The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-14
JUSTICE.

|
| There is abroad type of pseudo philosophy O
shoddy morality teaching that the operations OF
mercy are antagonistic to justice; and that the
reign of justice knows mercy. This doctrine il
pernicious in the extreme. Charity and mercy
are right; they just. The highest possible
| type of impartial justice is mercy; the unmerci
full is the deepest wrong. The christian graces
are not at war with each other. and it is a veal
and cowardly excuse to refuse to do the right fol-
fear of its severity; equally unworthy is he who
counts for his inhumanty by claiming justice de-
mands it. The tenderest mercy is the highest
type of absolute and infexDe Justice.
Secretary Hart of the state Board of Charities
| and Corrections, favors an Advisory Board to as
sst the Governor in the matter of pardons and
combinations, adding that each case should stand
on its merits. That is the doctrine exactly
the only principle that will put in prison the sc
not safe to at large and release those kept ir
prison out of sentiment of general principles
or to receive the punishment due another, OF
whose confinement gives the covetous Tree use OF
wealth not otherwise obtainable, or for any of the
many causes that account for over severe SEN
fences. or unjust sentences or sentencing the
wrong man. Do right to each man. In this way
only do justice to all.
The writer once called on a governor in behalf
of committing prisoners sentence. The good
man understood the case. sympathized with it
and with great deal of earnestness said: LAS
a neghbor would cheerfuiy grant your request
knowing the evidence produced since the trial
and believing the man punished enough; but what
will be the effect other men evil dsposedT'
And so justice waited on moral cowardice, or a
theory Of substituted punishment ss
community should have moral sense enough
to shut up a dangerous man, and moral courage
enough to release man when he is worthy of his
liberty.
The pardoning Advisory Board should be
composed in part of prison officials. The Off
GERS of the prison under the present sys.
tenn witness sometimes the pardon of men
in whose future they have no hope of good
conduct, and see men kept in prison who
are every way worthy of their liberty, and others
who the wrong men Observation-Disclosures
Mirror.
The above has the right ring in it. We
think it fearful crime for the savage,
when he has been wronged by some white
man, to kill the first pale face he meets for
revenge. or to brighten the rest of us, think
ing thereby to protect his race; but does
not the state commit like error when it
sends one man to prison to frighten others,
or keeps him in prison under the pretence
that it will intimidate others?
Ii understand the subject, prison is a
place to keep men and women who are dan
gerOus to society. Now. when those who
have charge of them and are best capable
! to judge each individual. think the public
good would not be endangered by their re
lease, there is no good reason why they
should be detained in prison longer.
Gov. McGill. said in a recent speech that
it was often the case when two men were
guilty of the same offense, that one would
get off with twelve months in Jail, while
the other would get five years in state pris-
ON. We all know the statement to be
true, and His EXcellency might have adj
ded. if the one getting twelve months il,
Jail happened to have wrOnged good man,
noble and charitable, the chances are he
would get pardon after serving few
months. while ii the one receiving five
years had been so unfortunate as to have
wronged Shyl0ck he would have to serve
out his full term.
| Now, is a state moving on the higher
plain of civilization when it allows itself to
be used as an instrument for personal re-
venge? say. no. The state should use its