Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-02-26


mind seem to mark .,oso men wiio
have entered upon the s~dy Of pop9l
laws and the reformation ol~rimipals
Whilc ,hore is much to conc,mr 10
our system Of laws and in thch I'd
ministratiop, therc is much 10 adnn.
in tho practical workings Of many q
our prisons. fu somo respects we arc
in advance Of other people. Much
has been done in many Of our S,a,c-
to improve the condition of our ciln-
inals, and much moro to rescue the
young from vice and destruction !
should be glad to speak Of tho IN.
stances of ability and selfdevoton,
shown by men who have charge OF
public or private charities establifhuj
for tho reforming Of offenders. 1hoy
would lend weight to my argument
which my reasoning cannot give aut
| must leave these things to be
brought out by the discussions o. tais
Congress. i only seek to shot ite
ends at whicA it aims only SC !, ~
make for it the sympathy and sui f'or
OF tho public in its efforts to cotaofna
and organize the forces Of those, y no,
in different parts Of our county, aro
working in this field Of philanthlopio
and patriotic labor. Crime has .4
origin in tho passions which liYo "a.
every breast, and the weakness Which
marks every character in its nnlure.
1t concerns each of US, as clear ss
the common liability TO fall p &.
turely before disease and death. 40
man can know human nature, no lau
can be greater teacher to his fol lw-
men, no man can frame laws w.EY
and well, who has not studied cac
acter in convict life. There ho gan
best see the lights and shadows oi oBr
natures, see in strongest controsis
what is good, and what is bad. Na5
prisons TO which all vice tendsare Che
points from which the reform ca 1o
best urged, which seeks TO fnd ont
where vice begins. Starting from ,ns
sad ends of crime, and running laeE
along the tracks, it is seen that l
large degree they are engonderee ly
public tastes for habits and demo-
cation. 1t is in our prisons we tsn
best learn the corrupting infuc ces
about US which lead the weak as Wtli
as the wicked astray, aye, and some
times make the strong man fail iato
disgrace and misery. In these rioral
hospitals the thoughtful man tho
philantbropist, and the statesman VIII
look, for the causes of social da
and decentralization. When we bog.n
at tho prison and work up, VIC dld
opening before US all the source Of
crlmc, all the problems Of social order
and disorder, all the great questions
with which craftsmanship, in deau1g
with the interests and welfare ef o
people must cope, when it seeils 10
lift up high standards Of virtue snd
patriotism. In the most highly evil
lied countries the subject of pauper
ism and crime secure the most atten
ton and thought. They turn maa's
minds from selfish to unselish fields
of labor. Those who enter those
fields will find in them marks OF toii
and oare by the best human inteliectl
The grandest minds have worked al
their intricate problems. The arab.-
ton Of the first Napoleon sougb. to
gain immortality in his code Of low
us well as in victories on the feid T..
battle. Much has been done in man
of our States to improve prison dis
cipline. Something has been dono
towards reforming prisoners, bat Ito
largest views OF the subject which
looks to the moral health of socie. y
and the baleful influence at work iu
its organization have not received ii g
attention they deserve. When pr
ons are visited by mou OF mind, whe1
prisoners arc looked upon with kiud
eyes by those who can study tho.r
characters and learn from them tas
virtues, vice, and the wickedne
which mark our race; when, traaiu
back the courses of their lives, TIA
shall find the secret sources OF tbcir
errors and their crimes--then we slsl
not have only our laws justly enforc =
and reformed, wrong-doers punisl o.
but, more and better than thesogNT
shall gain public virtue and inteil
gence which will secure the safe y
and happiness Of our homes and at
glory and stability OF the repub
Then wealth gained by unwor y
means will no longer be respect
No one can recall tho events of 81,
past few years, particularly those
the great commercial centres, withc
feeling there is an ebb-tide in Amer
can morals. Not little of the gli
ter of our social and business life Is q
shining putrcscence. Fungus no
have shot up into financial promineue
to whom a pcrvading dcadcning mo-
malaria is tho very breath OF H.
They could not exist without this az
more than certain poisonous plar
can flourish without decaying vegol
tion. While ] have tried to press
in clear terms tho claims of this as
citation upon the public sympathy an