Question

which word, if substituted for rogues, would best retain the meaning of the passage

Answer 1

I believe that felons is the word that would best retain the meaning of the passage is substituted for rogues. 
Citizens is too weak a word, heroes means the opposite of rogue, scoundrel seems to literary to me, so I would choose - felons. 

Answer 2

Answer:

Scoundrels

Explanation:

a scoundrel is a dishonest person and so is a rouge.

they are basically synonyms.