The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-12-06
President Hayes Oh Prison Reform.

A practical man, of simple. unOStentatOuS
life, exPresident Hayes is nevertheless
sound thinker on general affairs, and the
views he expressed in his Farwel Hall
speech of Thursday night proved the value
of his opinions. The particular subject of
prison reform is one to which he has given
a great deal of attention in recent years.
and of which he has full knowledge. Some
of the facts dwelt upon by him have vital
bearing upon the well-being Of society,
especially those with reference to the laXity
and hardness of proceedings against crimi-
nails Faithful as we believe has been the
general admin :stratiOn of the law in the
criminal courts of this country, there has
existed much ground for complaint at vari-
Gus times, and the public has not always
been satisfied. Public opinion governs in
the long run, and some recent evidences of
the efficacy of that opinion have appeared
in the expedition with which the law was
enforced in fragrant cases.
General Hayes was emphatic in what he
had to say about the delays of prosecution.
what follows when the criminal is cap
tured? Delay. Delay in getting the jury.
Men are excluded because they have read
about the case. There seems to be fear
that the innocent will be convicted of crime.
The danger is the escape of the guilty.
When the Indictment is correct, or the crini-
inal is convicted, and the conviction is
proper on the merits of the case. you do
not know but that some higher court will
set aside the verdict on some technicality."
This is the condition confronting us in re-
peated miscarriages of justice. and unless
public opinion interpOseS vigorous protest
we must lose confidence in the administra-
ton OF law too hampered by personal inter-
eStS that protect the criminal. When we
contrast with the number of brutal. hideOus
murders committed in Chicago in ten years
the number of hangings or life sentences,
we can but feel that in some way the law
and the rights of the public have been trit1ed
with most reprehenslbIy. What influences
are brought to bear to shield the criminal
other than those which grow out of the
public sympathy and official laXity should
be determined that we may understand in
some degree what is the reason tor the APP
parent failure of the criminal code to reform
criminals. There are crooks in Chicago to-
day who have been convicted anywhere
from six to eight times. men who are con-
tirmed criminals. and are yet at large to
prey upon society. Most practical minds
that have given the matter thought hold the
opinion of General Hayes. that 1.-THE laws
should be so framed that when the criminal
who has been convicted second time is
caught again his criminal career will end by
imprisonment for life-and you will find
that the criminals will 90 around Illinois,"
A vicious sentimentality has done much
to defeat the ends of justice by treating crimi-
mails as though they were martyrs. An alto
gether false sympathy is stirred up in be-
half of abandoned. desperate criminals.
Philanthropy is abused by notions that
sweetmeats, flowers, and sentiment are APP
propriate agents for the reform of criminals.
The thing needed is more perfect exclusion
of sentimental visitors from the cells and
wards of prisoners. The making heroes of
murderers is putting premium on murder.
The man who is a criminal at the age of
21 and makes deliberate choice of evil lines
cannot be converted to goodness either by
bonbons or bOnmots. Let the law deal Wig
orously with the determined criminal-and