my OWN generation
the morality Of this country permitted
a white man, even within the confines
OF a church, to whip or sell poor
man from Africa. And even today the
high morals OF womanhood are not
yet thought applicable TO the army of
men,
Notwithstanding this history of
morality, as applied to the race, we
still expect vast numbers of children
to reach, as it were. In one leap
plane of morality that will insure
their being good citizens. Therefore,
1 urge upon the school authorities the
necessity OF the morai education, not
only intoxicating general principles.
but also BY outlining proper courses
of conduct and habit. Let them be
taught that the obligations Of moral
ity are uniform and universal; that
the human race is founded upon and
circumscribed by every principle
of honor and morality. And that
therefore, every industry, every pro-
fession, every occupation OF mankind
rests upon integrity or honesty
as a base. Let them be made to feel
that there is no need for any one.
whether occupying the hurnblest or
most exalted position, TO do single
dishonest act.
Every profession and occupation Is
equally honorable, but the moment
any one of them is detached from
honor and honesty it remains no long
er legitimate occupation or profes-
sion but becomes a crime.
This moral education, given espe-
cially TO the young, Will tend to less
en- or prevent crime and pauperism
and at the same time aid the human
race in reaching single plane Of
morality. applicable alike to man or
woman. TO rich or poor, to the highest
or lowest.
In its criminal laws and the admin
istration thereof think our state
may be highly commended. Offenders
may be classified as being:
/. Very young
2. Deficient mentally, or not wholly
normal by reason OF heredity enyir.