The Russellville Democrat., 1888-05-10
Remember Them Who Are In
Bonds.

there has been another CHASTITY find
in the convict camp. A man so de-
csyed, that it was difficult to tell
whether be was killed By having his
throat cut or by being shot in the
neck OF perhaps both. He was
shackled and it is so improbable
that they would have been pat on
after death, that one is forced 10 the
conclusion that II a eowardly way
the poor man was murdered while in
irons; and 10 escape detection bis
body was hurriedly thrown into the
stump Of the coal mine where II has
Just been found. When / came on
this circuit al once visited the place
and found them entirely unsapplied
with the means Of grace, the legisla-
ture having declined to make any
appropriation for 3 chaplain. So /
brought their case before the Local
Preachers and the young men here
who can sing and for the honor o.
religion, be it said, that they promptly
responded. And every Sunday
morning since Conference detail Of
from two to four have gone there
with directions TO try that day and
preach and sing their very best. aud
II possible be s Sunbeam q very an
gel Of light shining into dark
place This has st least secured
for the eonviets the Sabbath IS q day
Of rest which it is currently reported
they did not always get before. And
We believe the Lord has thereby re
freshed the spirits Of many in prison,
for there were some melting sea
sons under the preaching Of the
word.
1t wss s bare accident that these
horrible crueIties were unearthed.
The coroner going in to examine the
case Of man whipped 10 death. be
having received four hundred lashes,
and other abuses came to light al
most BIZ the dozen. From an &c
anaintance as close as 81 outsider
usually has with the lessee system, /
have long believed, that under il such
cIueities we're not unfrequent, par
ticularly where the csnyicts were
worked outside the walls. SEINE
eight years $50 when the time came
for the renewal Of the present lease,
l was so impressed with the inherent
TiclOpsness Of the system that ] had
3 petition signed warning the iegisla
ture Of it's evil and asking that it be
not renewed. 1t was presented by
Judge Duncan, who was then in the
Senate and made speech in its fa
yor: but the majority Of the members
were hopeless addicted 10 s picayun-
ISM po.lcy and the decision OF the
question turned on whether the legis-
lsture would have sufficient of public
spirit TO vote the money needed 70
purchase machinery SO that their
mode OF employment could be chang
ed. When the appropriation was re
fused, it necessitsted the renewal
OF the lease and working them out
side the walls and this chapter Of
horrors is one Of the results. And if
one single investigation reveals so
many abuses, does anybody doubt
but there were others in the past
that have not come to light and prob
ably never will.
An effort is now being made to
saddle the blame on Gov. Hughes,
but the cause lies deeper in the obi
Gus laws that ought never to have
gone on the statute book. And yet
Mr.. II. @. Allls in recent number
Of the Gazette e1tOls their wisdom
and saws the present laws are ample.
They are: but it is to produce re
voting cruelties and horrors, that
are q blot on the civilization Of the
age 1t is 8 sound principle Of leg
isla.ion, that The tendency Of law
and its liability to abuse ought a.
WAYS 10 be considered and particu
larry, when il imperlls human life.
Evidently Mr.. Allis is not aware OF
this or else has confidence Is far
greater than mine in the character
Of the men, that follow the oecupa
ton OF working eonYicts and II the
class Of persons lessee company is
likely TO employ as foremen. i de
cidediy differ from him Ia reference
70 the admirable wisdom" Of these
laws aud think the only remedy that
mll be found eHectusl is such 8
change in their structure SIS viii
abolish the lease system, and at one
stroke sweep out the whole tribe Of
inhuman monsters ike the SCOTS
and Gafords il now clothes with al.
thority.
In considering TINS frightfnl sub
iect the practical question should
not be lost sight Of, as 10 bow We
can best obey the command TO "re-
member them who are in bonds as
bound with them" Some thiak'
thzt il the church exhorts the
drunkards to be sober and breaches
to those 10 prison her mission 20
these two classes is fulfilled. II she
attempts to 60 further ana Cause the
OF goyernment N
either Of these directions 10 conform
to the gospel, her authority is cha
leBged, resisted and denied. Ihis
vas substantially the position OF Jeii
Davis and OF Gov. Ross and Con
gresham Mil. and many others 10
the recent contest oEef pr94ipiuon I
10 Texas. But shall the ehnreh 81
God falter in her course and prove
rec9e1nE z her trust on account q /
the opposiEica 20 such mem COD
forbid. A true Church lgst have /
way. or somewhere in her folds there
MUSTANG IMMINENT