The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-24
TIE PACIFIC
SATURDAY. 4 %.
PRISON DISCIPLINE.

The proper care aud management of criminals
is ono Of the most important and pressing sub
;scts which civilized communities arc called upon
10 consider in these modern days of improve
ment and progress, this fact is being acknowl-
edged in every enlightened country. 10 England
and America especially, is public attention
aroused, and there is great activity displayed in
the work Of striving TO make prison discipline
itself an engine Of true civilization. Much Of
this activity has been aroused by the revelations
Of tho miserable misgoyernment OF prisons IN the
past, made known through the researches Of
philanthrOpic men, and by the reports of legisla-
tive Investigations. The feeling is prevalent that
it IS impossible TO throw too much light on a
subject of 50 much importance to the well-being
Of all societies. In our Hawaiian prison system
We have it is true, no crying evils of misgovern-
m0nt to complain Of and to correct, but We have
a vast deal to learn on the subject before we shall
have arrived at the first objective principle Of
prison discipline of this enlightened age, viz.
The reformation of the delinquent himself. I'm
questionably, the best result to society to be OBJ
tanned from imprisonment of tho criminal is to
send him forth q better man, and, if possible,
restored to good citizenship. The secondary OBJ
1eCT OF detention sIOulu Dc Ouc huiCu III ~
system is evidently the first-punishment and ex-
ample. Hawaiian criminals are not usually ex-
perienced and hardened in sin TO the degree found
in other natiOnalIties and other countries, there
fore they are more easily susceptible to REFORM
atory agencies. 1t is peculiarly proper and
necessary then that we should rs soon rs possible,
reverse our system of prison discipline and adopt
tho order Observation-Disclosures first Punish
ment and Example second.
In no part OF the civilized world is more atten-
ton given to prison discipline than in the New
England States of the American Union, and
Massachusetts leads New England in this regard.
We propose briefly, for tho beneGt Of our author
ities, and especially for the consideration of the
next Legislature, to give some account of the
style Of management Of the Massachusetts, State
Prison, derived from the published statements of
a gentleman who was for ten years the warden,
or governor. The system pursued has been n
practical illustration of the noble idea of educa-
ting, reforming and entirely reclaiming the GRIM
inal. The experiment has been tried, fnirly and
fully, under the supervision Of enlightened and
experienced men who have stakcd their judgment
and skill IN its success. It is the opinion of the
warden referred to, that fully eighty per cent. of
all convicted misunderstanding the perpetra-
tors of every species Of crime, from petty larceny
to murdcr-may, by proper prison treatment be
reclaimed and made useful members of society.
a. This reform, however," he says, cannot be
accomplished by rash or cruel treatment, or any
other process which has q tendency to crush out
and destroy sclf-respect. The true theory Is to
fan into a blaze the smallest spark OF manhood
they may bring with them into prison they
must be assisted ard encouraged in every possible
wav an opportunity should be afforded them to
work out their own redemption-to do something
for themselves" This, in brief, is what the
system adopted and pursued in the Massachusetts,
State Prison undertakes to do. Tho labor per-
formed is in the prosecution Of various trades,
and oil the work is done in tho prison work
sbops, toe c~onvicts never being taken outside to
work in gangs, as with us. y system OF COM
mutation Of time for good behavior IS an lmPor-
tsus feature. The warden says "Our conf
mutation law has a great influence upon our dis
eipliue. One not familiar with the subject would
be SURPRISED to know how much they think OF
one davis reduction even in a long sentence.
Very many are sent to this and ether prisons for
crimes committed in 2 momenfary passion. I'm