Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-28
PRISONS-THEIR OBJECEHOW AC-
COMPLLSHED.

To the Editor Of the Kennsbec Journal:
All causes of human crime are to be found
in the aeithin and the Withont; or the internal
status, and the external surroundings Hence
what man is, and schere he is, will general
ly determine what he will do. The phat may
not decide; neither the where. But both
will. Hence both may need the doctor"
who is sufficiently collective, and independent,
to avail himself of several of the Pathies
We do not belong to that class of theorists
who would have the murderer, the burglar,
the thief or william of whatever hue, taken
from society and shut up, to be treated solely
for reason similar to that for which the VIC
tim of small pox is sent to the hospital and
insulated from society.
He has done wrong, by voluntary, DELHI
crate act, and he deserves punishment He
forfeits his freedom by abusing it; forfeits his
position, his property, his citizenship, or his
life. His crime is not merely his misfortune
for which he is to be pitied and nursed. On
the other hand, we are not of the class, larger
formerly than now, who hold to the strictly
vindictive. The criminal is still human, and
though punished for his crime, yet there
inhere to him many of the claims of humani-
ty. Imprisonment for crime is penal, and
should always be regarded so; and not simply
taking from society and OBTAINING in custody
for the purpose of moral and religious treat
ment; or mental and social education. The
true mission of civil government being to
protect the people, that so they may attain
truest developement and requirement, it
must punish the delinquent and the criminal.
The mission being benevolent, the iniiction
will, of necessity, be; and, to both society
and the criminal, except In case the crime is
capital, when the benevolence will respect only
the former, save, possibly, the preliminaries
and methods be considered. But the subject
of capital punishment it is not now proposed
to discuss; that hardly coming within the
range of the object of prisons; but an in
Fiction further along, and by itself.
Now, the incarcerating thus taking from
home and friends, and chosen occupation
shutting up within narrow limits and behind
grated doors, is an inhiction hard to submit
to; penal in fact, but benevolent in intent.
The great question of interest is, how shall
that intent be accomplished? How shall
the government best execute its mission? If
all criminals have to be restr aimed for life so
ciety would be protected. But as the MAORI
ty are to 60 forth again. either as scourges or
blessings, what is the States duty in respect
to them the while of their detention? Is it
enough that it has insulated them from society,
and SO may now leave them under the control
of locks and taskmen, upon whom it impos-
es only venal obligations? Christian civili-
cation can have but one answer. These men,
criminals though, must be reformed; lifted
by the application Of some lever in the hand
OF the State, to higher social and moral
plane during the period of their incarcera-
ton; partly that at their egress they may be
truer to themselves, and partly that they may