The New York herald., 1875-06-07
FRENCH LITERATURE.

recently issued BY the French press there is not
one which can compare IN interest and value with
NJ. d'Haussonyile's ESTABLISHMENTS Peniten-
tiaires France OF aux Colonies,n published by
Michel Levy Gle. To the philosopher the legis-
lator and the statesman 1t Will equally furnish
matter for reelection, and l am persuaded viii
supply the solution or many OF tae difficulties
which have hitherto obsuucted the efforts OF those
VINO have occupied themselves with the
reform OF the criminal classes. since the
philan snropist John Howard nrst d.
rected public attention 10 the condition
OF the French prisons, efforts have been made
from time 10 tine by French legislators to carry
out his ideas, and variety OF plans for the reform
and reclamation OF criminals mas periodically oc-
cupied public attention. For long period there
seemed probability that the cellular system. AZ
applied In the prisons or Philadelphia would be
adopted in the French criminal regime and in
fact IL had been partially put into practice and
received the sanction OF aIrcport from NJ. Beran-
ger to tue Chamber OF Peers In 1s4s but the revo-
luton OF February gave the COUP ds grace TO that
elaborately prepared scheme. France, eager for
security and rspose, cared only for such measures
as we're likely TO promptly satisfy its require
ments, and, consequently. criminal reform lost in
the public mind the favor which was suddenly at
tanned by questions relating to the development
OF Industrial and commercial interests. And this
reuograde result was c nnrmed by q ministerial
circular Issued In 1859 directing the aban-
donment OF the regime OF separate confinement
for that OF ofimprison ment in common, with separa-
tion by quarters. The question slumbered during
nearly the whole period or the existence or the
Empire until the rear 1870, when the spirit OF
progress, which mad again begun to animate the
public mind, took IL mp, and was about to push IL
10 practical conclusion when the war broke out
and put stop TO all further efforts in that direc
tion. After while. however. tho National AS.
sembly, feeling that it was one which entered
properly within the sphere OF Its mission OF ma
tional regeneration. appointed q committee to
inquire into the condition OF the penal establish
ments, both at home and In the colonies, and to
examine the measures that might be proposed
ior IT'S amelioration. independent OF the eternal
interest which attaches 10 these questions touch
ing the NOR reform OF crlmiuals, says NJ d'Haus-
sonvllle, 'the political circumstances through
which we have just passed impaired TO them
/ . special interest All those VINO have studied
| the history OF the Paris Commune from another
point OF view than that or super ncial curiosity
must have been struck with the considerable role
which the convict element pelemen rectdfufste)
played In those bloody struggles. Liberated pris-
oners entered the ranks or the soldiers OF the
Commune in proportion so considerable that IL
Will De interesting to determine exactly its
lected. The same phenomenon has been observ.
able though perhaps In lesser degree. in all our
civil wars, and that fact In itself Is SUFFICIENT 10
demonstrate the narrow ties by which the peni-
tenrary question Is attached to the great social
question which preoccupies AL minds at presen-
and compared TO which all our political divisions
appear very secondary M. d'Haussonyllle was
appointed bY the commission charged with this
inquiry 10 report 10 the Assembly the result
OF its laoors. In the discharge OF his duties
he mad access 10 the NEST complete collection OF
documents, statistical and Otherwise, which had
ever been collected on the condition OF the French
prisons In order tnat the information which was
sought for should be perfect a. possible, he Wis
tied large number OF penal establishments not
only in France but In the neghboring countries.
and devoted much time TO the study OF the penal
legislation OF other nations It is the results OF
these labors which M. d'HaussonvIne now oners MS
In the work to which 7 call attention. Though
pro!essedly confined to the penal legislation and
institutions OF his own country, the statistics
which ne has collected and the deductions which
ne draws from them possess q universal interest
and value. Take, Tor instance, tpc statement
supported BY figures that during the
last twenty years crime IN France. after
having traversed a period OF decrease,
has again assumed . rapid rate OF augmentation.
Thc explanation which NJ. diHaussouvllle gives OF
this anomaly will apply to other countries as well
as 10 France. lie says that for many years past
the general wealth has increased. ana that. In
consequences OF this increase, riches, instead OF
remaining con centrated in the hands OF . prlvi-
legged few nave become more generally dinused,
ana have been brought closer under the observa-
ton OF the classes 20 whom the economical laws
which preside over the distribution or wealth still
continue to deny les enjoyment. And as az the
fhe nd ~ m 2 fhn
effect OF temptation have not followed In their
progression as rapid q march as that OF wealth
and luxury, a. instruction mas not been sum-
cienuy encouraged, as religious faith has hecn
shaken, an increase has naturally followed In the
inrractions which have Tor motive the
augmentation or ease and the satisfaction
OF appetites. II would be CURIOUS TO examine
how far this exposition OF causes is applicable 10
similar results In otner countries, for ushappiy
the same tendency TO increase In crime Is not
confined exclusively 10 France. In view OF the
rapidly increasing wealth and taste for luxury,
the growing distrust OF religious guides and con-
seauent Indifference to religion ITSELF caused By
religious scandals, and the dishonesty and corrup.
ten In high PAGES. which constitute the prem
fnent features OF our present. social condition in
the United states, there is much In this book that
viii be useful for 10 study for 10 will be found
thar, Notwithstanding ths differences that exist
In the institutions ideas and habits Of the two
peoples the causes Of and temptations 10 crime
are the same and the remedies for them are
equally applicable. Among the many curious
iacts established BY the statistics given In thls
volume Is the progressive augmentation which
mas taken placs in Francs during the last
twenty years In the number OF recfdtues
criminal relapses), and which 10 the more
remarkable when u IL borne In mind
that Hnce the law OF the 3otn OF May, 1884. the
largest proportion OF liberated convlcts Is retained
st Cayenne and New Caledonia, = port which in
itself should have largely reduced tine number OF
recidiUistes The only explanation which N.
d'Haussonvillc can suggest Tor II Is the abuse Of
short terms OF imprisonment which have OF lats
years been committed by the tribunals. Thus IN
1869 more than 10000 persons we're sentenced 20
terms OF imprisonment less than month. NJ.
d'Haussoavile think' thar, applied In sucn re-
ssrIcted limits, sentences ofimprsonment do more