National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-02
SYMPATHY FOR CRIMINALS.
NASS MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF
PRISON REFORM.


PRISON REFORM.
DISCUSSION OF 1.-THE NoBLEsT QUESTION
OF MODERN TIMEs',-ADDREssEsB BY GEN.
GARFIELD, REV. E. c. WINES, SENATOR
STEVENSON, CAROLINE TALBOT, AND
OTHERS INTERESTING DETAILS OF
PRISON LIFE.
mass meeting of the friends Of prison reform
was held yesterday afternoon ct Lincoln hall,
under the auspices of the National Prison Reform
Association, the specific purposes Of which, to-
xether with the names Of the distinguished on
Gers, were published in TEE REPUBLICAN, Of Sat-
urday.
The auditorium and galleries of the hall were
densely crowded, q large proportion Of the audi
ence being composed of ladies, and on the plat
form were seated Governor Stevenson Of KY.
General Garfield of Ohio. Rev. DR.. E G. wines
Of New York, General Whittlesey Of HoTs arc
Ahan, Rev. Mr.. Atkinson, Captain WIlSinSon' MI.
Burwell, DR.. ]. A. Carpenter and caroline lat
pott, Of Ohio, the distinguished Quakeress ex
Gen. James A. Garfield presided. Tho meeting
was opened BY the reading Of
ibe singing Of the hymn, in which the entire audi
Joined IAN hail the PSwsr 81 dsrsa NAME
vent prayer, the presiding officer,
GENERAL GARFIELD,
remarked that the National Prison Reform Asso-
CATION had for its object one OF the nobest ques-
tiens Of modern times; u was question that
lators act ntelligently, must Of necessity look
to the inquiries instituted by this association. If
With reference to some good that might be accom-
plished. This association proposed to 90 down to
the depths in winch criminals are found, in order
that, through it. Legislators might learn what was
needed to effect reformation. All Christian ma
lions were interested in this question-o ascertain
sSM nearly idlsness poverty and pi crime were
bad been held in London two years ago, and
gentleman (Dr. Wines) who was delegate to that
Congress would address the audience In relation
The Speaker then called attention to two large
maps in the census report-one being yellow, to
other white. to show where there was no wealth.
Then, the other SIDE there was q map repre-
and sat Of the
black. Close the volume, and the white matches
the yellow, and the black the white, showing that
poverty and vice, ignorance and crime, are fear
fully intermingled.
REV. z. c. WINES, d. D.,
was then introduced, and said that the question
OF prison discipline had passed beyond the limits
ct the philanthropy Of ohm Howard, and had en-
tered the DOMAIN Of Legislation, to be dealt with
by the people. 1t formed q subject as broad Is
society. 1t was not probable that crime could be
largely remcdied There her we're two ' important
pojpts to be considerable prevention and the
ture Of crime. Something better than to punish
crime. The last census showed that there were
more than Ralf million Of children in the country
in ihmNept danger of being precipitsted into the
The speaker referred to the thousands who
1efe eyflAtlkg their crimes in prison, and said
that two questions met u.s. First, can tney pc re-
these questions the late international Congress
gave an Affirmative answer, and all who had
closely examined the subject eoncurred in opinion
Nat Manapnrhia n
Island prison, Australia; 06ermaier, in Germany;
DeMeti, in France, and Montesicnos, in Spain,
saa shown VIVA. s6uId 9h be ass0mRlisn Om
prisons relapses had been brought down from
seventy to ten, five, and even one per cent. In
Valencia, under this mild but firm discipline, not
one man had been returned to prison who had
been there before. The experiments made BY
Maconochie in the Norfolk prison were then de-
many Of the very worst cases. He began his work
OF reform by acting upon the principle that no
prisoner could he reformed without his consent.
He was not the first to suggest the
SWEET SENTIMENT OF HOPE.
But he put it in o practical form. Take away
the hope OF reward from talent and industry, and
you paralyze them at blow. The same thought
Is applicable to those immgrsd in prisons
warding with money, and he devised q system of
good marks, to be earned rs the sole condition Of
in his own hands. He made the prison an image
of free life. He gave both o financial and moral
value 10 his marks. A prisoner could earn daily
maximum of good marks. A certain proportion
went 10 pay his necessary expenses surplus
only went towards his liberation. A prisoner,
therefore, if he fell below the mark, became
prisoner for life If above. he had chance Of Sc
curing the precious boon Of liberty. The induce
ment of wages gave Maconochfe many skilled
piine of the prison was made like the discipline
Of free life outside its walls. Everything de-
pended upon the individual exertions Of the
prisoners themselves. And what were the re-
cults? Extraordinary reformations were effected.
When Msconochie took possession Of that penal
colony Of $500, the officers were SO much afraid
that the prisoners were not allowed the use Of
knives and forks, but we're obliged to tear their
meats like wild beasts.
fected, and Maconochie told the whole story when
he said: 4" found the island q turbulent, brutal
place: / LEFT it peaceful, wellordered commu-
truthfuiness of this statement. But his labors
were far less wonderful than they seemed, BE-
cause he was working with nature rather than
The speaker briefly referred to the Irish prison
reform system. The Right Hon. Sir Walter
within two months. and would probably from the
platform at Lincoln hall explain his great work.
When that great leader, at whose feet the world
Us the speaker hoped he would not be permitted
to 60 back without first giving 9 promise to re-
turn In the Irish system the WIN Of the prisoner
keeper; reformation was the object, and tempta-
ton was removed. The celebrated Count Cavour
report upon it, and, after reading the report. he
declared that it was the only means Of checking
vice and crime, without Withholding just punish
ment.
As to the principles on which prison reform
should be based there was one strong enough to
bear the weigh. Oh, 81 the MsSe y was
free society. Hope was rs vitality and essentially
NJ the root of all good prison discipline 1t was
ali the active powers Of the soul are cfushed.
Hope is the stimulus Of all humanity. What the
wooing air was to the plants and flowers hope was
to the affections Of the human heart Even
Oante's inferno was inscribed: Let all who enter
here leave hope behind" and this, for ages was
the septiment Of the prison. In place Of this
for the convict and the prisoner as we'll as for all
men," This would make
THE PRISON A MORAL HOSPITAL
As, at the scene Of the crucinxion. when the
Saviour said to the gsnitsnt thief To-day thou
!he sorrowing heart with the JOY Of hope.
As to agencies, work, education and religion
the three TO Do
necessities. Providence surrounds and tnterpene
trstes this duty with wholesome fnHueheeS.
Prison labor must be Industrial and voluntary.
The consent of the prisoner was q sine qua mon Of
success. The process by which this labor is as
iured Is the voluntary system; the force that i'm
too, must be employed in the work of reformation.
Its aim was to expand the mind, to elevate the
up he'G S a91 But the
effort but for the discipline of the heart We
should take the lesson of treatment of crimi.
mails from Gods treatment Of o criminal world
There was a generative and redemptive power
which depravity could not entirely crush out. As
most of our convicts were under thirty years Of
age he 1.-THE speaker) thought that with Christian
agencies the mass of them could be restored to
society.
The hymn, "watchman, What of the Night"
vas then sung; after which
SENATOR STEVENSON,
of Kentucky, was introduced. He said he hardly
knew why he was invited, unless IL was that MS
good friend. DIR. Wines, knew that he took deep
Interest in prison reform. 1t was a subject that
touched
THE HEARTS AND HOMES
Of all people In an economic point OF view, crime
WIS subject If interest to all; and In this age et
science literature and art, when SO many ad-
San0es were made in almost every branch Of
knowledge Il was Q wonder that more attention
vas not given TO the SUBJECT How few among the
large AUDIENCE before bin knew how the twenty
Whether prisoners were treated As men or orutes,
and whetber there were Christian Keepers In
sharge Of them. During his four years expe-
renee a. Governor Of Kentucky he h26 ecfsstQp
20 look into this matter. The greatest defect, In
bis Judgment, in our prison system was, that boys
Of ten or fourteen years Of age were often brought
into contact with hardened criminals-with old
experts in crime.
In his short Experience he had pardoned boys
nd ralav nfa na ~ Ind