The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-12
PAUPERs AND CRIMINALS.


and Serious Problem.
In the address delivered by ex-Presi-
dent Rutherford B. Hayes before the
National Conference of Charities and
Correction at St Paul. he said:
Forty years ago the prison, the
poor-house and the other dens of
wretchedness, where the bruised
reeds of our fellow-men were depos-
tied, were unseen and unvlsited by
priest and Levite, by man and woman.
Society, at least, took almost no note of
them, and made little or no provision
for examination or report concerning
them. What these neglected places
were is now but too well known. /
will spare you from all attempt to
spread before you the horrors and
misery that were disclosed when their
doors were opened. / prefer to call
attention to the beneficent change that
is surely coming, and which it is the
chief purpose of the National Confer
ence of Charities and Correction to
make thorough and complete. In
Ohio-and Ohio claims no pre-eminence
in this matter-the law provides for
the appointment by the proper court
in each county of board of visitors,
whose duty it is to make frequent per-
sonal examination of the jails, infirm-
aries and other similar places, and to
report as to their condition. These
boards consist of five persons
three women and two men-and, as
a general statement, their duties are
well performed. Thus air and light
poured into these hitherto neglected
and hopeless abodes, and life and
health and real reform naturally and
of necessity follow.
"A large part of the great evils that
infict society and imperil its best in
terests vanishes, or are greatly dimln-
ished, the very moment that they are
thoroughly investigated, thoroughly
understood and their essential nature
exposed. With the public judgment
enlightened and aroused, the true rem
edy is soon and easily found. Hence this
organization styled the National Confer
ence of Charities and Corrections. The
faith of this society is that intelligent
public discussion, based upon exact
and full information of the phases of
the problem-numerous and multiform
as they are-will evolve its solution as
surely as the perfect plant will spring
from its seed in well prepared soil.
1.-The problem which is the concern
of this society is very large. 1t relates
to the treatment and welfare of great
multitude, not for their own sakes
merely, but also and chiefly for the
well being of society. The blind, the
deaf and dumb, the imbecile, the in
sane, the neglected young, the helpless
poor, the criminal-of both sexes and
all ages-in short, all who are enrolled
in the ranks of misfortune and guilt,
for the general good must be in the
care and custody of the public, are to
be studied, considered, relieved, re-
formed, and either restored to society
self-sustaining and honest or kept where
harm can not come from them or to
them. Our statistical information
on the subject is neither full nor
exact. An approximate is all that
we can attempt. A careful estimate
for the United States will probably
show something like this:
Requiring public care or control. 100000
work. ........,.....- ................ 5000
Amount expended annually On this
account by the public ......-. SO, coo
Value of property devoted to this
use. S9OO,O Goo 600
Statistical tables can not tell the
whole story, nor the most weighty
part of the story, even if they were
complete and accurate. The interests
end feelings of families and individuals
ere constantly and closely affected and
touched at the tenderest points by
what the public does or fails to do with
respect to this most difficult and
necessary work. If we regard it simply
as one of the public duties, on public
account, the figures given place it in
the front rank of the highest and most
responsible tasks devolved upon gov
eminent"