The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-07-11
The " Example.o

Editor Mirror:
How frequently in the conversation of men the
remark is made that So-and-So, who is charged
with crime, should be made an example Of for the
benefit of society. Public op Mon becomes mould
ed to this idea conviction follows; long sentenc
is pronounced: society is warned good result
has been reached; men who might have had to
suffer for their acts. had they not been
warned, are saved. and afellow-unfortunate bears
the punishment that would have befell them.
Men are for time kept from committing crime
from fear of the awful fate of the example. ~
How long does the community remember this
example? Is it not after few months, or few
years at most forgotten? which is about the length
of time the prisoner would nave had to serve had
he not been made the example as a warning to
Others, which pronounced his sentence 10, Is or
20 years, perhaps life Is it right, then to
compel this prisoner to serve the dreary years,
after the effect and memory of the warning has
been forgotten? Has not the object Of the severe
sentence been accomplished? Aside from the OBJ
ject has not the prisoner. in serving the few
years, paid the actual penalty that his offence de-
served. and that would have been passed upon
him except for the clamor for example by
men who were afraid they, themselves, rather
sacrifice was made. and warning held up to
them?
There are great many of these examples in
all prisons. They are martyrs. For long time
they bear up with the consciousness that even
their wrecked lives have been of some good: that
others have been kept from crime by the example
made of them. But time rolls on the fact be-
comes apparent that some, benefited by the warn
inc n, hi
honorable lives. In the memory of others the
effect of the warning has died Neither does the
rising generation remember it. The comfort the
poor prisoner derived from thoughts of the bene-
fit of his example vanish; there is no more benefit
derived from it, and the time he would actually
have had to serve for the offence committed, has
passed. despair seizes the poor unfortunate as he
thinks of the long, dreary years he must yet serve
to the benefit of person. and the crushing for
ever of his own intellectual and moral faculties,
so that when finally released from prison he is a
silly helpless, worthless mortal, despised even
by those who were saved and benefited by the
example made of him.
Is this not material for executive clemency for
pardons and combinations which are only men,
toned in two-line newspaper notice to the Lub-
lie? When the offence committed, the arrest
made, the trial details and warning sentence
passed. it was announced in double leaders, the
whole occupying couple of columns on the front
page, that all might profit by the example. ~
Does the two-line notice Of clemency, long after
ward, cOunteract the good accomplished? No;
everybody knows it does not; good people are
glad that it is so, for they know where such Glenn
ency is extended it is advised by those acquainted
with the circumstances of the case, and by the
prison officials. who know pretty we'll who safe
men to receive freedom.
Again, incentive to executive clemency,
and to those who are called upon to express them
selves in favor of such clemency, will say that
no greater help to the desire of living honest,
honorable life can be given a prisoner than the
knowledge of the obligation he feels toward those
good people of Understanding in life and to the
governor of great state. who have placed conf.
dence in him. The moral obligation which the
released prisoner who has been pardoned feels to
have been placed upon him by the confidence OF
people of such marked responsibility and honor.
is the strongest possible barrier to prevent that
man from again committing crime. The mans
life is saved and set Alright; whole people is
financially and morally benefited by the restora-
ton; the man and his posterity ascends to a high
er level in life, and becomes q credit to the very
community that held him up as an example Of
wickedness. The restoration by pardon that fixed
upon the character this moral obligation. saves
the filling of many graves with criminals and pau.
pers. L. M
The Fourth at AnamOsa, Iowa.
A no dav OhSQr voH ar no prS in