Criminal Classes Growing

Probably eme ol the greatèet dangers to organlüed society is found in the criminal classes. The taws of the productioon and confirmation ot' crimináis, with their treatment, sbould be among the most thou.uhtfuliy studied branches of polttical selenee. The number of convicts in penitentiaries in 1880 was 85,538, whdle in 1890 it was 45,233, au lacrease áii ten years of 9,695, or 27.28 per cent., and during this interval the total popula t ion im-reasod only at the ra te of 24. m per cent. Again the total number of prisoners in county Jadle in 1880 was 12,691; in 1S90, 19,588, a n imrease in ten years of 6,847, or at the rate al 53.95 per cent. Oomftip; to the inmates of juvenile reformatories we iind the nuraber reported in 18S0 was 11,4(18; in 1890, 14,840, an increase of 8,878, or 29.4ii per i-ent. It is thus sliown by reoent stntit-tics that the various grades of criminal population are increaeing more rapldly tlian the population at large. The saino resulta have been shown by previous census reporte. It musí als:) ba remembered tint a large number of actual crimináis are not umder cunfinenient, and are henee not Included in th figures sliowins their kacreaee. It has evidently become a vitally Important question for decisión by society as to the best plan to pursue toward the criminal. The. Popular Science Monthly holds it to be a fact proved by statistlce that a large percentage oí' crimináis are defective either physically or inentally, and have had an unfavorable heredity and environment. Under tlie genera] nystem in this country no attempt is made to rehaliilitate them dwing confinenrenr. Crimináis are first made t'O a certain extent by nnfortunate heredity and unfavorable social oonditions, and then confirmed by imprionment. Weak character and environment bring out the unfitest elemente, and society by its treatment hastieos to provide for their survival.