The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-17
THE SOUTHERN cHA1E.GANG.

1ue cndln-SallS system OF treating the con-
victs of the Southern States is now attracting
the attention of the country Not on Sc
count of anything good in the system, but
because of its unspeakable grossness and
cruelty. Most OF the Southern penitentia-
ries have received commitments far beyoRd
their capacity and accommodations. As
partial remedy for this inconvenience re-
sort has been made to the chain-gang. In
addition to this, feature of speculation has
had considerable to do in the growth and
spread of the vicious system. Prisoners are
hired out by the year to contractors engaged
in building railroads and other public
works. They are worked under
armed guards during the day,
from daylight in the morning till nightfall
when they are marched in gangs, chained to-
gether, to their camp-grounds for the night
The prisoners consist of all ages and condi-
tons, but by the studied and outrageous dis.
elimination of the State courts a very large
majority OF them are colored, and generally
in for long terms, although the court rec
ords show that the ofenses for which they
were convicted were of the most trivial
nature. The South having no refo1matory
institutions for women nor homes of refuge
for juvenile offenders, these classes are also
found in the chain gang.
1t is not uncommon to find the youth of ten
years in the same gang with old offenders.
Even women are treated to the same lot and
subjected to indignities that cannot be put
into print. Some of them are white women,
and this, too, in the land of chivalry. For
the past ten years most of the manual labor
upon the railroads and mines in Georgia and
in other Southern States has been done by
the chain-gangs. The wages stipulated in
the lease between the contractors and State
authorities are very low, averaging about
thirty cents per day Tor able-bodied men,
Five times the amount is earned, because
they work under the lash from
dawn till dark. The wages are paid to the
State, but outside of the amount thus re-
ceived by the State there is margin for an
extensive speculation, and somebody takes adj
vantage of it. In one or two very mild efforts
at investig8 ton upon this subject strong
this labor, after paying the nominal sum to
the State, were divided between contractors
and State officials. Whether this be true or
not, it raises suggestion in favor of pa wing
to the convict at the expiration of his sem
tence all the surplus OF his earnings after the
expenses of keeping have been met. No State
can afford to speculate upon the earnings
of its criminal or other unfortunate classes.
More than this if these surplus earnings
were paid to the discharged prisoners many
of them would be enabled to reach honorable
criminal methods of gaining a livelihood.
What can be expected of man sent out
from prison penniless and meeting the cold
shoulder at every turn, but that he should
fall again? There would be as much charity
in arbitrarily adding years to his sentence
as to discharge him under such circum-
stances. This question of prison reform is
pressing itself upon heattention of good men
for solution. The abuses are so demoralizing
that the matter cannot much longer be
ignored. Prisons should not be made places
of ease or honor, but they should be made
clean, deceit and wholesome. The sanitary
conditions and moral surroundings should
be such as would elevate and not degrade.
1t is monstrous that State should pen up its
vicious classes and then further brutaize
them. The chain-gang has this effect, and
it is observed by the world. How long will
it be permitted to continue it's evil work?
Punishment for crime must be severe, GER
tain and just. But, while undergoing the
penalty, the prisoner should have the care
and surroundings dictated by common hui
mainly. Just penalties for misdeeds in
the past ought to be coupled with methods
of reformation for the future. The chain
gang fills neither of these conditions. With
it there is an utter lack of the reformatory
element, but upon the other hand every ia
cilty is offered for complete degradation.
This barbarous system has no place in a
civilized country. A State having the com
mon interests of humanity will tolerate it
no longer than a change can be made for the
better.
IT is a curious course of reasoning that I'M
qualiedly condemns fast ocean steamers