The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-07
THE PRISON PERFORMERS.

About 200 people assembled last night In Stenway Hall
witness the convening Of the Fourth Congress Of the
National Prison Reform Association Rev. Dr. Bellows
presided and opened the proceedings with speech in
which he regretted tho absence Of Ex-Governor Sey-
lnour, who was 10 have acted us chairman, and still
regretted the absence of many OF the intelligent
people Of this city who had been expected to MI tho
benches He attributed the slight interest the SUBJ
ject Of prison discipline to tho comparative Of
tho and the consequent ndisposltion Of many
study it at all He referred to tho present system
as one tending rather to create than suppress tho
criminal classes He adyertcd to the conviction
now established that the criminals lis to DO
effected by educating him intellectually and morally,
bring out what is right and just in his nature and
disposition, and TO elevate him by aid of his own
powers and affections above the baser appettes 10
which he has fallen victim
The speaker closed his remarks by introducing Mayor
wickham, who welcomed tho Congress to New York
lin the Of the city and IN behalf of her good
people, He made short address which no prcfaccd
by the remark There is community in America
for which their deliberations greater than
for this Our police force numbers some 500 men;
have nine police Justices three judges of the General
Sessions Ind Court OF Oyer and Term.ner-all OF
them Of criminal jurisdiction and all constantly occu
ped We have Tryu i've @ poUe
intended for, the aggregate, 1000 PERSONS and actu
ally containing more than that NUMBER
William Cullen Bryant was next introduced and made
brief address. in the Of which he remarked
that every part OF tho country is concerned IN tho
peace good order and moral purity Of every other part
and that there is country in the civilized world
which not interested In the laws for the suppression
Of crime IN every othcr country. Mr. Bryant after
pause took his seat saying that he had thought OF
era things say to the meeting but they had slipped
his memory.
Dr. Bellows replied that 1t wcl for the world that
II remembered the thoughts OF the venerable poet bet
ter than himself and thcrecpon introduced Hon. Rich
ard vaux who President OF the ST. Louis Congress-
Mr. vaux referred to the lack of interest prison dis
cp,inc on the part Of the Of people larger
attendance he thought could have been secured " the
meeting to discuss even patent laws instead OF
penal
Rev Frederick II. Wines, chairman OF tho Commit
tee Organization, read the report Of the body, which
O'Clock this n:srning the Congress will assemble
divided into three SECTIONS for the consideration or
1 Criminal law reform; Prison reform. and, 8. Pre-
vontlvc measures.
These sections will hold meetings Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday mornings, the FIRST small halI
on the drst door, entrance on Fifteenth street; tho
second ON the Platform In large hall and the third
in the small hail. General meetings will be held each
evening during the session In the large hall
letter received from the authorities OF the Catholic
Proieciory Wcstchesicr, inviting the Congress TO
visit that institution, referred TO the Committee
Business, as was also tho invitation OF Rodney b.
Crowley. State Prison Inspector, To the Congress
visit Sing Sing and other penal institutions OF the
State.