The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-12-20
CRIMINALS AND CRIME.
Extracts from an Article by Alice
ESkel.

Extracts from an Art1cle Oy Alice
Eskel.
AS long as the cause Of crime is not understood
and done away with. no adequate remedy can be
applied for its removal. One can no more prevent
crime and ignore the cause. than he can stay the
progress of contagious disease by allowing the
source from which It is derived free action
Uncleanlness and impurity are the fountain
heads of both classes o; disease: corrupt thought
developing the germs of crime and decaylng mat
ter giving activity to the sesd OF yscal disease.
We have succeeded in aleviatng the latter to a
great extent by kindly and sympathetic methods
and treatment, and by eliminating from our
abodes and cites much Of the noxious substances
that breed it, We have most successfully in
crease the former by brutal treatment and hate
full and revengeful feelings toward the criminal,
until the world to-day stands ghas at the result
The revengeful treatment Oh or minals devel-
ops forces in the world that increase thousand
fod Ills, accidents and insecurt to life and prop
ert, If we VIII not adopt Div ne methods for
the redemption of the fallen, there is no Divine
force developed within to strengthen and pro-
tect us aga nst the ever-ncreasng troubles and
miser.es that make existence q curse. The world
must learn that the saving and Protecting Power
can only be brought into action thu ough their eff
forts for good. aud that the destructive and woe
increasing power will continue to rule if similar
thoughts rage the hearts of mankind. lgno-
rance Will not prevent inharmony from dong its
diieIul work any more than the chUlera-intected
wells of Mecca will fail to breed the disease, be-
cause pilgrims ignorant o: the presence fpoi.
son in the waters.
1t is the MISSION of the higher to sustain and
upllft the lower We see this process going on 81.
oil Man
law in the treatment OF criminals and the fallen.
He uses the crushing process instead 1t is GER
tainly easier to crush out the wild cherry tree
because it bears bitter fruit but it is immeasura.
bly, wiser to bring it to perfect on and enjoy its
1us ions cherries. If the All-Wise had followed
the lower method the civilized races Of our day
would never have developed from their savage
and barbarous ancestors. Infinite patience is q
Divine attributes: Impotence is an impulse of the
lower nature. and ifit leads men to hate and hang
criminals it is strong evidence how TAR removed
they are from the Wisest and Best. The same
Power of Infinite Patience that is capable of wait
ing through untold icons of time for the develop
ment of h world of beauty from an atom, exercises
loving patience with the worst demon until he be-
comes an Angel of Light.
The material form of every human being is but
temporary expression Of its soul condition. in
the endless ladder Of infinite expressions reach.
himself high expr .ssion of the Infinite Soul
may be very small and to maltreat or kill him for
his low condition is senseless as it would be to
kill child for making horrible daub with its
paints and brushes in its first attempt to paint a
picture. AS we bring all manner of useful and
beautiful things out OF crude and unsightly mat
Co6 hr IN, no of no
filthy wretches and vile monsters that human ig-
norance and folly seek to crush out of existe ace.
Do you ask for proof? Study the history Of man,
and then, if you dare, go and condemn the un-
skilled souls that know not how to use the tempo.
rary tools given into their keeping to their best
advantage. The skilled workmen were placed
here to instruct their ignorant fellow-workmen
how to use their tools Alright, and if they fail to
do this, woe be to them, for they will have to
tread the darker pathway, and learn from bitter
experience the necessity of performing their duty
to their neighbors less fortunate than themselves,
with loving kindness.
The desire to do wrong-the tigers and pan.
theirs in the human breasts due to sougerns
thrown off by diseased thinkers everywhere, and
if criminals exist the world has projected them
into existence-spiritually as well materially
for inharmonious offspring not evolved from
Divine sources, and we cannot get rid of them un-
til we make our earths atmosphere purer and no.
lier. AS the spiritual atmosphere of mankind be-
comes purer in each period of time, the animals
and insects of the preceding cycle die out. They
become extinct in the better atmosphere. because
hatred-and all its terrible material and spiritual
expressions-must die in the radiance of Love S
increase.
Combined ShnQ :
of the World! You are not content with the ap-
pies of discord that have grown from seeds of
your own planting. You would reject the bitter
fruits that grow in the wilderness of vice and
wrong that ye have all had share in making, ye
scnrners of YOUR fellow .heinps We wnrshiners of