The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-24 00:00:00

TB E SUN. LON DON. TUESIIAY E V LNJNG, SEPTEMBER 24, 1367.

crime. Mr. WALsH took under consideration more
especially the deterrent effect of punishment and
the education of criminals, with a view to their
reformation. Although criminal law is not his
peculiar department, a man who has devoted his life
to the study of the law must naturally be well
qualified to form an opinion on any part of it,
while his wide and varied experience must have
afforded Mr. WALSH ample opportunities of
observing the working of our criminal code. After
alluding to the wonderful change in our laws with
respect to capital punishment, which is now inflicted
for murder alone, whereas a century ago it was
awarded to no less than 160 offences, the speaker
went on to consider how far punishment deters from
crime. More than half the convictions for grave
offences are, it seems, of prisoner:; who have been
convicted more than once. What are called the " dan-
gerous classes" are known to be constantly seething
up to the surface of society. What with natural
tendency and predisposition, and the influence
of early training and evil associates, the habits
of a vicious life are confirmed, as the convicted
criminal in a great number of cases is pretty sure,
as soon as he has worked his sentence out, to be
breaking the law after some other fashion. One
of the great ends which philanthropists and legis-
lators should propose to themselves is the restric-
tion of these classes within the smallest possible
limits, and the most hopeful part to work upon is
undoubtedly the juvenile element. Children and
women are more easily impressed, and therefore
have every chance of escaping the effect of evil
associations, but their very impressibility makes it
easier to reclaim them. Every lesson of the kind
is easier learnt at ten than at thirty, especially if
the twenty years between have been spent as the
dangerous classes spend them. We are not sur-
prised to find the Master of the Rolls looking to
our female refuges and juvenile reformatories as
the most hopeful means of diminishing the number
of our criminals. As regards the legal aspect of
the case the Master of the Rolls recommends that
greater freedom of expression should be given to the
accused. He advises that the tendency of prisoners
to confess should be left altogether unchecked by a
counterbalance in their favour; he would allow them
to give evidence in their own behalf. If confession
were encouraged, this privilege must in common
fairness be accorded to them, and in any case it de-
serves consideration, whether the truth would not
be more likely to be elicited by such a course. In
connection with this subject we may mention that
in the Health Department Dr. LANKESTER read an
interesting paper on Prison and Workhouse Dietaries.
As in the other sections questions are naturally
considered as they present themselves in Ireland,
and by this means much practical service may be
rendered to the sister country by the Congress. Dr.
LANKESTER said that his attention had recently
been called to the prison dietaries of Ireland, and
he had no hesitation in saying they were much too
low for the human frame. Remembering that the
ordinary diet of the population in Ireland is
not of the same kind as in England, we
may still accept Dr. LANKESTER'S censure as amply
deserved. From the last report of the inspector
of prisons, it appears that many of these dietaries
cost only twopence and a fraction a day, while
none cost so much as fourpence. The taxpayers of
Ireland, according to Mr. JOHN NOBLE, think their
share of the Imperial burdens too heavy, but they
can hardly complain that too much is spent on their
prisons. Dr. LANKESTER says very truly that it is
false economy to starve a prisoner. The true wis-
dom is to reclaim him, and mental and moral refor-
mation are only possible with a well-nourished
body. By insufficient food the body is rendered
unhealthy, and demoralisation of the mind must
We hope that attention having been called
to this point an inquiry will be mane into t. The
inspector has been remiss in passing over a system
under which it is unfair and unreasonable to expect
men to work and thrive. Dr. LANKESTER has
devoted a good deal of attention to the various
qualities of different kinds of food—their flesh-
forming and heat-giving materials, &c. It would
be well if such knowledge were generally diffused,
since without it blunders possibly of a serious nature
are almost unavoidable.

The Prussian Chambers are to be dissolved. A
Royal decree, dated yesterday, has been promul-
gated to that effect. A report precedes it, signed
by all the Ministry, which explains the reasons for
this measure. The manner in which perfect free.
dom is developed in Berlin is extraordinary, to say
the least of it, and the Government seems resolved
to try a few new experiments in all directions. The
most arbitrary fashion is adopted in the manage-
ment of the Chambers, for instance, and the
Deputies might as well be the subjects of
a professed absolutist as the citizens of a
country where progress is the supposed order of the
day. Altogether it does not look as if things were
quite straight in high places at Berlin just now,
and at any rate they have not continued to please
the French by their airs and graces. The tone of
the French press is very significant at present, and
we see on all sides that there is a growing feeling of
dissatisfaction at the policy of Prussia. BISMARCK
may have wilfully provoked this outbreak, but be
that as it may, there is no doubt as to the
existence of the feeling. The Patric has
made some rather stilted observations on the
aspect of affairs, and seeks to account for the
reserve that has been manifested by the semi-official
papers by declaring that they know well what they
are about, and that the " pretended weakness and
want of pride about which so much is said have no
foundation in facts." Altogether a very discordant
element seems to have been introduced into the sen-
timents of Parisian politics, and Count BISMARCK
has made a great mistake if he thinks that he can
get out of the difficulty into which his presumption
has placed him by holding out threats to France ;
and, unless he desires to come to a speedy collision
with that country, he has adopted about the worst
means possible of putting things straight, for France
will never submit to the dictation of Prussia on any
terms.

The elements of political life in the United State
aro very far from being in harmonious action. A
recent speech by Mr. WADE, at Cleveland, gives us
a good idea of the amenities of American public
life. The speaker declared his belief that the PRE-
SIDENT would attempt to enforce his policy at the
point of the bayonet, and he therefore advocated
impeachment. He thus prejudges a man, and sen-
tences him without scruple. Mr. WADE's official
position might, one would think, have taught him a
little more moderation and judgment; but these
virtues have gone out of fashic i. The Amnesty
Proclamation is, it seems, to be vigorously car-
ried out. The Secretary of the Navy and the
acting Attorney-General have issued circulars
transmitting them to their subordinates, with orders
to conform to their requirements. We have yet to see
what change this amnesty will work in the Southern
States. The district commanders will find them-
selves placed in an awkward position should the
PRESIDENT, as is probable, insist on its observance.
Thanks to the exclusive system of registration the
white population of the Southern States have been
altogether put aside but the amnesty, U it means