Year: 1877

ENCoURAGING.-The term of Court
for this county, which adjourned on Fri
day morning, after session Of less than
three weeks, indicates very decided
improvement in the moral condition of
the people, although this did not seem
apparent from the rumors and the num-
Der Of arrests during the previous six
months.


had the Court not been occupied with
the two criminals for capital crimes, it
would have been the briefest term for
many years. These cases were low in
the scale Of crime and Of the most des-
picable character, as evidences Of deprav-
ity aud the absence of morality. But so
far as we know neither of them were
directly traceable to the lack of legal or
moral restraint, as both crimes were
committed within the vicinity of the most
enlightened and cultured neighborhoods
one within the corporate limits of our
city and the other in Middletown. Both
crimes had their origin in low instincts,
and were revolving in character. The
very fact that the law provides that for
their commission life is forfeited upon
conviction is sufficient to denote
their atrocity. The cost which these
crimes have occasioned the county is very
considerable and should not be overlook
ed. Communities do not count the cost
Of eua doers as carefully and closely as
hey should. Crime adds to taxation
immensely. If the same money which
is expended in the courts to try criminals
annually was annually expended upon
improvements or in some advantageous
way we would soon discover how amaz-
ingly we had advanced. Good character,
virtue and industry always help to bene-
TT, advance and improve all within its
circle or influence; while crime, idleness
and the absence of virtue tend directly
10 mischief, and mostly result in cost and
taxation to society.


The inference we draw from this session
Of Court of improvement in our people,
Is In the fact that there were fewer petty
larceny cases, and the candidates for the
post and pillory dwindled down so low
that only three received the lash. And
on Saturday last, for the first time, the
Philadelphia press and reporters were
disappointed in their anxiety to witness
the exhibition, and some half dozen of
these gentlemen went home without the
pleasure Of indulging their malicious
propensity to hold up a wise, legal and
righteous retribution as an evidence of
''oarbarity" in our people. We hope that
IN year or two our citizens will find the
prison for New Castle county criminals
will be nearly as little useds as those
for Kent and Sussex counties, and that a
State prison would be useless tax.


The meetings which are now conducted
under the auspices of many of our best
people for the advancement of temper.
ance principles, will greatly help in this
matter. But we note the change now
that our temperance friends may no
hereafter claim that they are entitled t.
the credit for the whole change. In fac
the people themselves have awakened tc
the necessity Of improvement, and it i.
this fact in great part that gives popular
lty and apparent success to the temper
ance movement. Let all encourage tn,
good work and we shall soon all reioic,
IN the beneficial results. Comparatively
lew OF our people have witnessed til,
whipping of any one in the pillory, ant
none will feel more happy than the citi
zens Of Delaware should there come
time when the dreaded "post" shall STAN


idle from one years end to another.