New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-03
PRISON REFORM.
MoxTEsMos AND his EXPERIMENT.

SIR Probably tho most successful experiment
IN PRISON discipline that the world has ever SEEN was
that conducted in Valencia Spain. by Don Manuel
MonteSinos, Colonel in tho Spanish army. IT
covered a period OF Is years, from 1896 to 1860 In
view of recent Developments in own prisons. and
the evident desire of the public for a reform. brief
account of this experiment, in its principles methods
aud results, cashOt fail TO be interesting, and may
prove both instructive and useful The public
prison at Valencia. when Col Montesiuos was APP
pointed its Governor. in 1885. an OLD convent,
large building. but ill-arranged, illventated, aud
very filthy. containing average of 1000 prisoners
which was sometimes sweled to the humber Of 150O
At that tine the percentage of recommittals was
from 80 to IS. which about the average Ia other
European prisons both British and Continental,
though in exceptional it rose to 60 and even 10
these latter being the figures i'll tho prisons Perth
aud Liverpool. The administration of Co. Monte
sines lasted above stated II years. For the first
two years il produced little effect on the number OF
recemmittals during the next 10 years the average
of reeommittals was less than one per cent and
during the last three years, lS4S4950, there were
absolutely none the number of tho discharged
and the number of tho reformed had become
identical
To what was this extraordinary decrease in the
percentage of recommittals during the adninistra-
tion of Col. MontesiAos owing Simply to the sub
sitution of moral for physical force 1t was just the
difference between coercion and persuasion. But the
persuasion did not consist in weak Indulgence Oh
the prisoners, in Iaxty of discipline, in any want
of frmness and vigor in the administration. or Ill
moral cxhOrtatORs to reform. 1t was an organ
lied. systematized persuasion; persuasion per
vading and vivifyilg all the arrangements anu
machinery of the prison. In one of the reports OF
the Governor find the following sentences Ill
nhClf a whale mammal of refOrnatOTy
prison discipline:
"Neycr forge ting that tho object Of punishment to
reform suhec;ed 1t. well as to give sanitary
warning to otRets have sought by eyery neas "t io
every cost 10 extirpSe In my prisoners the ameutaolo
germ of depo, aud to Inspire them insiead WIN sTe
ever more and more in their hearts But, as uhnro.
fbis made il a rule. Whenever any one showed a DIS
position labor, hut had no occupation WREN eond
to procare hai such; and for this purpose
sought bring whH tbs prison as many workshops as
fkey 30 be isost advantageous 10 him and now there
are above 10 ~ hese all "a nll opera9n ana AZ UIgn
and capy OF the prisoners Neither 1or their
prison have l ever s>ked the Government for SINGLE
iarfng solo D,drdrddp, nor called In tae assistance
progress Of many OF these workshops has very slow
and troublesome; or, Rgt having had fulds at my as
nOsa the purchase OF the necessary tools
ard machines for them have been compelled to proceed
only step by step IN then But on the one hand Could
always thought frequent and ultimate correspondence
between the prisoners ana persons OF h aiHtIeht
description outside Objectionable; and have thus had
no choice ,,,s,oo,. q, o,o ort.hon and the d,e9cpl
ties experienced In managing It showed me both how to
introduce and enlarge those already IN operaon
yicton that without the stimulus Of some personal
advantage accruing to themse from their labor II
difficult 10 obtain work from the already Skilled
aud almost impossible TO get the unsklled TO learn
Repeated experiments convinced me OF the practical
lesson maxim OF social economy, land that
what neither severity Of punishments nor OF
readily Obtain different therefore, during
my command, have applied this powerful stmuiant;
powerful germs OF which constantly developed
under lie influence have at Dgth fully Convinced me
that the most ineeacious Of all methods In prsOntAe
perIciOus aud fatal TO VIGILANCE OF refornare
Popeishnles carried TO TIE ts'gh Of haTshness Inc
maxim should be constant and VI universal application
n such places nos degrade further those who GENE to
e ssaay desSasq " inner of the SpmeS ad
and for this roaon that 1t is the most personal endS
according to hater 1t, will never attain
his Object by any OF chastisementsthe effect Of
tFeatmeht being irate rather than 10 correct, and
thus fem reform instead OF attracting to It, More
over the love o. aSor SannUt DC m oy any
encouragement; and although 1t Is quite possible TO
obtain specific amount OF work from prisoners by the
aid Of the lash tas selnetnes recommended by high
funetionares in tis Department. yet the consequence Is
so many penalties and Of wGck such bitter recollection
must sways be preserved And the moral object Of penal
be not 50 much TO punish as TO cure to receive mon Idle
honest and industrious citizens
-" 1t tai after making many experiments Of
mately, made it the base OF AL my operations the
minds Of my prisoners; and the extraordinarily small
number OF recommittas to my prison. and the excellent
health and perfect of Submission In which
sonhSeS IN have always been kept seem to us to leave
So much fer the Governors statements than which
nothing could be better thought said His decara-
tions are confirmed by the testimony of other and
disnterested witnesses. The author of Notes of
Attach6 in SPAIN in 1850" thus states his impression
of the prison
The Penitentary gave satisfaction than any
prisoners under the admirable system OF discipline
aud severally engaged in every branch OF human
industry could scarcely realize that was In prison,
like immense and eGterPrisng Factory the
general aspect of the Interior and happy aRd con.
tented seemed the busted operatives Ia their various
empOymeBts."
Mr. Hoskins. an English traveller, in his work
entitled Spain AS 1t Is" gives full account. We
can cite but few of his sentences
greatly to the credit OF the city Of Valencia that
II boast Of OF the best conducted prisons Eu
rope This bing OF the great social problems Of the
day, made particular inquiries about il. There are
thousand prisoners and In the whole establishment did
not above three four guardians 10 keep them
order They say there only dozen old soldiers and
not bar or bolt that might not be easily brOkenappa
repty not fIstenDEs than in any private house
OF course are acquainted with the temper and disposition
OF their companions and best able to manage them and
ducement To all 10 behave well When convict enters
he is asked what trade he will work learn above
forty open to him. that he has the devOt
ing his time TO any he knows or ignorant Of all TO
he feels an inclination FOR which he knows will be
full TO him when he 10 liberated . There seemed
TO be the most perfect disciplined they were Obedent TO
word They not allowed TO talk 10 each other during
their work. but this rule does TO be very strictly
enorced and they may speak 70 their instructor who Is
often OF themselves and ask each other for tools
anything requisite for their work and every night after
they allowed to converse with each other for
an hour There were weavers and spnnes OF every de-
scripton manufacturing all qualities the coarsest
linen cloths TO the richest silks, damasks and velvets
There blaeksmihs shOemakers basket makers
tOiDers. cabinet a