Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-03-06
Anew treatment for Criminals,

In the Irish Times we find an account
/ of treatment Of criminals 80 new, so
surprising, and successful, as to be
/ worthy of especial notice. About
I twelve years ago, Government secured
the title to l70 acres Of land at LusE,
/ fourteen miles north Of the city of Dub
lin, overlooking Dublin Bay and a beau
tifully wooded country. The Obje5t was
TO make an experiment with convicted
criminals in redeeming land and IN car
rying on farm. This was to be by
what is termed the intermediate sys-
tenn" For many years the land had
been common part was swampy,
much Of the surface had been removed
by neighb0ring farmers, and it was OF
little value. A gang OF cOnvicts was
brought on and, under judicious man
agerss the land was drained, the subsOiI
brought to the surface, manure was APP
piled, and also lime to correct the aCidi-
ty; houses, barns, and outbulldings
were erected, and, finally, the tract has
been brought to a high state Of fertility.
There are about 90 acres in grain, 40 in
choice meadow, Sin root crops, 4 4n veg
etables, aud the remainder in Pasiur-
age. So good is the farming that this
year. While crops throughout Great
Britain are below an average, the crops
Of the COnvict8 are above. The produe-
tiOns consist OF fat cattle, hogs, grain,
and considerable milk and butter, ana
as they have surplus il is sold at high
prices
AT drst it was proposed 20 have police
depOts around the farm, to prevent es-
capes and to punish violations OfOriers;
but this has not been dOue, and, in
stead, a few Warders are employed,
who act more as overssers and mana
gers than as sentinels. The order Of the
day is as follows: o'clock A. NJ, bell
ringing, when the beds are made $50,
off "a n-fEn
rade; Z to l2, work, then dinner; to 5,
work; s, supper, followed by lectures,
prayers, lock up, and bed. At the lee
lures, the criminals receive instruction
in elementary studies, and on social
and moral subjects, and, in particular,
regarding the natural results which dow
from la DJr and from vice. On Sunday,
they are allowed to attend meetings in
the neighboring towns. What are call
ed prison earnings are allowed them
that, after their term expires, they NAV
emigrate, or have means to start again
in life where they are not known. In
the vicinity, such is their reputation a 8
laithfuI Iaborers, that at present the de-
mand for the discharged convicts from
the farmers exceeds the supply. Thus
the idOIent, the stubborn, and reckless
criminal is trained to life Of honest
toll, more through encouragement and
hope than through coercion and threats,
dom, and enjoys the pure air and rural
occupation. There can be no dou bt that
the success of the system lies in tho ac-
tive calling of agriculture, which is the
foundation of whatever health and in
nocence the human race possess.
We submit that this is a most remark
able account, It is obviously the duty
of our Legislators to reflect upon it, to
get further details, to consider what OBJ
stacles prevent the system from being
carried out in our own country. If any
exists, and IL they can be removed, IL
will be q Christian, even common du-
y to remove them. We have millions of
acres of land which need to be redeem
ed; when brought into cultivation they
viii be the most fruitful and enduring
Of any in our whole domain. Wide dis
tricts of marshy and overfloWed land
on our seacoast, and along our Western
rivers breed miasm, pestilence and
death, and so long as they remain in
their present condition, the air Of the
ADJOINING districts now under cult1va-
ton will be contaminated. If our crimi-
nails were set to the task of bringing
such land, or, indeed, any other land,
into cultivation, our supplies of food
would increase, and a desirable end
would be gained, inasmuch as they
would cease to be comp mpetitOrs with our
mechanics and artisans. In addition,
many who were led into temptation
and into crime, because they had no
employment, or who did not know
what work means, or who did not
even know how to seek work where it
was TO be found. will acquire indus
triOus habits and a taste for rural life,
by which, after a time, in some remote
locality, they will be proud to Hve.-
m. X. Tribune.