The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-11

can novelist with ample material for a
new version Of Les Mserables. " and
out Of facts similar TO which Mr.. Hugo
has woven his wondrous story. a few
days ago, man who six years before
had been sentenced to five years term
in the penitentiary, but who had escaped,
was, for the petty reward of $50, de-
nounced to the State authorities by a
former acquaintance, and recommiltcd
to a felon's cell, although since his
escape he had sincerely repented his
crime, had married deserving woman,
had become an Industrious father and
had displayed every evidence of COM
plete and entire reformation. The other
is the case of member of the last
Ohio Legislature He too, while seek
ing to retrieve lost character in Il dis
tant State, was denounced by an ac-
quaintancc in the society where he had
attained position of prominence and
usefulness, as having formerly been an
inmate of the Michigan penitentiary,
and in spite Of every subsequent miti-
eating circumstance in bis favor. was
forced to resign his seat, and sink back
into hopeless ignominy aud disgrace.
Outside of these individual acts Of in
humanity, and of these exhibitions OF
merciless and unrelenting hostility of
man to man, of which these two cases
are conspicuous Instances and conced-
ing the fact that these men were amena-
bic to the law they had violated, still
the question remains-how is society
benefited by demanding them back to
their cells, in the face Of sincere and
continuous effort at reformation. It is
true the law is inexorahle, and its execu-
tors had no alternative Bat is it right.
morally? Is there not something radi-
cally wrong in this administration OF
existing criminal laws, as we'll in the
constitution of society, that dcprives 4
man convicted Of q crime the possibility
or opportunity Of reformation If So
ciety sternly and relentlessly sets its
face against the man who has once
been convicted, however earnestly or
sincerely he has endeayorel to lead an
honest and reputable life, how is refor-
nation ever to become possible? Must
he not sink far lower in the scale OF
humanity; is no, society burdeued wit b
and that far injured By these tive men
to be again thrown upon it, branded
with fresh infamy ard bereft Of hope
for the remaining years Of their lives ?
lneXorable as the law may be, it is no
more unrelenting than mans inhuman-
ity to man If there is no mercy left
for the man once convicted Of crime, no
place in which to outlve the stigma Of
ttiC pI', anu W putIU u y u LEV CHtisit-
ter if no veil of silence can be thrown
over his past history, if the greed and
cnpidity of his race are to leave him no
possible resting place. and time even
cannot purchase him immunity from
reproach, or the forgiveness or forget
fulness of his one damning act, then in
scribe over our prison doors the fatal
motto, Let him who enters here leave
hope behind" We hold no maud!in
or sentimental notions relative to the
wrong society iniicts upon the unfortu-
nate victims Of its punishment or its
displeasure, hut believe that higher
civilization should temper more dis
eliminating justice, and that every State
should, by proper legislation, encourage
reformation, aud provide means TIC re-
claim men now lost to society, by the
commission Of single act of wi!ful or
reckless crime.