The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-21


the condition Of their subjects. States and
cities are every year introducing reforms
into public institutions and asylums, and
| organizing societies for the prevention of
cruelty to men and animals, and for the
promotion OF the highest laws OF christianity
and humanity.
The convict in his cell, kept from associa-
ton with the great, busy world ABOUT him,
sentenced to weary years of confinement as
just punishment for his crimes,is neither
forgotten nor iis claims ignored. Humani-
tarians and philanthropists are giving atten-
ton to his physical and moral condition.
The old theory that was part and parcel of
the rigorous requirements of a passing age is
now shown to be at best but system for the
complete EQUALIZATION of men and women,
and with the fading away of the fanaticism
that burned witches on Salem Hill or perse-
cuted the meek, humble Friends, the entire
code of the treatment of prisoners is chang
ing. Every criminal will, at no distant day,
be considered as humaR being not wholly
lost to honor ard God, but wretched, miser-
able, SHINING, still human, with something
divine in him as long as the heart pulsates
and the will commands good or evil actions
In only a few prisons is hogging still
allowed; it is too brutalizing for even the
most hardened criminals, and it reacts
with such fearful force that
| the executioner is lowered and
debased with every blow of the thongs. In
Delaware the whipping post is still seen a
monument to the brute force that has kept
civilization and christianity from advancing
There a man commits petty theft, he is
dragged to the post, stripped hOgged; and,
| lacerated and maddened, is set free to steal
aye, murder if he will he is degraded and
his manhood-is lessened in fearful ratio;
but whipping is a cheap punishment and
economy is a precious virtue in the eyes of
Delaware. The idea is row to raise men up,
higher, higher, no matter how fallen how
low; take hold of them by some graphing
iron of kindness and mercy and save them
from the dark torrent of sin. Religion, edu-
cation end enlightenment can do this, but
| they have no need for the lash to aid them;
that is a relic of the days when it was
thought pleasing sight to God to behold
men tearing their flesh, offering their loved
ones to the flames and killing captives as a
daily sacrifice and a continual alteration. If
| philanthrophists will not abuse criminals
can you believe it possible for your children
| to need the whip or the strap.
The blind, the deaf and dumb and the Grip
pied have always been objects of pity, but
kindness is not being exerted practically to
enlarge the sphere Of their happiness and
usefulness, and managers of state institu-
tiOns are now expected and forced by
watchful public to show to their unfortunate
charges only the most ceaseless care and gen.
tleness, and dismissal is the result of neglect
or cruelty. The insane, so long treated al
most like criminals, are now recognized as
invalids requiring continual watching, per-
haps needful restraint, but never brutality
or punishment. Only to prevent outbreaks
of ungovernable passion are fetters and
straight jackets allowed and the poor, wan
dering mind receives no impressions save
those of sympathy and uniform kindness.
The proper authorities are holding with
firm hand the reins of restriction, and none
are allowed either to be cruel or unjust to
the weak and helpless under their charge
If this is the feeling while dealing with the
inmates of prisons. reformatories and asy-
lums, how long will it take it 60 get TO our
schools to abolish forever the use of the
lash? We rarely ever hear of the whipping
of advanced pupils; no, it is a punishment
reserved for the little children or those just
1 Al. IL.
wooings of pleasure are about equally bal
anced in their importance in the mind and
where step one way or the other is not an
act of a firm will but rather the impulse of
the heart. The child unused 10 the confine
ment of the school grows weary, nervous,
irritable; commits some trifling offense and
is whipped. How many adults do the same
every Sunday when the sermon is long or
prosy? The innocent, gay, merry-hearted
girl or romping boy sees something to
amuse, the keen sense of fun is aroused,
there is ripple of laughter, as innocent as
the song of the wild bird, but the offender
is caught in the act and whipped.
The lessons are long or are diff
| fcult, the child is too young for
continued application. the woods and
figures slip from the unframed memory and
the trembling pupil is whipped. The boy
sees butterfly floating from flower to
flower, its bright wings catching the sun
shine; involuntarily he pursues. His hat
is ready trap for the swift winged game.
but he tries in vain to catch it he is heart
and soul in the chase, when like death
knell he hears the bell for school. He is five
minutes late, there is no excuse, and the
lash stings the body and the soul. The little
girl whose mind is busy with her playthings