INCREASE OF CRIME

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 4, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 23

INCREASE OF CRIME.

In the Christian at Work of Nov. 20, 1879, we find the following items relative to the increase of crime. And while we find in the sickening details of crime and woe as given through the press a confirmation of the prophecy that in “the last days” wickedness (Greek, lawlessness) should abound, we also see in them an assurance that the “everlasting kingdom,” the kingdom of righteousness and peace, is soon to be set up.

“During the last year, in Ireland 6,959 cases of serious crimes, such as assaults, robberies, etc., were disposed of; of lesser offenses there were 266,268, and of cases of ‘punishable drunkenness,’ there were 107,723. Scotland shows a slight increase in serious crimes over Ireland. The latter country, with a population of 5,400,000 returns 79,000 paupers, while Scotland, with 3,500,000 population, returns 100,200 paupers. These figures show how much remains to be done for these countries, while the criminal statistics of England and Wales show a much larger preponderance of crime than in either Scotland or Ireland. With the poor growing poorer in Scotland and Ireland, and thousands of operatives in England and Wales thrown out of employment, the outlook for immigration to this country is justly believed to be promising to an unusual degree.”

“Statistics of crime in Italy show a fearful state of affairs. The report of the minister shows that during the past year more than 2,000 murders were committed, an average per million of the population unequaled by any other country on the face of the globe. During the same time the number of ordinary robberies, burglaries, etc., is stated at 40,000, while there are 50,000 robberies accompanied with violence. In her long catalogue of crime Italy stands without a peer.”