INCREASE OF CRIME

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 17, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 37.

INCREASE OF CRIME.

That there is and has been for some years a great increase of crime is evident to the most ordinary observer. During the last four years murders have increased from 3,000 to 10,000 in this country alone. Bank robberies, train hold-ups, and petty, dastardly crimes without number are more numerous. Merchants and tradesmen are not trusted as they once were. Very many who purchase expect to be cheated. There is wide-spread distrust and suspicion. Such a state of things is most distressing, especially in a country and nation the great majority of the inhabitants of which are professedly Christian. Even the Supreme Court of the United States has declared that “this is a Christian nation.” Well, here are some of its fruits; and the Author of Christianity declares, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Judged by this rule this nation, or, for the matter of that, any other nation on the broad earth, is not Christian. Christian life, Christian spirit, Christian deed, manifest continually and steadfastly, are the exceptions not the rule. The increase of crime shows the tendency to be downward rather than upward.

Not only do we see this increase of crime in what may be called low life, but among the leaders and molders of the national life, many or most of whom are church members. Their individual names are in evidence when some university or college is to be endowed or cathedral or church is to be built, but in the high and colossal crimes committed they hide behind the bulwarks of some great trust, combine or syndicate. As an instance of crimes of this sort take the following:—

In February, 1896, eleven companies controlling the mines and railways of the anthracite coal region combined, or organized, a trust. The avowed purpose of this trust—so it is stated—was to restrict production and increase the price of coal. Previous to the formation of the trust—one year ago—the price of anthracite coal was in New York $3.25 per ton. It was produced then at a fair profit.

“When the trust went into business [we quote from the Thrice-a-Week World], the price of stove coal was $3.50 a ton. In March the trust raised the price to $3.75, in May to $4.00, in July to $4.25, this month to $4.50. Now the trust announces to the dealers that next month the price will go to $4.75.

“Last fall the price of stove coal was $3.25. This fall it will be $4.75. This trust therefore proposes to take and will take from your pocket this fall $1.50 more than you paid last fall for every ton of coal you burn in your kitchen stove or in your furnace or base-burner. It proposes to levy an enormous tax upon every industry that derives power from coal, thus adding to the depression which has already caused many mills to close, and many others to go upon half time. These lawless conspirators place an additional burden upon business which impairs wages and then levy an additional tribute upon wages themselves.”

This very work is denounced as criminal by the laws of the United States and the laws of New York, but before such gigantic greed and capital the law is powerless. One can fortify his house against the ordinary thief, he can in most cases by watchfulness and prudence escape the highwayman and the footpad, but from this robbery there is no escape except to possibly worse conditions. You are compelled to suffer. The worst of it is, such deeds are not considered criminal except by few, nor are they denounced as sinful by the churches, the members of which many of the men who compose these trusts are.

But a just God sees it all and notes it. He has pointed out this age when “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,” when sin and wickedness shall sit enthroned in high places. But against no class in social life has the Most High uttered stronger condemnation than against those who oppress the poor.

“Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.” Isa. 5:8, 9.

“Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail. . . . The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.” Amos 8:4-9.

“Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity! Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?” Hab. 2:9-13.

“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” James 5:1-7.

God sees and knows all this wickedness. At heaven’s shrine great gifts and munificent bequests will not buy absolution from oppression of the poor, from greed of gain that stopped at no cost, from the withholding of the hard-earned hire. Wicked men may pervert the most righteous laws here, but God’s law and judgment can not be perverted or turned aside. Thus God has predicted and thus it is now:—

“In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.” Isa. 59:13-15.

And thus is declared what God will do:—

“And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment; . . . therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies.” Verses 15-18.

Christ is our Advocate. It is safe to trust our case in his hand. He is coming and coming soon. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.”