The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-01-30

But again, the question recurs, the first ques-
ton: Who are the proper subjects of refosma.
tory training:
We answer, there are two classes which coal.
y demand the care Of government. The 6rst
is class who have already began to walk
in paths of crime and vice-they are young,
have been destitute Of proper mental training,
have been under the influence Of the vicious and
criminal until they have sympathized with their
spirit, and have already began to walk in their
ways; their youth bid US hope that If they ere
withdrawn from the vortex OF temptation, and
placed where the physical, intellectual and moral
are cared for, there is hope that the future will
be success. Send such boys a. thcss to prison
and they will grow harder, and instead Of the
prison and punishment, lettering the young crimi.
nal from future acts of criminslity, experience
declares that confirmation in crime is the result
This class are prefer subjects Of retormatory
| training Again, there is another class which
are just in the rear of this, who have only lust
began to show procliviiy TO evil who have been
arrested by the police few times for trivial Of.
fences, and permitted to depart without further
action than the warning Of the magistrate Of q
repetition OF the offence. Such boys or eirh
are regarded As in the highway to crimiuality,
and with such the question is only one Of sime
permit this one to go on, and he will take the
necessary steps TO ill the various stations and
grades OF crimina,y which are now filed in the
criminal world.
This class are the springs, the rils, the feeders
which 60 to swell the current of crime in any
community. Cut of this supply, dry up these
fountains and rills, and YOU stay the tide of
crime. The latter class once cut of and YOU ars
able to guarantee to the State security. Again,
this class are the most hopeful class in . refos.
matory. To educate this class in \ reformatory.
is the nipping OF crime in the bud before the
flower appears, before crime goes to seed. Bat
it is not only true that enlarged hopefulness At
tends the labors of the retorms,ory teacher iu
his efforts to influence for good this class, but
this course will be attended with great economy
TO the State. Ii will require far less means and
material aid TO do the work for this class before
they leave it for the aforementioned. One
dollar will do more for this class than ten
; dollars for the first class. Every material and
moral consideration exists why the child who Il
uncared for, and at the time shows pro-
clivity for vice and crime, that economy and NOR.
atty would decide that place ought To be given
him in the Reform School. Thus the summary
Of the answer 10 the question "who are the
proper subjects Of re.ormstory training 2" re-
solves itself into this that Pauper children, bs.
cause of their poverty, or because their parents
are too shifless 10 provide for them; that Or
phans. because of their orphsnage, feeble minded
! or hali-wtted youths because OF the the care or
trouble they impose upon society or friends that
Insane boys or bows confirmed in a course Of
crime showing hXedness of character in the
pursuit OF or determination to pursue n life Of
crime All of the above classes are amply pro-
vided for either by State, county, or private char.
tiles but the Reform School is not the place for
such these may find homes in the Poor Houses,
Orphan As. lums, Insane Asylums, Iaio,ic Schools.
or Prisons
Il We have then the two classes which properly
and legitimately come under reformatory train
ing. Those who have not very far entered the
paths Of crime, whose years tender, upon
r whom impressions may be made for good, those
D who are not by age confirmed in habits Of crime,
!, these should be sent to the Reform School In
order that there may be an opportunity granted
them to break off from criminal associations and
become honest and good members of society.
The other class who have not yet been con.
drmucd at the bar, but who known to be in
the way Of wrong doing, who manifest prociiv.
ity for lawlessness and crime, these are ncs 70
i be denied place in our schools of reform.
r Thus the legitimate province Of genuine r
e fornatory becomes both preventive and reforms.
tory. HUMANlTAS.
Lansing, Jan. rs, 1861.