The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-02
Henry Bcrxb's Pcssimisun.

LITTLE MONEY FOR THE CAUSE.
New York World. yesterday.I
A meeting was held in Cooper Institute
last evening under the direction OF "Tbe
Gilbert Library and Prisoners Aid Society"
10 further prison.reform measures and pro-
jects tending 10 Il diminution OF crime.
The attendance was not large, and the Rev.
G. W. Mackie, chaplain OF the Board OF
Managers Of the Society, in calling the meet
ing TO order, said he could not account for
the fact that OF the clergymen announced
TO speak only one, the Rev. DR.. Armitage.
was present. A the Others had promised
to be there. Mr.. Charles a. Bunting, man.
ager OF the Christian Home for lntemperate
Men, was made chairman, and soon after-
wards the Rev. DR.. GOttDeil, Mr.. Sinclair
Tousey, and Mr.. Peter Cooper came in.
Nir. Mackie was the hrst speaker. He
briefly presented the objects and claims
OF the Society. 1t had been Or
ganizcd In Nav, 1877, and its lead
ing objects were to have libraries put
la all penal institutions, to give incentives
10 all prisoners 10 reform; TO obtain lcgls
latlOn separating young criminals from
those older in crime; to institute evening
schools In all penal institutions, and to
help prisoners, after they arc released, TO
obtain employment. or over Oh, 600 crlml-
mails imprisoned IN the United States, 40
per cent. were illterate, while ~ per cent.
were between twenty and thirty years OF
age. These facts showed .the necessity OF
education. Almost all discharged prisoners
were poor, and they needed helping hand
10 prevent them from again falling into
criminal courses. The work OF the So
ciety, which had been so well begun by
IL. ffc haH
grown TO such proportions that a large
permanent endowment OF nearly million
OF dollars was needed 10 carry out its OBJ
iects.
DR.. Armitage said he did not wonder that
so few of the doctors OF divinity were pre-
sent, because only five minutes were TO be
allowed TO each speaker. He thought that
more radical beneficial measures than the
establishing OF libraries were necessary to
accomplish the ends aimed at.
DR.. Gottneil made plea for fair play Tor
conyicts, and favored The kind and lenient
treatment OF prisoners. A man dsordered
in his conscience should not be treated like
demon, but should be given helping
hand to lift him up to higher plane than
he occupied.
Mr.. Henry Bergh was called from the au.
dience, aud surprised and electrified all pre-
sent by differing radically from the senti-
ments expressed by the previous speakers,
and yehemently and pungenty announcing
himself in favor OF whipping men into re.
form. He said, 81 bad no more idea oil
speaking when | came to this meeting to-
night than / had of dancing a pas Sem.
ILaughter. But you have called on me To
sneak, and YOU must take. the consequences.
An | shall saw will be in direct opposition TO
the sentiments that have been here eX'
pressed. [Sensation.] No man should COM
NIT crime. If a man cannot exist among Us
without committing murder, Kill hlm; gel
| him out Of the wav as soon as possible.
| rGreat applauSe.1 What did we recently see
| m the Tombs a man who was lmprlSopeO
| for a most atrociOus murder, whose near'
was as black as bis skin [Chastaln CoXJ, was
fairly besieged by beautiful women who
| beoged the favor of his autograph, fed nm
on Injuries. made his cell a bower OF
flowers aud fruit, aud did all in their power
| to make MIN imagine that he was.a sam,
and hero. This maudin nonsense should
stop. [Tumultuous applause.] Why, kind
hearted, honest poor men were starving
while this vile miscreant was being pam
pered in luxuly. [Applause have been
sixteen wears in the criminal courts looking
after the welfare OF what are called the
lower animals. but have greater respect
for then, than ever had before bad an
opportunity OF comparing them with some
| al The base and miserable samples CT nu
mainly that | have met in those courts
Animals never commit @esuch acts u
some of these horrible miscreants com
init. [Applause.l A great deal mas Deer
said about special institutions Deing le
formed. would abolish all OF them eXcep
the higher grade of prisons for the lncaTce
ration Of the worst criminals, and woul(
set up whipping-posts everywhere, u
scourge the minor offenders. [Great ap
plause and laughter] And to make SUR
that the lash would be put on feelingiy, s.
that politics could not creep IN TO help IN
offender, would offer prize or reward 10
a steam machine that would have no mere.
and could not be bribed. tApplause.] Criml
nails are pampered in such manner AM
given such comfortable quarters IN To-
lTombs and on the Island, aud have so mucl
better food and are so much better lodge'
than thousands OF poor working peo
pie are, that they commit all the miho
crimes In order to be sent TO these comfort
ahIe nublic hotels. fApplause.] Whel
viii this nonsense s,opr [Applause.] w
|
charming styl lie Of whipping, and makes IN
recipient cry out Justify ihdt ne VIII not u
| 90 any more, and he generally keeps III
word. Laughter and appIause.] When
was in the East ! asked my dragoman
These men kept their promises not to DO s.
lanv more, and he looked at me with al
tmost indescribabie surprise, as he re
sponded, .Oh, yes, they always keeI
ltbeir word; they are quite contented.
IGI.auybter and appause.] We want GOO
teal of that eontentment here. Laughter
The idea OF whipping lowering man i
his own estimation Is a farcical one. Ho'
mnch estimation has man for hiniseii whe
he preys on society? No; whipping
the pest kind OF moral suasion you can giV
criminal. [Laugbter.] Some want 10 tax
the confirmed criminal by the hand as 500
as be comes out OF prison and 90 somethih
for him-perbaps give him an office, perhap
send him to Congress; but they should nc
do that, for many bad men are already j
Office. daughter aud applause.l The pe'
lthino YOU can do 10 man who ia
served a term in prison Is TO get him ser
off where he Is not known, ana iet pilh u
life anew. There Is no chance Tor MI
where he Is known, and any attempted n
sormation based on the supposilion I'M
there il, is false and Injurious. ] have e'
pressed my honest sentiments, aud hope
will be pardoned by those who diner VIII
me-" [Great appIause.j
Chaplain Maekie immediately came 10 tn
front OF the platform, and, with very re
face and In tone OF great excitement, erlco
aYou cauuot reform men by esta6iisn'n
whipping posts. We want to get sou
. money tonight"