For the Planters'
Advocate
[Upper Marlborough,
Prince George's County, Maryland]'
Growth of Crime.
—
Is
beginning to increase so rapidly and cheerfully that, unless in some way
arrested and subdued, public peace and security will be in danger to an alarming
extent, if not already so. But before any effective remedy can be applied, the
proper causes must be ascertained, and when ascertained, removed at once and
effectively. The delinquency and insubordination now so prevalent doubtless
have various causes for their origins and force, but among the many that might
be mentioned, we think the following are among the chief causes:
First, we
would mention parental neglect, on account of which great criminality is
resting upon the parent. Parents do not only neglect to train up their children
properly, but they actually trained them wrong. They do not only neglect to
instill into their minds proper and correct principles, but teach them wrong
and pernicious ones. They train them up to insubordination, contempt for
parental authority, and a disregard for parental love and affection. The home
education of the present day is radically and criminally wrong, and until this
evil is corrected and parents bring up their children correctly, teach them
subordination, to love what is right and despise that which is wrong, to lay
the foundation of a christian [sic] education, and, in fine, to discharge a
parents [sic] duty and obligation faithfully and conscientiously, better things
can hardly be hoped for.
Another
source, is not our educational system is radically defective and should be
thoroughly reformed. Much could be said on this point, because we do not think
that the youth of the land receive that moral culture development, as well as
intellectual, necessary to prepare them for the duties of the citizen, the
christian [sic] and as a moral and intellectual being. We do not say that all
our schools are thus so wretchedly defective, but some we are sure of. But our
system of public schools should be so reformed and sent the youth may be
thoroughly taught morally as well as intellectually. A christian [sic]
education should be aimed at, and it should form the basis of all their
attainment.
Reformation
in the public school system is much needed, and until we have better
legislation, our youth will still receive a wrong education and be bad
citizens, instead of good and useful. Another is intemperance. This is the most
fruitful source of crime of all others, and should be removed at once. We
anticipated a few years ago at the temperance cause would triumph, but our
hopes are gone. Intemperance is on the increase, and what will be the condition
of society on account of this abominable curse the present is a fair
indication. Intemperance is the prime cause of nine-tenths of the evil which
corrupt and ruined society. It ought to be removed and removed at once. We
advocate a total, a final and an effectual removal of the cause which is so
prolific in flooding the entire country with intemperance, crime,
insubordination, disobedience to law, promotions of disorder and influence
injurious to public morals, to public prosperity, and dangerous to public
peace, security, the quiet of society and subversive of all good government,
party spirit, too frequent popular elections, the speculation mania and
idleness, are all injurious to public good. Brian will still continue to
increase until the causes which produce it are effectually removed, offenders
punished without favor or affection, and the supreme authority of the law
upheld, maintained and respected. Public morals must be corrected by their
causes being removed and offenders punished for their crimes before we can hope
for, or expect the diminution of crime, and public peace and happiness prevail. W.[1]
[1] Maryland
State Archives. Growth of Crime. The Planters'
Advocate. July 14, 1858. {accessed from the web July 13, 2014 http://mdhistory.net/msa_sc3415/msa_sc3415_scm3601/pdf/msa_sc3415_scm3601-0119.pdf]
Transcribed by John Peter Thompson
Transcribed
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