Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-21

The sessions Of the international prison con.
gress began yesterday at Stockholm, Sweden.
In the importance, if not In the attractive
ness, of the subjects to be discussed, this meet
ing is not inferior TO any of the numerous as
semblage of the represent atfves of different
nations that have gathered at Paris. The
movement, started a little more than cen
fury ago by John Howard, for the improve
ment OF the condition of prisons and prison.
ers, has steadily grown in strength. Men
have taken up the matter in earnest, AMI
though there is still wide difference of Opin-
Ion touching the best plan of prison discip-
line, the agitation of the subject has not been
without useful results. Nearly all of the prison
horrors of Towards time have passed away.
Isolated cases of cruelty no doubt occur, but
in the general system of the treatment of pris-
oners the improvement cannot be questioned.
This result has been brought about by the
philanthrOpic labOrs of men of learning. and
of self-Sacrifeing women; ministers, law
yerS, and novelists have helped in the
work. congresses to discuss the subject of
prison discipline have contributed largely to
the success of the movement. The first meet.
ing of this kind was held at Frankfort in 1915.
Perhaps the most important was the interna-
fional congress which assembled at London in
1872 Since 1870 several national congress,
have been held in the United States for the
The reports OF their prOceedin and of other
similar bodies furnish valuable Information
and statistics relatingto crime and the treat
ment of criminals And the meeting of ma
lions this year at the invitation of Sweden
may be expected to add to the store. Several
OF the South American governments, as well
as nearly all in Europe, will be represented at
Stockholm. DIR. E. c.. Wines, of New York,
who is the delegate at large from this country,
has stated TIL leading principles which such
meetings Sc y 20 Introduce into prison mar
agement They include reformation of priS-
oners as a chief end to be kept in view; hope
as the great regeneralive force in prisons;
work, education and religion as other vital
forces to the same end aboreviation of SEN
tence and participation In earnings as incen.
f1VeS to diligence, good conduct, and self-im-
prevement; the enlisting of the will of the
prisoner In the work of his own moral re-
generation the Introduction of variety of
trades into prisons, and the mastery by every
convict of some handicraft as means of
support after discharge; the use of the law of
love as an agent in prison discipline, to the
exclusion, as far as may be, of the grOSser
forms OF force: the utter wOrthessness of
short imprisOnments, and the necessity of
longer terms even for minor offences, when
repeated; and the intellectual, moral and
industrial education Of neglec ed. vagrant and
vicious children, this last being in aim and
essential features, an anticipation of the in
dustrial school and juvenile reform atory of
our day. The question Of the proper treat
ment of criminals affects In its decision the
material wellbeing of communities and the
purity OF public morals, as we'll as the present
and future condition Of prisoners themselves.
Consequently the sessions Of the prison c n
greSs deserve a thoughtful attention which
other and more snowy assemblages cannot
always claim.