Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-10
ROSES In CRIMES PATH.
PRI- ON CONGRESS- PLANS FOR
REFORMING CONVICTS.


ATLANTA. Nov. 9.-The National Prison
Congress atIts mo- ming session discussed
the question of the moral and religious
instruction of prisoners.
James Massie, Warden OF the Central
prison OF Toronto, presided and read the
FIRST paper. He laid great stress upon
the character of the warden and other
officers of Jail as the most efficient factor
In the managing and reforming OF prison
ers.
The subject was further discussed by
Rev. +. Il. Wines, and Rev. DR.. Byers, of
CHICAGO, Mr. Tufts, of Concord. Mass,
aud others.
At 11:45 O'Clock the Congress took a
recess In order TO be present at the In
auguration OF Gov. Gordon.
At the afternoon session Rev. F. h.
Wines presented the report Of the special
committee appointed year ago
10 consider the question of es-
tablish ug Federal prison for
Sioiators OF the Federal statues, The re-
port took strong ground in favor OF Fed
eral prisons, and approved tue dill of Rep
resentatIye Darwin b. James, OF New
York, providing for the appointment OF
commission TO inquire into the subject.
OPPOSITION TO THE REPORT.
The report was supported by Gen.
Brincke:hod of Ohio, Warden Nicholson
of Detroit, eX-GOV. Bullock OF Georgia,
and Mai. McCiaughrey OF Joliet, III.
Mr.. Cassidy, of Philadelphia, sad the
National Prison Congress mad nothing 10
do with this question.
DIR. Byers also opposed the report.
Speeches were made agaInsu The report
by Prof. Way land Of New Haven, Charles
NJ n
The report was finally adopted, but with
many dissenting votes.
Tue Congress, after the recess, exam
lned large collection OF prison and police
appliances and materials, when ill the
hall adjoining that in which the sessions
are held. A model of the Central prison
at Philadelphia is also there on exhibition.
THE PAROLE SYSTEM.
At the night session OF the Congress an
essay was read by Rev. +. h. Wines
favoring toe general adoption OF the
parole system in prisons and penlten-
diaries.
One OF the most notable features of the
session was an address by DR.. p. ID.
sims. of Chattanooga, on the convict
systems of the south. 1t arraigned the
convict lease system as being a contract
between state and private parties, nav
ing no view higher than the pecuniary
penitentlarles was declared to be four
times as great as in non-leased
penitentiaries and the difference
In the ratio of escapes even
greater. Penltentiaries under the lease
system were declared to be Differed from
top to bottom with men who are mere
politicians, and who from the nature OF
the case are ignorant of all advanced
prison methods, The address concluded
~ m kar Ia cFs h.,
10 abolish this system, which degrades
the prisoner, conf ms him in CRIME, de-
mOraliZes society and prostitutes one OF
tie highest duties of the state TO the
service OF sordid motives.
THE PRESS AND CRIME.
Mr.. Hamilton w. Mabie, editor of the
Christian Union, of New York, read a
paper on THE Press and Crime" In the
course OF his paper Mr.. Mabe said:
In my Judgment the newspaper renders
society no greater service than the tracking
OF crime TO It's haunts and the ruthless eX-
poeure VI its extent, lts meth 'ds aud its repul-
siyenese. The manner IN which TINS painful
Ser gice ls performed by the press Is often re-
pei ant and cor uptlug; but the service itself
Is necessary ana invalu bic Their. isasIugu-
lar uiuei ia 10 he minds Of many people in
regard 10 what constitutes morally and I'M
u ryllty IN The presentation and portrayal OF
crime. some persons evdeutly hold that ii
book or an ar lcle is immoral if it dis
,usses or purrays an immoral oharac-
ter or action. such persons condemn
b. immoral work like TO.stui's
''Anna karenina," IN which the effects OF
crime are traced with mastery fidelity to
life; a work which Is pro Ouudiy moral be-
cause II binds slu TO its punishment with
bands of iron. U7lng the word broadly, il is
not too much 70 say Lnat crime fills great
place IN the nobiest literature Of the world.
Tor the rea nat crime has PLAYED Leading
par and been chief factor IN the worlds
history.
CRIME IN LITERATURE.
Every tragedy has It's root or its consumma-
ton u crime. and the cOuce ptiOn of morality
which Won II C ose thu newspaper against re-
ianents. the mob est Greek plays, and the
most impressive Of Shakespeare's
e. Ss,ama s ,,o to say mo- nothing Of Fa.sIm
and OF an Innum rable com anyuf the gr, at
est works OF literary art. There II, of course,
an immoral way OF portraying vice; but 10
y 'TtTay wee nj t. chain IL TO its loom is not
only mora ,bul the highest service to morality;
Nirtue never or We out OF the soil of tgnor
auce; /. Is Que oil the fruits of the tree Of
B OWltdg-. Innocence is indeed the child OF
ignorance, but society never has been and
never ought 10 b. lnnocent. 1 life depends
on knOG ''dge. for kuCWiedge alone can MAKE
aud keep IL sirtuous. Aud IT Is tins element
" bnns edge winch the press supplies. its
eye are everyw here, aud whore It's eyes are
there a-e r pens also. NothinG escapes its
scrutiny and its service as collector of this
a
bee Use the motives when impel the search
are not always the hi chest.
LETTING IN THE LIGHT.
In the newspapers the under world, with
ell its pecullarltles OF h bit, character,
means OF ACTIVITY. instrumentalltics OF Ofcnse
and defense. has been brought 10 light aud
made familiar to the upper woTld Ol decency
and rectItuue. II Il an Inferno 20 vast, and
OF such complex and far-spreAding struc urc.
that no single Dante, however DO 4 and nobly
endowed. could ever have searched IL and
held his revealing torch over It's abysses. 1t
can be lighted on. by multitude OF search
ers, penetrating lt- remote rec sses and ira
versng it's deN iOu- and obscure paths. This
band o. intrepid KIP orcrs. notebook in md, ,
T. at he command Il Tue newspapers, and SO
large place do the results of thu. subttr rA-
mem expiorati,n hll IN the records of e ch
Jays dOlnss that n percpptbIe shadow fails
from them across the fruitlul fields OF the sun
bghied world Of industry anu virtue,
he press mas brought modern society TO
seize nscious ess. and h convicted IL Of
ein-in Of omission not less tnan II commits
sion; sin of ignorance not less than oil inten-
ton IL il through the iustrumeutaity OF
the newspaper that society gains "a power OF
dealing " tn the Dark problem II crime. Re
ports OF epeclA lists could not urlng together
IN a century such au array OF facts As the
newspapers present every year.
Two Negresses Burned TO Death.
ROME, GA. Nov. 9.-While seated
around fire on Lewis Wilson's y ace
near Adairsyille yesterday the clolnIng
Of a negro woman, about 30 years old.
caught fire, and another negress, ed