INCREASE OF REVOLTING CRIMES.
No reader of the newspapers can have failed to observe a lament- able increase of crime of a particular order—violences or dishonesty, of the basest and most revolting kinds, towards women or young girls. Scarcely a day passes without the papers containing one of these stories, if not several. And some of the outrages are perpe- trated in open day or in the very public thoroughfares. It almost looks as if society were becoming shameless in its depravity. Of course thit is not so ; but there must be some reason for the hideous phenomenon ; and steps ought to be taken to ascertain the causes.
It is possible that the increase may be only apparent—an increase in detection consequent on the better means now existing. But it would be unsafe to assume anything so little proved, especially in a matter so momentous. It is possible that the natural incentives to irregularity may not be greater than they have been, but only forced into new manifestations by the very means taken to repress them. But while we admit possibilities, we must admit also that we are without the materials even for dogmatizing.
Some inquiry should be made into this obvious but ill-explored subject--this vital subject, which the law handles in judicial blind- ness and ignorance prepense. By whom is the mquiry to be made ? There is the difficulty. It is difficult to think of anybody, Possessing the requisite authority or opportunity, that is not in some way incapacitated. No one will suggest a Parliamentary Committee,—a disgusting and probably impudent inquiry into the uglier mysteries of civilization, by honourable Menibers -who have as much right to laugh as they have to wear-their hats and swag- ger. The Society for the Protection of Women, which does much real good unseen, might be supposed to enjoy a titular right to perform the duty : but is there any such society, which is not 2stablished on preconceived notions, hidebound with prejudice, and prepared to treat the plainest elements of nature as heresies, as heterodoxies to be put down ? Societies for the Suppression of Vice have, before now, been among the propagators of depravity, by denying truths not to-be denied safely, and by forcing aberrant human nature into darker retreats than before.
Possibly, if there is some man with sufficient knowledge, leisure, and freedom of mind, he might be the best to undertake the in- quiry ; to perform which diligently, courageously, and discreetly, would be a true public service. By the recent explosion of ir- regularity, of one kind but in different forms, society is asking itself a great question ; and it would be safest to give a prac- tically wise answer as soon as possible.
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