The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-12
PRISON REFORMATION.


interested in prison reform than Tex
as. Beyond the mere act of detention,
the state owes duty to the impris-
oned, which present laws do not rec
ognize, but which would have most
important effect in the reformation of
criminals. The subject is receiv-
ing attention in all portions of
the country, and at last we
are presented with scheme,
which holds that prisoners should he
paid for the labor they perform; that
there should be no restrictions as to
the industries of honest occupations
they may choose to follow; that they
should be allowed to engage in these
on their own account, and be permit
ted to traffic with the outside world
so far as may be consistent with in
surance against escape and the COM
mission of frauds and unlawful prac-
tees; that they should support them
selves by their labor and be entitled
to its earnings-be permitted to grow
rich or remain poor through
their industry or their lack of
it. This theory is presented
for consideration on the ground
that true individual liberty can be
taught, even enforced, when the state,
by the sequestration of criminals, has
put it out of their power to be an
existing danger to society. 1t is in
reality plan to teach criminals, by
experience, the true meaning of lib
erty; to impress on the past enemies
Of order the habits of thought and
action the most promotive of the bet
ter ends of organized society. This
proposition is gaining many indoors
ers. One able writer declares that
the most efficacious way of making
the bad see that it is for their interest
to be good; Of counteracting the
effect of the first downward step of
those who are more unfortunate than
vicious; who are criminals because
they were born such, and into whose
hearts the warming light of sympathy
and human affection has never touched
on all such the application of the
projected plan would have great
effect in encouraging industry and
order, and in ENGRAVING their proper
ties on their future lives and conduct.
The writer justly nrHGbates the i'm
policy of the unrewarding, indiscrim-
mating, repressive and absolute sla-
very associated with a mere herding
system as means of preparing any
one for proper use of coming free
dom; for no habit of temperance in
thought and action, and of regard for
The rights of others can be taught and
learned within surroundings which
ire violent in their manifestations,
md which hold the rights of man in
disregard. The presentation of a
theory must be enforced 10y the de-
of its truth and
before men will accept it;
therefore, the best plan for the
of criminals is to place
Them, eXperimentally. under system
of practice most of them have never
known, showing them how men may
live honestly and happily. A proper
of liberty and its priv
ileges and blessings can never be
cleaned by adding to Imprisonment
all the incidents of slavery. Let GRIM
mails, the writer says, learn the value
Of social order by giving them inter-
ests in prison which will demonstrate
TO them the value of social order. If !
they will earn money they will prob
ably be no slower than other individu-
;tls in discovering that the best way
of keeping it is not by encouraging
theft, robbery and social
confusion. If those criminals who,
for great crimes, have been given long /
terms of Imprisonment, have the OPP
portunity, they will not be unlikely to
avail themselves of it to make the
lack of total freedom as bearable as
possible by adding to their worldly
possessions; they then may be-
come the strongest converts to
social order, and may use their social
influence for its encouragement with
those whose terms or imprisonment
are shorter, and who will, perhaps, be
a part of the world into Whi CHI they |
may go some day with their accumu-
the ranks of crime nav be attacked
from within, and reformation begin
at the root of its greatest necessity. |
The plan as thus set forth, by one of |
its able advocates, commends itself to
profound consideration. 1t is certain
of genuine reformation for the crimi-
nal