The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-24

saltwater, Minn. Wednesday, Oct. a. 1888.

Judgment the prisoner has been sufficiently
punished. The public has rights which
must be considered. A prisoner guilty of
some criminal atrOcity which has greatly
excited the public mind must not be turned
loose on the mere dictum or opinion of
governor. He should sustain the verdicts
and judgments of the courts and not inter-
fere save for the best of reasons.
MIR. COLE TALKS.
After Gov. McGill had finished. Hon.
Gordon E. Cole was introduced by DR..
Smith as "a man who was so exactly right
when he was right that he could easily be
forgiven if he happened to be wrong" Mr..
Cole opened his address with the keynote,
''It is of little use to correct prisoners by
punishment, unless you reform them by
education" He reviewed in terSe man.
ner the condition of ancient Rome as re-
CARDS crime, and also the state of affairs
one hundred years ago in England, when
there were upwards of one hundred crimes
punishable by death. He then detailed in
an interesting manner the system of re-
formation in use at the state refOrmatOry at
Elmira n. Y, and ended with an appeal
for societies to aid discharged prisoners.
DIR. SMITHS TALK.
About two hundred and fifty prisoners
are released from Saltwater every year. If
they desire to lead an honest life there are
many difficulties before them. The major
ity are men OF weak or depraved moral ma
ture, and some of them have confirmed
habits of dissOluteness or crime. They are
now to pass through the most fiery ordeal
of temptation. The temporary good habits
induced by restraint are at once relaxed by
conditions of freedom. Society is either
cOldly suspicious or avOwedly hostile.
Police agents are quick to threaten and at
any time ready to arrest on suspicion. But
they are not without welcome. The crimi-
nal classes as yet uncaught and uncOnvicted
welcome them. The saloons welcome them.
Old companions in sin and shame have pity
for their misfortune and have companion
ship for other crimes. Society has an Obli-
CATION to help these men, and in diScharg-
ing this obligation she also helps herself.
1t it believed that 60 per cent. Of discharged
prisoners usually drift back again to crime
Vengeance as the foundation of punishment
is banished into the background by new
and better philosophy. The question now
is, how can we secure society and prevent
crime? Clearly, the reformation of the
criminal is the thing to be aimed at. The
reformation which begins in restraint can
only be completed by proper surveillance
and help after discharge.
The aid society in Maryland is a notable
success. In one year it furnished employ
ment to 1873 discharged prisoners besides
rendering aid to many others. In MaSSa-
chusetts efficient work has been done by a
society to which the state apprOpriates
S3. 600 year. Iowa has a society aided
by an appropriation of $2,0 900 year. New
York. Philadelphia and other eastern
cities have voluntary societies supported by
philanthropic citizens. In Minnesota we
have as yet no organization, although the
statutes of 1887 say that the managers of
the refOrmatOry shall exercise supervision
or organize prisoners aid society for dis
charged prisoners, but no appropriation was
made to carry this authority into effect. Vol
untary charity is the best of all charities;
state charity is the most secure. The two
kinds should be combined in the prisoners
aid society. There should be an apprOpri-
alton sufficient to pay the salary of an
agent, with a small margin for the tempOr-
ary relief of discharged prisoners. The
agent should be a man of large symDathieS
and level headed. man who knows human
nature and who has special knowledge OF
the classes of men whom he would help.
He should have access to the prison and
make the acquaintance of the prisoners be-
fore their discharge, and wherever possible
should have employment ready for them
when they leave the prison walls.
The men discharged from the Elmira re-
formatory in New York are all furnished
situations upon being discharged, and OF
these discharged convicts so per cent. are
said to remain honest.
The gospel which was first preached Sc.