Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-28

| 10 accomplish tnls must require se'S4"i
instrumentaiities. These must harmonlze.
Hence the esssentialness of system; one
that shall be broad enough, and at the same
time defnitive enough to apply to all penal
institutions and each individual inmate. This
system, framed in the light of possibilities,
will take account of previous life, education
al requirements, social position, present age,
degree of degeneracy, domination Of passion,
and the like then adapt its instrumentalities
and processes. 1t will have regard TO the
! appointment of wardens, chaplains, and all
officials all industries Of prison life, desce-
pline instruction, association, and whatever
else tends to affect character.
| The doing of this necessitates a sort and
amount of intelligence that the law makers
and executors of few States or countries have
| at present attained.
| few facts, collated with some care, may
illustrate. take, partly from printed Re
port that is thought to be perfectly reliable.
Examining the catalogue of l0005 prisoners
| sometime in 10 penal institutions, we find
| SO, l0l to have been foreign born, and 90 per
cent. of the remainder born of foreign
parents, SO that at least IS per cent. of the
whole had the tastes and habits of the for
eign immigrant, modified little by resident
contacts. l6 per cent. were between the ages
of l6 and 90 years; Az per cent. between 90
and 80, and AZ per cent. over so, or 5S per
cent. under so years of age, and 80 per cent.
no far Re oh
in this aggregate, we shall find 20 per cent.
under 80 years. This it will he seen is a very
large per cent, of an age usually impressible
by educational, industrial, and moral influ
ences. Then take another class of facts re-
relating to the same aggregate. 50 per cent.
were laborers and servants, Is per cent, arti-
zans; less than two per cent. professional
loafers; and only S1i of the whole 100000
from the educated professions; q per cent.
of the whole were not able to read; Il per
cent. read little, but could not write. making
A, 900 of the number uneducated, and the
balance-or nearly $4,000 only having ac-
quired a few rudiments of an education, but
without any systematic culture. Now, put
themselves to be Incorporate, while many Of
the others committed their crimes when under
the temporary influence OF some excess of
| drink and it seems to me that no mind can be
in doubt as TO the conditions favorable for re-
form. Sure are we that none can doubt the
need.
To sum up the several points, important
and practical, for perspicuity AND brevity's
sake, put the whole thus.
Reformation the chief end to be sought.
Possible, and probable, it is believed. /.
Because of the age of the conyicts, less than
80 years. . Because of the immediate
cause of their crime-1un, 3. Because OF
the numerous successes in the earnest and
systematic efforts already made-many facts
well authenticated
| Conditions of success in respect to disci-
pine. l. Discipline must accord with ma
ture,' some would say. prefer to say with
the law of common sense, which really is only
another form of expressing the same general
idea. Then I would follow the principle,
that it mvst be such as to touch the heart OF
the convict, thus enlisting his voluntary coop
Grafton. 3. He must be made to understand
that the public heart has some beating sympa-
| thy, so that when his term shall have expired
he may meet with encouragement to a right
life. He must be prepared to hope that socie-
ty will afford him practical assurance, to a
limited extent, at least, that they will lift,
rather than crush him-favor, rather than
frown-give him a fair chance rather than
kick him out and lower.
| In all this is involved the necessity of Off
GERS whose views harmonic with the grand
aim, and who therefore will cooperate every
where. While every able bodied convict
should be self supporting thar purpose should
be subordinate to the one that the industries
are to be an important means Of reform, be-
cause of their influence now and prospectively
"a system of education designed to fit the ig-
norant for something better and nobler than
he was adapted to formerly, and that will de-
velop his manhood and make him respect
himself-moral and religious instruction per
sistently and lovingly imparted-these must
not fail to be present. There can be no hope
of radical and permanent reform without
them. The latter is thought by acme expe-
rienced men to be more absolutely essential
than anything else. Hon. Moses c. Pilsbury,
one Of the most distinguished and experienced
wardens of the present day, has said, and
believe truly: 'Not much unlike, in regard
to wisdom, to beautiful ship laden with
richest cargo and sent to sea without yHddsy,
compass, and chart, would prison be with
out a chapel where the convicts can be as
sembed on the Sabbath for worship and Sun
day school instruction, and on seeek days for
morning and evening prayers"
have stated these points, Mr.. Editor, not
as orderly as would like, but with the hon
est desire that they may aid in directing the
public attention to things of vast moment as
pertaining to our criminal institutions.
Truly, KNOX.
|