Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1894 — ANCIENT AND MODERN POLICE LAWS. [ARTICLE]

ANCIENT AND MODERN POLICE LAWS.

The ancient Egyptians had a very practical way of dealing with the inevitable evils of life. We are told by history that in mighty Thebes — the wonderful capital whose ruined temples still inspire the traveler with awe, and feelings of astonishment that puny mortals could have reared such structures unaided by some supernatural power or force unknown to our progressive age—thieves of all grades were a recognized caste, with an organization and a chief whose word was law. Thieves who registered themselves in this caste were given a certain immunity from the penalties of the law. Those who did not and were caught were put to death. Thieves of the “caste” were

required to report the character of their spoils to their chief, who was a recognized official of the city government, and parties who had suffered from the depredations of the brotherhood could easily recover their property upon the payment of one-quarter of its value. It is improbable that such a law will ever be placed on American statute books, yet there is no doubt but what in so far as the recovery of stolen goods is concerned it would be an improvement on the existing order of criminal jurispruprudence. Few will contend that three-quarters of the value of goods stolen in this country is recovered, and it doubtful of even one-quarter is ever returned to the sorrowing owners. There is a possibility that modern progress in moral reform in all its branches is a very impractical and intangible quantity—looking well on paper and sounding well on the platform when set forth in the glowing sentences of elocutionary experts, but being sadly lacking in results when applied to erring human nature. That there will be a certain amount of sin and evil doing among a given number of people, ought to be a basis from which to start toward a better condition, and this fact should be recognized by reformers of all grades, and the sooner it is recognized, the brighter will be the hope for a reduction of the percentage. A devil cannot be transformed into an angel by law. The best that can be done is to hold the devil in check and by repressive laws curtail his power for evil and render his influence unattractive, unpopular and unprofitable, ever seeking to gently guide the stumbling pilgrim to the ways of wisdom, for “her ways Are ways of pleasantness aud all her paths are peace." King George, of Tonga, who resently died from influenza, had reached the age of ninety. He was converted by Christian missionaries about sixty years ago.