New-York daily tribune., 1843-11-24
VOL. EEE. NO. H96.

"The industrious, but unfortunate poor, deserve
al least as much attention as the criminal. Never
theless, there are numerous societies for the pa
tronage of young imprisoned or liberated convlcts
while no society has yet been founded for the en-
coura cement Of the youthful poor, whose conduc
has been always exemplary. So that it is actually
necessary to have committed an offence, IN orde
to gain admission to those Institutions, otherwise
so salutary and beneficial.
And we made a laborer at the farm Of Bouque
val, speak thus: g 1t is humane and charitable
never to despair Of reforming the wicked, but tht
good also must be encouraged to hope. If ar
honest young man, healthy and laborlous, having
a disposition to learn, should present himself tc
that farm for reformed thieves they would ask
him, Have you ever stolen anything, and been &
little Of a vagabond p No We'll, then, there
is no place for you here -
This discrepancy has also struck the minds o
greater men than we thanks to them for all o
our Utopia which has been made real.
Under the patronage of one Of the most en
ncnt and honorable men of our limes-the Count
Portalis-and under the intelligent direction Of d
true phanthroplst, with generous heart united
to an enlightened and practical mind-M Al
lier--a society has been formed recently, for the
purpose Of giuing md to poor and upright young
| persons Of the department du Seine, and Of en-
| p!oying them IN agricultural colonies. This SIN
ge and simple approach to the realization of our
views, is enough to prove the moral tenor ol our
work.
We are very proud, very happy, TO have met
the founders Of this new work OF philanthropy on
a common basis Of ideas, hopes, and aspirations
for we are one of the humblest but of the most
deeply convinced, missionaries bent upon promul-
/ Al - J...-
Of society to PREVENT CRIME, and to encourdg re
and RECoMPENsE VIRTUE. as far as it is possible to
do SO.
Since we have spoken of this new work Of
charity, of which the Just and moral intention
must have fruitful and salutary action, let US
hope that its founders will think of filling up an
other gap, by extending hereafter their tuteary
patronage, or at least their anxious attention. to
voung children uhoSe fathcrs shall haze been
put to death, or condemned to an infamous
penalty amounting to ciuit death, and who, we
repeat it, ARE RENDERED ORPHANS By THE VERY
APPLICATION OF THE LAW. Such of those wretchcd
children as shall be worthy Of attention by their
sound tendencies and by their misery, will de-
serve a yet more particular attention, owing 10
the fact that they are exceptions under clrcum-
stances singularly painful, difficult, and danger
ous Yes. painful, difficult, and dangerous
Let us &c over it again. The family of con-
dcmned criminal, almost always the victims of
cruel preiudices, after seeking for work in vain,
finds itself compelled, in order to escape general
reprobation, to retire from places where it was
wont to find the means Of existence. Then, irri-
tatcd and emblttercd by injustice, already reduced
to the level Of criminals, by the consequence of
deeds of which they are innocent, sometimes hav-
Ing got through all honorable resources; these
miserable wretches will be driven even to the
brink of falling although they may yet remain up
right? Supposng, on the other hand, they have
already been subjected to influences almost inva-
riably corrupting, should not try to save them,
while there is yet time?
Moreover. the presence of these orphans OF the
lar in the midst of those other children, chosen
by the society of which we speak, would be for
them, too, useful teaching. 1t would show,
that though the guilty one s nexorably dealt with
his kindred lose nothing but gain rather, in the
worlds esteem, if, by dnt of exertion, courage,
and virtue, thev succeed IN raising up again to
light dishonored name.
Shall we say, that the legislature intended TO
render punishment more terrible, by virtually
striking at the guilty father through the prospec
tive doom of his innocent progeny
That would be harbarous, immoral, senseless
Is it not, on the contrary noble truth to teach
people, that there is no necessity inherent in crime
Of its hereditary perpctuation that the original
taint is not indelibe2
May we dare TO hope, that these reflections may
be thought worthy of some consideration by the
new society of patronage
Without doubt, it is lamentable to think that
the State never takes the lead in these vital ques
tons, which touch the very quick OF social organ
ization. And yet can it be otherwise
In one of the latter legislative sessions, petit
toner, struck, as he said, by the misery and suf-
ierings Of the lower classes, proposed among
other means OF remcdyng them, the toundation
of maisons d'inralids, destined for the reception
Of ,corkerS. This project, unquestonably deiec-
tive in form. but nevertheless embodying a high
philanthropical idea, worthy of the most serious
examination, inasmuch as It's connected with the
vast question of organization of industry, acaS re-
ceiped ,oiA prolonged and general shouts Of
laughter