The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-02

REFORMATION OF CRMINNs.-The insecurity
of life and property in this city is notorious II
is the constant theme ofdiscussion by the press,
and the often recurring topic of conversation in
private circles. 1t is the one grand defect in
our system Of municipal government. We can
stand heavy taxation, plundering officials and
grasping governors We pay without a MUIR
muir. We only growl because we get nothing
for our money. We say, justly, that that gov
eminent must be bad which allows its own Off
GERS to be shot down in the public streets in the
execution Of their duty, without discovering
and Furnishing the murderer We say that
there must be something wrong in those laws
which cannot punish rowdy boy that stabs to
death a respectable citizen who is walking in
the street with his wife on his arm. We say
that when men are stabbed through the heart
and thrown into the river, there should be some
effort made to discover the authors of the crime.
We say that the city should be freed from those
organized bands Of bsllies and thieves. outlaw
cd from society, who in broad daylight fight out
their quarrels in Broadway, surrounded by an
armed guard Of friends.
Well, then, the public sentiment is quite una
nimous in condemning these things. The pub
lie sentiment says il is sin and a shame that
such state OF affairs should exist. But what
does the public sentiment do when Il is
called into the jury box? 1t is ingenious
to find excuses for the criminal. 1t says he
Justly deserves the halter, but think how young
and interesting he is. lie only killed an inno-
cent man, or shot a policeman. or choked TO
death poor old woman. Let us keep his case
on till all the witnesses are dead or gone away.
or get new trial, or recommend him to mercy.
Poor child! how he suffers. Let us roll him up
in rose leaves and perfume him with lavender:
or, at the worst, only send him to prison for a
few years, and then introduce him again to the
world that has treated him so shabbily. That
is the real meaning Of the cant of modern phi.
lanthropy.
Tue fact is, that though We may abuse the
courts and the Judges and the laws as much as
VIC please, the truth remains the same II is we
who are alone 10 blame. The courts and Judges
and laws are good enough. We have too much
sympathy for crime; we weep too much for the
criminal, and we lose sight too soon Of the vic.
tim. No sooner is our first horror at the crime
over than we begin TO sympatbise with the
criminal, and we are ingenious in inyentinc ex-
cuses for him. We are not savage. not barbar.
Gus enough. We have not enough of that old
Mosaic spirit which demanded an eve for an
eye and tooth for a tooth. We defend as
well as prosecute our murderers at our own ex-
pense, and thus absolutely pay people for shoot
ing us down in the streets We do not enforce
capital punishment because public sentiment is
said to be against it; but, on conviction Of our
murderers, We incarcerate them in the State
prison, where they are always sustained aud
soothed by the hope Of pardon.
And what arc the prisons themselves? In |
Europe they will show you over vast castles.
splendid palaces and superb chateaus. They
are the residences Of the magnates of the land |
the brave, the wise the good perhaps-but GER
tainly not the criminals In the United States
the State prisons and penitentiaries are the
palaces. The convict is treated in the most
polite and considerate manner. He is the guest
Of The State during his term; he is pardoned
by the Executivc-popular sentiment demands
i or political friends desire it-he walks forth
With bis civil rights restored his health, like
hat OF Huntington, has been improved by resi-
'eIee ia great sanitary inSttutioa, AID IL