The quote highlights the deep-rooted issues of crime among native people, attributing it to a lack of purpose and worthy ambitions. The author suggests that when individuals are devoid of meaningful goals, they may resort to negative outlets like drinking, crime, and prostitution. This leads to a dichotomy where society is caught between preferring a constructive, law-abiding population versus a lawless, aimless one.

The author emphasizes that the fear of both scenarios comes from an inability to make decisive choices about how to address these societal issues. Simply increasing police presence and protection is viewed as a temporary and insufficient solution. Real progress will require addressing the underlying causes of discontent and providing the community with opportunities that inspire hope and purpose.