The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-27

American association In the noble undertaking which had
proposed to itsef
The royal decree named Q committee OF twenty
eminent citizens to act for Italy In benalf OF tine
Cong ress; also TO study the most important ques
lions offered by modern penitentlary SCIENCE and
constituted, includes several high functiOnares OF
the State the Mayor OF Florence and President Of
law, the Director General and two inspectors Gen
era OF Prisons, &c. The government OF the North
German Union was no less cordial, no less earnest,
III It's action In behalf OF the Congress. IL Is but
few days ago that received from Count Eulenburg,
Minister OF the Interior Tor that government LEI
ter written. as he states, under Instructions from
Prince BISMARCK, from which make a short ey-
tract. Inc Minister says.-''5r-in reply to y0ar
have the honor 10 MORN you that, according 10
your wish, 1 informed Prince Bismarck OF your
mission regarding the International Congress
on the question OF prisons, IN order that Inc
interest OF the Otner governments OF the empire
may he, directed 10 the approaching Congress
Prince Bismarck at once responded TO this WISH
aud am to answer, from MIN, that participation In
tins work, with whose preparation you have been
Germany AS to your questions relating 70 the con-
dition OF German PRISONS have placed them n the
hands OF Herr stelnmann counsellor In my Minis
try, ana specially occupied on the prison question:
He has undertaken this work and Will send inc
answers to your address next week. l have also
m1nicailon with persons IN the different States or
the empire Interested IN TINS subject for the FORM
Is evident from these rectas that the Italian and
PrusslaD Governments are hearty In this work. ana
III were IOE Ol JUclr dCtlOns
1t would be seen that other European governments
are no less so. The Academy Of MORAL and Political
poy Of n Se World Is
July committed to the Congress. by IN
FoaeSn Sa aa the SSncr on sas "a OF
September, last 10 read discourse on the subject
before the Academy and the President in replying,
pledged It's members 10 the use OF their best efforts
in promoting the success Of the Congress Another
signal PROOF OF the profound interest let by Europe
IN the proposed Conference was the meeting held In
London on the 80 OF November last, which was
called TO hear from the American Commissioner
statement OF the 0bects and results OF his mission,
aud 70 give voice to the sentiment OF England on
the question 0; The Congress. There were present
aud participating 10 that meeting no less tnan four
ex-members VI the British Cabinet several leading
members OF Parliament and one OF the most emil
nent preates Of the Koman Catholic Cnurcn, Arch.
bishop Manning. But one sentiment animated the
asseInbiage, that OF warm approval OF the Congress
and OF hlgn expectations from It, Tnis was the
burden OF all the speeches. national committee
for England was named by the meeting, consisting
are the Archblsop OF Canterbury, the Lord
Dean Stanley, the Lord Cnancelors OF
England and Ireland, the Dukes OF Argyll and
Northumberland the Marquis OF Salisbury, the Ears
OF Shatesoury, Granville and CarnarvOn. Sir SLai-
ford Nortncote, Sir Jonn pakinglon Sir Walter Crof
ton Miss Florence Nightingale, Miss Mary Carpen.
ter, Thomas hughes, NJ p; Matthew Davenport
Hill John stuart Mill ana many others OF dlstln.
guished name.
Since my return to America have learned from
the Ministers OF the Spanshspeaking republics OF
America as well as OF Inc empire OF Brazil, that
Their governments are preparing, Win no less zeal
than tue governments OF Europe, to take part In
what MIR. LAMA mas, IN fellcous phrase, designated
as "tnis great sclentihc0-soclal movement" SO
That there Is good reason TO believe That there VIII
be lew. II any, among the CIVILIZED nations OF the
word that VIII not be present BY their representa-
tves. III the Convention. beg 70 call the attention
OF this meeting to an important tangible result,
which, IL may be falry hoped, Will be among the
Issues oil the Congress. There can be no doubt that
large amount OF Information or all points connecle
win prison discipline and the repression OF crime
Will have been collected by the Congress. that
10 aln 0nn
upon, and that strong impulse VIII have Oeen
given TO The cause OF penitenuary reform through
aDors OF the Congress will have been comparatively
barren or permanent results because the momen.
seems, therefore, IN the highest degree desirable
that some means should be devised To continue and,
II possible. multiply the benefits nowiug from tho
Congress, as from living fountain. No better
agency to this end occurs 10 me tnan the creation
OF central bureau, TO which intelligence relating
to this interest and the progress made therein shall
be regularly communicated every year from all
parts OF the world, and from which. In digested
and printed form. It shall be again distributed
every part OF the world will be kept Informed
OF what is doing In every other part, In reference
OF crime and crminals-wlth view ~ the re-
preston Oh the one and the reformation OF the
Ideas Will be maintained the nature and result OF
experiments IN penitentiary and rerormatOry dis
promptly made known in all Others and an honor
able rivalry VIII be Kept up between nations, In
WHICH each, Wnlle rejoicing In every Instance aud
at every proof OF progress elsewhere Will yet strive
10 outsirip Its fellows III the race OF Improvement
With national committees or associations actively AT
work IN the different countries, with great central
organization performing the double junction Of q
receiver and distributor OF infe ligence, and with
International peuitentiary conferences renewed
from time 10 time, 1t IS a reasonable presumption
that within the next half century progress, not
hitherto so much as dreamed or even by the most
sansune, Will he made III the knowledge ana ap-
plication OF processes 10r the prevention OF crime
ana the reformation Of criminals.
N nul tfnn N AU ohnRf
some OF the more remarkable prisons visited.
But must not occupy time due to Others. Will
commonly known as the Irish prison system, but
ought, IN my Judgment to be called the CrofLon sys
,em alter the name OF Its author the Right Hon. SIR
fore gong abroad ana mad conceived nigh opinion
or ITS merits ana tnat impression was confirmed by
personal examination. The great feature Of the
CrOlon system Is that II plants hope IN the breast
or The prisoner from the first hour Of his con1ne-
ment, and Keeps II there as an ever.actIve force,
increasing In potency to the last day OF his imprls
onment apd that, IN my opinion, IS the whole pull
iosopn d, IN nutshell av OF true and reormatoy
anything comparable TO the Intermediate prison
at Lusk. Here Is prison (which Is not PRISON.,
consisting Of TWO corrugated iron tents (erected
cost OF only S3,0OO though capable OF accommodate
Ing a hundred inmates), and a farm OF two nun
dred acres-an establishment without bars, bolts, or
enclosing wall, aud yet, IN fourteen years,
only two escapes have taken place, thus proving
dlctum Of Dr. Wicnern, that "the strongest wall Is
no WALL" In other words, that wall OF influence
Is stronger than wall OF granite. There Is no
chapel Within the prison promises, the prisoners at
tending the parish chdrcn; vet only one complaint
Oh any KnI In all these years has made against
their conduct. A prisoner, in coming out OF church
one daV, passed u word with young woman. The
word spoken was quite proper in itself, and only
Improper because forbidden by public sentiment as
We'll as by the rules OF the institution. In the prison
OF Wakefield, West Riding OF Yorkshire, Industrial
labor Is well organized and the prison has cash
capital OF $780, 900, ell OF which Is the result OF the
earnings OF the PRISONERS 1t Is very nearly SELL
supporting Two .Homes" one for male and the
otner for discharged female prisoners established In
connection with this prison, are worthy OF special
commendatlon ana ought to be widely Initiated.
saw nothing In ali my visitation of prisons abroad
that interested or pleased me more than these ad-
mlrably planned and managed refugees. Into them,
on lberation are received all prisoners OF either
sex who wish TO lead an honest life and nave not
other means OF doing so. Here they are provided
with. work, at which, while waiting for permanent
employment, they can earn q living and lay by
little surplus. At least the men can do this, for The
cost OF living to them IL seven English snillings
week, while their earnings average from eleven to
twelve shings. one man was earning thirty snil-