Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-05
POLITICAL PRISONERS.
Hr Irish Nationa1ists Are Abused In En-
gIish Penal Institutions.


gIish Penal Institutions.
Under the recent British Crimes act,
mzuy Irishmen-notably a number OF
EEish members of Parliament-hava
hssn sentenced for political offences.
and committed to prison. Their treat
msnt while in prison has been the sub
.Fsf of excited discussion In England.
They have complained not only of un-
healthy cells and bad food, but also
oE being forced to wear the clothing
prescribed for ordinary criminals, and
Tn mingle with those criminals in
hgurs of recreation. Not long ago a
pe0ninent Nationalist, named John
Mandville, who had been imprisoned,
died short time after his release, and
tin coroner's jury declared that he had
6ind from the effects of ill-treatment
hF The prison authorities.
Mr. Gladstone and his adherents de-
clare that such treatment of men who
hxye been found guilty, not of social
crimes, but of inferior and purely po-
Hkical offenses, is not in accordance
with the practice of civilized nations.
The Liberal leader, on q recent Occa-
sion, went yet further than this. and
asserted that not even the barbarous
and cruel King "Bomba" of Naples
placed political criminals-at least,
those convicted of less offense than
high treason-On a footing In prison
with murdererS and thieves.
IL is quite true that civilized nations
i'm modern times have been in the habit
of making clear distinction between
political and other captives; and even
London paper, friendly to the present
Tory Cabinet, declares that, in the
treatment of the imprisoned Irishmen,
ENGLAND stands on a level, not with
the advanced nations of the world, but
with the most backward States"
After the civil war in this country,
the Confederate statesmen who wers
captured notably Jefferson Davis
were held in mild confinement, lodged
and fed well, and kept entirely sep
axate from the ordinary criminals.
H is a fact, moreover, that, in their
Intercourse with each other, modern
nations deal with the cases of political
prisoners as if they stood on different
f3oting from felons. The extradition
treaties provide for the return of fugi-
tive forgers, thieves and murderers,
from the land whittier they have es-
capped, to that in which they have COM
United their crimes. But this is rarely,
perhaps never, done by treaties, as to
political refugees. Most countries
give to the political offenders of other
countries what is called 1.-The right of
ASYLUM" If they once escape, they
may live without fear of danger, in a
hand of their adoption,
The instance of the late Marshal
Bazaine. who has just died, after a
troublous career at Madrid, is in point.
Tried and convicted of high treason,
Hewa at first sentenced to death. His
prisonment for twenty years in the
fortress of Sainte Marguerite, famous
as the prison of the Man in the Iron
Mask. In a short time, by the aid of q
heroic wife, the Marshal succeeded in
making his escape from the fortress, and
repaired to Spain. There in Madrid he
lived in perfect safety. The French
Government did not demand that he
should be given up.
1t sometimes happens that, out of
friendship. a nation will give up to
another political refugee. But this
rarely happens. Switzerland is to-day
n secure place of refuge for Russian
conspirators and offenders against the
Cars crown; and England has for
raany years been the asylum of Italians,
Russians, Poles and Frenchmen who
have been guilty, at home, of political
.aafenses. Notable instances of this were
.Nazzini, who plotted to overthrow the
Austrian Government at Venice, and
was received with open arms by many
eminent Englishmen; and Victor Hugo,
who lived in serene exile for many
years on the Island of Guernsey.
nl-treatment of political prisoners is
usually bad policy as well as contrary
tn modern usage; or, as the London
paper already quoted says: ''Petty and
degrading conditions of punishment
viii only help those to whom they are
subjected to be elevated to the position
of martyrs - Youths Companion.