Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-07-23
HORAIIO SEYMOUR EAKS.
A NOTABLE ADDRESS TO CONVICTs
IN AUBURN STATE PRISON.
HOW THE EVIL THEY HAVE DONE MAY
DE CHANGED TO GooD-ERRoRs
MAKING FOLKS wIsE-THE
CONVERSION OF WRONG
INTO BLESSINGS.

MAKING FOLKS wIsE-THE
CONVERSION OF WRONG
INTO BLESSINGS.
Utica Herald, July 81
On the invitation Of the warden, ex.
Gov. Horatio Seymour visited Auburn
prison yesterday, and addressed the
convicts. He spoke as follows.
81 have declined all invitations this
year to make public addresses, but
when your warden asked me TO speak
TO you to-day | made up my mind to
do 80, although at the hazard of my
health. My interest in the inmates Of
this and other prisons grows out of
official duties, as l have had to act on
many cases of applications for pardons.
| have learned from long experience
with men in all conditions of life, that
none are lcithom faults and none WITHOUT
uirtues. have studied characters with
care. | have had to deal with Presi-
dents and with prisoners. | have as.
sociated with those held IN high honor
by the American people. On the other
hand, the laws of ourS State have placed
the lives of criminal men in my hands,
and it has been my duty to decide if
they should lipe or die. The period in
which took the most active part in
public affairs was one Of great ex-
citement, when passions and preju.
dices were aroused and, in common with
all others engaged in the controversies
Of the day, | have ielt the bitterness
of partisan strife. Nevertheless, ex-
perience has taught me to think kind
ly of my fellow men. The longer l
live the better | think of their hearts
and the less of their heads. Every.
where, from the Presidents mansion
TO the prisoners cell, have learned
the wisdom of that prayer which begs
that we may be delivered from
temptation. Another great truth is
taught by cxperience-hope is the
great reformer. We must instill this
into mems minds if we wish to cult.
vatc their virtues or enable them to
overcome their vices. 1t has been said
that despair is the objectionable sin,
for it paralyzes every sentiment that
leads to virtue or happiness For this
reason, when q Governor of this State,
| did all could to gain the passage Of
laws which enable each one OF you, by
good conduct TO shorten the term of
your Imprisonment, and if | had my
way you would have shared in the
profits of your labor. But | stand be.
fore you to-day to speak of another
ground of hope, Of a higher and more
lasting character than mere money
gain or shortened terms OF imprison-
ment, and what have to say does not
point to you alone but to men of oil
conditions. do not mean to take the
place Of those who teach you your re-
ligious duties. They are far more able
to make these clear to your minds !;
yet it is sometimes the case that we see
things in lights in which they are not
usually placed before us, and some
thoughts which have occurred to me in
a review of life may be Of interest and
value to you. When we grow old we
are struck with the fleetncss of time ;
our lives seem to be compressed into
ono brief period, and We suddenly find
that pursuits wo have followed are
closed, and are confronted with the
question, not what we have gained, nor
what positions we have held, but what
we are in ourselves. We know it is
our duty to do what is right, and to
avoid doing wrong, and when we look
back if we add up all our good deeds