The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-11-07
PRISON REFORM.
The Meeting of the National
Association.
AN OPERA COMPANY COLLAPSE
ThinE-Ihe COLLEGE Ceremony
Let e. Come-Etc.
h National Prison Reform As.ocIa.

ton.
ATLANTA, Ca, November 6.-The
National Prison Reform Association
assembled here tonight, at O'Clock
with q good attendance from all parts
of the cotntry. The Opera House was
crowded with an audience representing
all parts of Georgia. Ex-Governor
Bullock made the opening address, as
resident director of the association. He
was followed by Governor Mcdonald
and Mayor Hillyer in addresses of wei
come. Ex-President Hayes, presi.
dent of the association, then spoke.
After a complimentary reference to the
choice Of the place Of meeting, the
speaker said: 1T Is altogether fitting
and proper that at the threshold of our
proceedings, q memorial address should
be delivered by distinguished citizen of
New York. Mr.. Dorsheimer, on the lite
and character Of Horatio Seymour, the
illustriOus gentleman who for many
years was president of this association,
and who was emi2ent alike as 4 states
man and as q philanthropist. A
perusal OF the programme for the week
will show the intelligent reader that
almost every important topic relating
10 prisons and prison systems; 20
crimes and their prevention; to criIni-
mails, their treatment, occupations and
reformation OF both sexes and all ages.
will at some period OF the meeting be not
merely il order. but under discussion
by members Of the association. 90 not,
therefore. now enter upon any of these
topics the few words | may venture
-, - I'D -.
OF the associations whose members
have been so heartily welcomed, and as
10 some of its principles and purposes.
The father and founder of the National
Prison Association was the late Rev.
E. g. Wines "a learned, devoted and
persistent leader of American reform
ers and prison discipline.) In 1853, DR..
Wines proposed to the Prison Associa-
ton Of New York, of which ne was cor
responding secretary, the holding Of a
national prison congress, but the New
York association judged it inexpedient
TO take the initiatory in favor OF the pro-
profoundly impressed with the impor-
lance of his plan. and after consulting
with a few gentlemen, in Boston and
New York, lie prepared the following
dr., ft for q call OF a National Congress:
The undersigned, deeming prison dis
cipiine 4 vital interest 10 society, as
vel as one of the gravest of social
problems, and on both these grounds
worthy OF the closest study and freest
discussion, cordially unite in calling
National Congress for conference on
criminal punishment and reform atory
treatment, 20 be held IN the autumn of
1870, in the city Of Cincinnati" The
call received ninety-one signatures.
Ia = Hfurr tad To "a hrEF
meeting VI the association snd detailed
its objects. The facts as to prisons and
the treatment of prisoners during and
before that period are strange. una3-
countable and almost beyond belief.
They are so atrociOus ana foTbidding
that one cannot even attempt fully TO
state them before an intelligent audi
ence ike this. Turn to the pages OF
any volume OF history OF fiction, in
which the author dares tTuthfully to
expose the miseues of prison life in
civilized country during the period p =
ferred TO, and the thoughtful and fair
minded will be at no loss to discover
one of the causes why civilization
and Christianity have moved forward
with such halting steps. A writer in
the North american Reristr OF July.
1889. describes the prisons of Massa-
chusetts. Connecticut, Pennsylvania and
other States as they were about sixty
years ago. The details are too shocking
10 be repeated The results, he states,
can b. given in a few sentences. He
describes prisons as "abOdes OF horrible
sin and filthy, slualid, unalleYiated
misery" The result was that the prison
became q secret place governed by its
Own-laws. or rather by its own pre-
cedeuts: an abode of misery in the
midst OF an enlightened city. In which
no man not belonging to it had any
within its walls. Mr.. Hayes then re-
lated the history of the organized efforts
70 improve this condition of things.
pointed 70 the results, and concluded
as follows. Let the outcast and criminal
be forgotten or disregarded ana our
whole society viii suffer from the taiat
of human degradation. Like blood
poison. il will spread through and
through the social system until IL
reaches the heart. This serious and
mighty truth imposes q duty which 10
society can neglect and live.
AS Hayes was speaking. General Cor
don. GovernOr-elect, appeared on the
platform and was cheered. HAYES,
soon after the conclusion OF his
address. rose aud shook hands with
G neral Gordon and the crowd cheered
while the band played
g medley of Yankee Doodle and Dixey. |
Addresses were made by Henry W.
Grady, Of the Atlanta C0HSfi'afi9H. I
Judge Emory Speer and General Cor /
don.
Delegates are arriving on every train, /
and the meeting promises 10 be one OF
the largest and most interesting ever
he'd by the association.