The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-09
PRISON REFORM IN MISSISSIPPI

PRISON REFORM IN MISSISSIPPI
Gov. Lowry, of Mississippi, has, by his
message to the Legislature, put the people
OF that growing and prosperous State in the
attitude Of discussing whether tho schools
and charitable institutions shall be abol.
ishod, and whether the State can afford TO
reform the convict lease system with
all its shocking barbarity. The people OF
no State were ever 30 outrageously abused.
They have been put by their Governor in
nm utterly false position. His treatment
OF the penitentiary question was remark
able us demonstrating his insensibiity 10
the brutality and scandal VIII h
has characterized the operation Of tho
convict lease system in Mississippi, aud
for the evident effort he made toavoid say
ing anything positive one way or the other
la this matter he missed very great OPP
portunity To put the people right by dc.
nouncing, as their representative, the
denominations Of the system; but instead Of
no doing, he put the people exactly wrong
10y his apparent obliviousncss TO the enor-
nifty Of the evil, and his hit-and-mlss
MISREPRESENTATION. you-don't recon-
mcndations A Mississippi paper, in a
rccent issue, referring to this subject, asks
these questions
Now should the legislature lease out for term
Of year, the men aud women In ~ penitontIary to
10 subcas,d 10 brutcs OF men whoever may pay Tor
| them or whoever may be supcrinlendcnts On the
q. a T. H. H.? should the Legislature Ia any shape
whatever make n lcasc ~ mn nbcr Of H. citlrens
when Il knows that nine tenlhs of them will come
back frust bitten and cripple and beaten into
wrecks 81 humanity, no matter what restraints
may be thrown around the grccd and cruelty OF
'untmctoni
These are are the questions which Gov.
Lowry should have answered, and with all
the anior bcfitting the chief magistrate Of
u christian community In an age OF civilika.
ton demanded, tcchnicality or no tech.
nicality, contract or no contract, immedi,
alto and radical reformation. But Gov
Lowry failed 10 meet the higl
obligation Of his Office, and
his suggestions arc without value. be.
speaking. u anything the most astounding
indifference. II is, therefore, for the Lcgis.
laturc toprocccd without regard to the Gov,
crnor, and itshould show n, once to the pco
pie that II isgying this question Of prison
reform the most oarncs, consideration. The
Governor has intimaicd that his State ID
too poor 10 undertake reform. The Leg
islaturc should accordingly approach III,
subject from the economic side and see
how revenue may be obtained 10 save IN,
schools and 10 correct the prison abuses
This task cannot be difficult in a STATE
30 rich and with such M
intelligent white population. And a,
to the prison labor feature, The ArrEAI
would respectfully renew the suggestion
made some time ago that the Legislator,
place itself In communication with IN,
workingmcn Of tho State in order Il
have the benefit Of a knowlcdgc o
their preferences. Il should also adyis,
itself Of the methods which obtain In IN,
best managed prisons Of the world. ncycl
losing sight Of the fact that the State dc
sircs the reformation ~ well ~ the pun
ishment Of conyicts n the Legislator,
shall feel that tho period Of liz session b'
too short for the determination Of IN,
best plan Of prison Management
commission 10 investigate the subjcc
might be appointed, but in the meantime
some temporary scheme should DO de
viscd whereby the oonvic,s should b,
guaranteed cessation from the brutal prac
,iccs Of ayaricious and numerous lcssccs
Tm Tiotlafrg Commercial. Haah say
that Gov. Lowry's "allusion 10 the pcni
n