The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-20


S ms t ss0r sosesy n ha T. this rs
paratiye deprivation Of hight by day lin such celD,
Or Total deprivation BY night tas IN many prisousl
with gloom ana prevestlna opportnniiles H q read
mgr Whence the traditional striped prison garb
the TN clippers and Other degrading substitutes Tor
respectable Christian crockeryy Whence the en-
forced silence destroying speech and even reason
when long continuedY Whence the refusal TO COM
munlcate freely with their families and 70 receive
letters from Them often OF the best tendencies
Whence the obscques. as OF one OF the inferior AMI
ON Inc subject, would sweep ali these away, aud
seek elevation by ameofaton and Kindness from
would heartily agree with SIR Charles CroIton that
the penal stage should be very short; that It should
be open 10 the prisoner while used TO pave lne
Tor the extension or ms privileges, and that Kind
treatment should inspire confidence aud ASSIST in
the WORK OF reformation. No formal resolution was
offered on these points, but such was the general
sense OF the Congress- winch also by resolution ylr-
tunly suuOrdinated all financial to moral results "a
ends OF PRISON discipline. There was an inpor-
tant discussion on that point which should he spe-
cally noticed.
ARE HIGH FINANCIAL AND MORAL RESULTS OF
PRISON DISCIPLINE COMPATIBLE?
In the con- Sc or Sir John B0wling's paper II was
stated that ne was OF opinion that in me United
States there was tendency to lock TO financial
FATHER tnan moral results IN piison dis .lpllne
whereupoa member somewhat Indignantly in-
CURED Il sucn was the case while furiner question
was put--"Are the highest financial Inc onpat Ue
with Tie highest moral results Of PRISON discipline -
As few noted pr,sons in tho United STATES are
State sucn az tie Albany Pcnitcntary, the Detroit
House OF correction, the OHIO State Prison, at Co
llmbus W Will tins year clear about $4,000 over and
above expenses, ana rs most OF the isonS not
seifsustaining conflict OF sentiment naturally
arose. Tue representatives OF TIE latter referred To
their better moral system. ana tie in
creased motives To reformation which IL In
volved; the representatives Ut the former
could see no special moral gain in the prisons which
had the balance On the wrong ii c OF their ledger
They held that ~ was itself a refurnatory idea 10
adhere 10 tlle measures .Pay as you go; pay your
Al ha n N r.tpn m ne Iha
opposite rule took advantage OF the words shgnesr
1lancal resuits.' They asked II prisoners were 10
be given some interest In their earningsa powerful
motive 10 wel-doingor allowed TO sen their time
sentences by good conduct, or taught fully az POS
slDe 10 the scnooroom, or suppiel freely with gas
light 10y when 10 read, to reasonable cXtcnias Is
done IN several state prisons--now the ..n,Chest,
financial results were 70 be opened II to take the
last d0iar ou OF the prisoner was The perfection
prison management they argued that this could
only nc done al the cost OF moral results. on Tins
subject Congress adopted tue following just and pro-
life reso utlOn:--
Resolved That the best results of prison discipline are com
pary an. md rs
At the same time another important resolution
was adopted namely
Resolved That district prisons intermediate between the
State prison and the county Jail necessary part Of
such dstric, prisons oueh be established ali
where they do not nov exist.
THE FAMILY SYSTEM vs. THE coSGREGArE SYSTEM;
or, MORAL WALLS vs.. PHYSICAL WALLS.
These an agonisns were developed IN the discus
atories Or refugees The nigh walls the " bars ana
bolts" OF the congiegaic'' system. showed exec
lent results IN good hands. Many OF the juvenile III
stltuiions OF New York, city and state fully attest
that TACT. Tie "family system,'' in Which smiling
fields and parks and gardens and neat and
comfortable residences, and n large, If not
an absolute measure OF freedom are ably
administered. produced astonishing results.
ana elected enthusiastic applause rs they made
known. Wna5 could be more surprising than TO iind
city 'r0ughsr and Arabs Transformed into boys
whose attempts 10 escape with endless opportnni-
nll Ir .tt1 a nt1.r
year, who with constant access 10 matches never set
IRE to anything who possessed OF knives never
cut up desks or other furniture? Most students that
have known We're DESTROYS OF carving out for
themselves wooden Immortality at least TO whom
physical punishment or confinement OF any Kind was
comparatively, IN some cases, absolutely unknown
MANY such facts, well certified, were adduced, and
they were received with so many manifestations OF
gratncau0n that inc representatives OF the congre
gate ana 'bar and bolt- system as il was nvliosiy
termed-irs friends, how ever, dwelling most on the
phrase deprecatng iy-secmed disposed to think
that their system was not in favor, and they
asked the Congress To say so. The lion. Mr..
Renelin Of chicago, rem nded the members OF
piece OF ADVICE Mr. Gladstone had given him, and
that was never to sci W one system In antagonism
10 another. never TO raise that issue: but let each
the influences produced to be their heraIds and
trumpeters. Mr.. Gladstone saia he had been able
the English educational and PRISON ormers to act
on this principle. anu he believed II they had not
done so the result would have been fatal Mr.. Rene
lin sugges led similar course. IL was at once wise
and politic In fielent crcums ances Ciear large
CITY, Ior exAmpe). anu III inherent hands, the
gregate system might be BEST under other circum-
stances the family system might be preferable. Ir
certainly Is best liked by the boys, OF whom in
Wisconsin, deliberately burned down a Juvenile
prison; hut the administration IS the pr ncipal
thing. Here we may at least adopt the spirii OF
POpes couplet:-
For forms of government let fools cones
That which Is best administered is best.
so the Congress thought, or at least they deemed
II polite 10 afrm tor they unanimously adopted
the following resolution
Resolved That each system juvenile has
preference either the family cogr..
gate sysen that the important agency for reformno
found IN hearted clear-headcd Christian and
who in the spirit OF Christ. WELD their
nuencc for this end.
The discussions at which have inst glanced will
Illustrate the nature and scope OF this resolution.
one part OF 1t reminds me that | did not mention
the fact that MIS-. Lydia sexton chapain
and has made an excellent appearance. She
is a lady oil advanced views anu belongs TO the de-
nomination Of the United Brethren. Alter little
speech which she made at one OF the meetings she
ia cuplemism for the new and magnificent CITY
prison erected here) ana learn that she addressed
the men and women--a motley gfoup-confned there
with great satisfaction to all concerned Congress has
not, however, pronounced on the difcuit and deli
cate question OF how far or in what way women can
engage IN the work or reformation especially in the
case OF adult criminals. Books, The line arts IN
Guiding music vocal and Instrumental PICTURES in
telectual and physical culture and religious tram
ing are al recommended and enforced but thus far
though deiiverance has been as ked on the point
TINS matter has not been determined.
There arc some other tOpics which ought to be
nOuccd: nuC the present letter, though touching
great Widespread interests is quite long enousn
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.