The Prevalence Of Crime

ïhat crime is prevailing in our state to a very alarming extent, is a well-known fact. Murders of a most delibérate and shocking character have beccme quite frequent. Two were reported on one day during the present week, and five within ten days; while robberies, felonious assaults, and violence of various kinds, are going on by wholesale. Our daily press chronicles the fact in almost every issue, of high-handed deeds perpetrated in open daylujht and with no iotention at concealment. And these deeds are enacted in what are considered our well governed cities, and in moral and intelligent neighborhoods. One would think that we are living in barbarous times, and among half civilized communities, on reading theBe daily records. Our orderly citizens are troubled to know what is the meaning of all this, and what is the remedy. The mquiry is a very natural one, are our laws deficiënt, and should we have better legisla tion on the eubject of crime ? Or, are our officers and courts of justice neglifrent of duty, and is it true that they too often suffer guilt to go unpunished ? These are senous questions, and the people of Michigan will do well to give them most careful attention. It is perhapg the oase that we have let down the law to a standard so low that we give encouragement to crime, and bold transgressors feel that should they be deteeted, their punishment will not be very exacting. And by yarious methods thev may hope to escape without any punishment at all. Are we safe when such men are abroad, and is it not time that there should be a revival of interest in this matter? Certainly, this is the time when good people should be banded together in the demand that justice should be meted out to crimináis who are running our 6tate, and destroying the excellent name that we once had but are fast losing, for law and order. We must demand the proper enforcement of what laws we have, and the time is at hand when for the cold and willful murderer, there should be something more than the weak penalty now upon our statute books. We should at least be alive to the situation of things, for crime openly and of a most shocking character everywhere abounde.