Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-01

ciplinarians, arc admirably calculated TO
manage rightly convict population,
which needs. above all other things, to
learn obedience TO authority, AMI TO be
subjected to rigid discipline OF mind and
body. Moreover, the graduate of West
Point is, as a rule, q man of honor and n
gentleman. He knows nothing about
contracts; he performs his duty; he is
honest and respectable; and under his
rule, at least, the convict would not
commonly have before him pernicious
example of greed, and other low forms
of vice
There would be no lack of work in
Alaska for u penal colony, however
numerous. The country has no roads il
has no public buildings it has no nc.
chanic arts; it would need. il il had e.
population. artisans OF all kinds; and
Tor half a century to come penal colony
in Alaska rightly managed ought to hc
self.supporting, with abundance Of uso
lul labor for every convict
The question of penal transportation
has not come very prominently before
the public in recent years. 1t was not
even discussed at the recent Prison Con-
gress in London. though II report was
read upon il by Count di Forcsta, Pro-
curcur. General of Ancona. who said
Transportation with compulsory labor
in colony approve rs tho best punish
nont for great criminals. 1t seems TO
me 10 answer perfectly the double
object OF all punishment-the protection
ol society. within tho limits OF justice.
and the reformation of the convict. Ii
fullills the first Of these objects-the pro.
lection OF sociely-fOr the most danger
Gus criminals are thus cast out from the
bosom Of society; the grave ;nconveni.
ence of relapse are avoided. and would
be criminals are deferred by the pros
pect Of Punishment from their country
and family. The second object is equal
ly met, that of moralizing these individ.
uals. ani giving them hope and the
means OF becoming again useful TO them.
selves and society in another country.
where. after undergoing part Of their
punishment. they can send ior their
families or found new ones. thus begij.-
ming another existence in an entirely diff
terent atmosphere, which will not seduce
them into their former errors"
This is the true point-to SO manage
the criminal that when he has suffered
his punishment he may have, at least,
the chance to begin new and better life,
and TO make even his period Of punish-
ment rs natural and healthful as IS con-
sistent with his seclusion from general
society. Aud this can best be done by tx.
lie or penal transportation. 1t is not done
1t all under the State. prison system.
Two companies Of artillery aud two
yeyenue.cutters now hold Alaska.
This force need be but very slightly in
creased to be sufficiently strong, with
proper management, 10 control and keep
under discipline thousand conyicts. The
Aleulian Isles, the island of Kodiak, and
he long Alaska peninsula offer them.
selves tor isolated stations; and do not
loubt that our engineer officers could
,ltborate plan OF operations for con-
let colony which would make such 4
colony selt.supporting and helpful to the
reformation oil the cOnyicts, bearing in
mind always these words of that most
successful managers of penal colony,
Captain MacOnochie, under whose com.
mand that most terrible of English pris
onS, Norfolk Island, was the scene oi 80
much genuine reform, says that "the true
principle is 10 place the prisoner in Il
position OF stern adversely. from which
he must work his way out by his own ex
ertions by diligent labor, and - constant
course OF voluntary self. command and
self denial. .'-CHARLEs NORDHoFF, in
HOper's Magazine for June.