, 1869-03-05

Aa1s Auo CIlnlnal cI6a4 ~ chiefly
recruited by other Influences
than those which sometimes dzav, ,he
hilhe11o vir.oons to commit misdeed.
Large numbers arc born to tho trade Of
crime, and oshers are brought to IL by
regular Initiation and training. In o. |
out OF jall, the professional criminal de-
votes htmEclf. according to bis opportu-
nifty, to training younger sinners. Out
Of every 100000 sent 10 pri,on, 10000 arc
detelned le.s thkn Que month, just long
enough ior nothing whatever but To take
some first Lessons In rascallty. Thus =
large portion of our discipline ot criu,-
lnals amounts to propagation Of crime,
Furthermore, with regular c1imtualr,
ordinary punishment has little or no de-
terrlng eject. Crime 10 their profession,
and they take the risks of Il, tho esol,
the convIct-shlp, the gallows ven, a. the
soldier takes tho risk OF hla profession.
II is q matter ol deliberate resolution
and OF habllual pride 10 accept those
risks rs matter OF course. Even II the
criminal by profession, should ever
shrink from his trade, no other L. open 10
him; he cannot change bis calling with
out more effort and difficulty than are
Involved in continuing It, Moreover.
men oi shis class, though prcternatural,y
quick In perception or execution, arc not
Imaginative, 10 take much forotloughs Of
what 1nsy hhppen TO thcu, nori Of keen
seusihlllty to he touched by uao prospect
Of evil ovcrtakinE them., They find TOO
many chances Of escape 10 one Of doteo-
tiop, probably twenty 10 one. The ordl.
uaff!y skliful thief ls believed to Average
SIX yrhrs Of successful depreciation upon
s7clety, In fact, the young vilIstn, rore-
casting career Of crime, has NOT mu.h
difficulty In fanCylng iNBs he will find tho
coast clear. The only terrible puutsh-
nenir, hAf9snR, d1gsing and working In
chains, afo t'osrlY or quito tamoved
from ts path.
What. tbup. can bo done With crlu.
tnsls' Thosnsrer WI have 10 givo DAYS
Tho writer, Nhoio limo Of though. VIZ sro
tcportlnf) tnsy asasslo konc, but Il IA
worthy ot a..ei!tlon. novorthojssa liu
would lndtdn!toly inraroafato every opn.
5!ated 'tarndey, .lhs eossIsshls until
sAey aso known 10 bu reformed, nnd tho
luoosr!H'ble ivr lilo. ITO stats the
! plopoaition In H. tesieat, nakude,1, most
htar1lipg shape, we must incsTcesAta ali
criminals Indefinitely, Abernting such
only, at aomo future time, III We
deem to be reclaimed, and only
when We Judge their reclamation 10 bo
genuine and complete; restoring To
Them. in 8 word, their power TO war
hgainht md prey upon society only when
we have rcgcEeznted or subduel their
wilt" 1t Is the sinp!est duty OF The
State, he argues, TO pursue this couzse.
There IL no Injustice In II, harsh as 1t
may eeem. The aim to reform Is the
right one, because through 1t alone can
society be made secure. Il will cost no
more than criminals row ges out of us.
| Punishment should commence with q
| period Of strict seclusion, Of from aix to
twelve monthe, not 1eas than si1 in any
case, nor more than twelve. This effect
OF this, In subdutpg and fnsimidstiug, Il
we'll known To all who have watched 1t
and 1t Is Indispensable. After this seclu
sion should come labor, on The following
principle: ln each sentence there shAi
be named sum to be earned by the con-
| vict, At the rate Of wages fixed by Law
the earning Of which shall constitute
working ont OF the sentence, with on
! exception, TO be named presently. Th.
: convict will thus be working for himself
. while undergoing his sentence. and If th'
sum is fixed high enough the Grimm u
i by earning II, and If there are no draw
!, backs for violation Of. discspliue, vii
i have afordGd the best possible presump
lion that be can be discharged with safe
ty. II should be required. however, +
: every convict, that he further earn, be
fore. his liberation, sum Of money fo
a himself, such IS will enable him to emf
CRATE to land whsre his previous I,te
| not known, or TO start In respectable Ia
dustry at home, II, then, the discharge
convict comes properly under polio
supervision on returning to the worlt
OF, better still, receives attention 1rol
!. societies organized for the purpose, the,
= Is reason to hope thst be may prove
have been reformed.
g. The point, it will be seen, OF til
e scheme, 1s indefinite Incarceration for d
II liberste crime. The plan barely Civ
=. the convio: q change to .proye Il ch.rAct
y srd 70 purchase his redemption. Wha
- ever may be thought OF It, no oHe vi
= deny that We have come, in our gre
y cities; TO terrible pass In dealing wi
g the professors Of crime, and that son
OF method must be devised mors efficient
u protect society than my which the coul
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