The Republican journal., 1873-02-20

In his able address on Prison Reform at
Baltimore Ex-Governor Seymour says:
"As p rule wrongdoing is the growth
OF influences pervading the social system,
rs pestilences are bred by malaria. Our
study into this subject soon teaches Us
that prisons are moral hospitals where
moral diseases are not only cared for but
science learns the moral laws OF life
where it learns what endangers the gen
eral welfare Of the community, what
insidious pestileptial vapors permeats So
ciety, carrying moral disease and death
into its homes. Prisoners are men like
ourselves, and il we would learn dangers
which lurk in our pathways we must
learn how they stumbled and fell. | do
not doubt that some men are morespronc
to vice than others. but after listening to
thousands of prayers for pardon | can
hardly recall Il case where do not feel
that | might have fallen as my lellow-mcn
have done if had been subject to the
same AemnraHzing Influences and pressed
by the same temptations. There is i per
vading idea in our country that the spread
of knowledge will check crime No one
values learning more than | do, but it is
not specific for morality and vice With
Vul llloldi 'tliu itllSiouS lldlllIHp IL ltt-
qucntly becomes an aid to crime Science,
mechanical skill, q knowledge of business
atlairs-even the relinements and accom-
plishments Of litc-are nsed by offenders
against law. knowledge fights on beth
sides in the battle between right and
wrong. At this age it lays siege to banks
1t forces open vaults stronger than old
castles. 1t forges and counterfeits. The
most dangerous criminal is the educated,
intellectual violator of the law, for he has
all the resources of lrt at his command
the forces of mechanics, the subtlety of
chemistry, the knowledge of mems ways
and passions. Learning by itself only
changes the aspect OF immortality, Virtue
is frequently found with the simple and
uneducatcd and vice with the educated.
Surrounded by glittering objects within
their reach our servant girls resist more
temptations than any other class in So
ciety. We must look beyond the accidents
OF knowledge or ignorance if we wish to
learn the springs of action TO check
vice there must be high moral standards
in the public mind. The American mind
must move upon higher plan. To re-
form convicts their hopes must be aroused
and their better instincts worked upon. |
never yet found a man so untamable that
there was not something of good upon
which to build 4 hope. never yet found
q man 50 good that he need not fear fall.
Through the warp and wOot of the worst
mems character there run some threads of
gold In the best there are base mater
ials. 1t is this web of entwined good and
evil in mems character which makes the
problems and pernlexities Of the Legisla-
ture and Judge, while there is no honest
dealing with this subject unless the
American people are charged with their
share of guilt, and while Christian charity
leads us to take the kindest view we can
of every man it does not follow that crime
should be dealt with in 4 feeble way.
Let the a,0s be smitt, stern a'd certain IN
their action. What they say let them do,
for CERTAINTY more than sereritV carries
q dread Of punishment Let the way OF
bringing offenders to justice he direct,
clear and untrammeled.