The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-15
Good Treatment Won't Spoil Him.

Good Treatment Won't Spoil Him.
Editor Mirror: ... t..
l have heard large amount of yappi on
the treatment Of convicts. under the present
and past administrations. (The proper
''caper'' in writing an article for the papers
is, to spring some foreign language on your
readers. "Yappi" is Sioux for TALK do
not know what the treatment of the past
one was like; but l know that the treat
ment Of the present is about as good as can
be expected in any state prison. Some
mems training intensifies their reverence
for law and order. but still allow them to
temper justice with mercy; and they cannot
change their nature any more than the
leopard can change her spots. Blessed is
the community that is governed by such a
one. On the other hand there are men who
reverence law and respect authority. but
are Indifferent of transgressions-circum
stances are to them accusers: never by any
chance eXcuserS. They are over credulous.
jump at conclusions and very often condemn
through weakness or lack of judgement.
They are often kind hearted and want of
judgment is to be deplOred in a nature
otherwise exalted above his fellow men.
We have both natures here and many others
besides, which have neither the space nor
the inclination to write up here. Are we
treated we'll? Yes! undoubtedly; but what
is the use Of telling everybody about it I'M
solicited. No good man wishes to have his
virtues Haunted in the face of the world,
any more than bad man his vices. l hate
this rot and rant about good treatment. If
we deserve, and it is right to treat lis well,
then let us have it. If it is wrong. then
those who treat us well are wrong. In my
humble opinion virtue should never be
praised, but vice should always be con.
demned. AS ViscOunt Halifax. the great
est statesman of the time of Charles IL.
said, Virtue is nothing but just temper
between prOpenSitieS. any one of which, if
INDUCED to excess, become vice." If the
present administration should leave this
prison tomorrow they would learn that the
very nlen who are the most loud -mOuthed
about their (the administrator virtues.
would be the first to find their faults and
perhaps add to them. 1t is generally the
men who say the least about good treatment
that appreciate it the most, and are least
inclined to condemn faults, which they have
sense enough to know are possessed by every
one. l may say, right here, that when one
is satisfied with nothing less than perfect
man. and looks around for such one, he is
sure to get badly left" Punishments are
not inflicted on the criminal to cause suffer
ing, but as warning to keep others from
the wrong path. This is the idea of all
| enlightened and humane people of this time,
and when people cease to hold this view
they become less than human. Men are
also sent to prison in order to protect So
ciety from them. and When they are once
behind the bars (irOn bars) the full object
is accomplished and deny the right OF any
one to treat him harshly as long as he con-
forms to the rules and customs of the prison.
Harshly? No. not that. Even when men
do not comply with the rules and customs,
he should not be ted harshly. as that
would conflict with justice. but many men
think that the two words are synonymous.
Yes, we are treated we'll here at present.
but carry on the good fight and treat lis bet
ter. Nothing can remain at standstill in
this world; it either becomes better or worse.
There are many here who can stand all the
good treatment anyone can give them, and
still not forget their place.
l deferentially submit this to be
':squelched' OF published as the case may
be-. Yours until sat down on. PHENIN.