The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-12

Theories have been exhausted, and the riddle
remains, and will not be solved by reliance
on mere material aid. To effect reformation,
the conscience must be reached. Criminals
are like other people, moved by the same
passions, and analogous means Of reforma-
ton must he adopted in both cases. While
mawkish sentimentality is to be excluded,
love must be the basis of any permanent
reform. While crime is to be punished the
criminal must, at the same time, be made to
feel that revenge is not the motive. Yet
the unfortunate course pursued too often
,justifies the conclusion that this is the end
and object of our criminal Jurisprudence.
Let whatever methods be used-tol lead them,
OF to drive them, failure inevitable must he
the consequence so, far as reformation is
concerned, unless high motives and holy
principles are the basis of action.
Visiting our city Workhouse last Sun
day, we found nothing to admire, so far as
the public authorities have made provision
for its inmates, yet much to approve in the
administration of the Warden, Mr.. Noble,
and his assistants. cover four hundred"
was the response to the inquiry as to the
number. Perhaps no similar number of
criminals is SO inadequately provided for in
any other civilized country. 1t would seem
almost incredible that a city like New Or
leans, with it's position and resources, should
huddle four hundred beings into such prem
ises as the building on Lafayette street. A
short time ago, something was said about re-
moving this and the House of Refuge to II
suitable location, having buildings more in
conformity with the day and age. But the
exigencies of politics and the greed of place
has obliterated every consideration of hu
mainly, and the Workhouse and Refuge
remain blot and reproach to the city
fathers. Four hundred white and black,
men and women, and saiidest of all, several
youths among the number!
A survey of those hundreds Of human
countenances-whata revelation does it not
make! All that ia worst in the wilderness
of human nature is before US. Few can
view it without being profoundly moved.
Ruffianism and crime are here delineated
on all sides lawlessness becomes impalpa-
BILE "a sickening sensation sovercomes us,
as though we breathed an atmosphere of
unfathomable depravity.
The experience in most similar institu-
tions is that the women are more refractory
and incorrigible than the men,. This coin
cides with the-general belief that females
who are criminal. are far worse than the
males, and another fact being, it is said, that
in proportion to the whole, a greater percent
age of the former than the latter are recon-
mitted. Miserable creatures for the most
part; ruined by poverty or betrayed; de-
based by inebriation, Intellectually low and
torpid.
After morning prayer and other exercises
by the Brothers of St. Vincent, Father Dun
can, C. M. of st. Joseph's, addressed this
motley audience for nearly an hour in Ian
guage SO pathetic, moving, and eloquent
as to draw SOUS, means, and tears from the
apparently hardened, and surely, unfor-
tunate creatures. The week upon which
they were entering, being a holy one, he
toldthem, their present position was doubly
unfortunate, not alone that they were con-
fined, but likewise because they were de-
barred the privilege of joining in thoseholy
functions which recalled the syfferings of
their crucified Saviour. In/terms sympa-
thetic and earnest, they>were invited to re-
view career whiclf<led to such miserable
results. Though temptations assailed,
though feeble were the powers of resist
ance, though inherent corruption and de-
PRAYED practices had almost effaced every
vestige of the, divine germ, still they were
the very persons for whom our Lord suf-
fered, and were only one among them
doomed to eternal punishment, for that one
their merciful Saviour would have died the
ignominious death of the cross.
But feel as if mutilating sacred
record in even attempting the faintest