The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-09-26
The Ex-COnvict's Place in Politics.

L II
MIRROR since its inception regarding the
injustice done the prisoner and the ex- con-
vict; also of the manner in which innocent
men, and men guilty of but slight offenses.
are sent to the pententiary because they
have no money, or friends to look after
their interests.
Now. why is this thus? You will prob
ably tell me that it is On account of the
many rascals that manage to get into Of
flee. L ask again: Why is THIS thus?
Who sends these men, that corrupt the leg
islative and judicial branches of the gov
ernment. into office? | take it as matter
of course that the men l am writing to in
tend to lead an honest life on leaving
here. and will therefore be interested in the
purity of municipal, state and national
government.
sOnally interested in the government of the
country. But how many really do seem to
realize this?
The great mass of the people look upon
politics as something contemplate; or, at
best. as farce that in no real way inter
ests them. You ask man a question con-
corning this issue or that, and he will very
likely tell you that he is not interested in
politics. Does he vote? Oh yes What
party does he belong to? He's democrat
or he's a republican,. What are the princi
piles of each of these parties? What are
their platforms? What is the main issue
in the coming campaign? He doesn't know;
never gave the matter any study. But he
is going to vote just the same.
Why, how can he vote intelligently?
What silly question! Didn't his father
study the principles of the two parties
thirty years ago, and don't you think he is
going to stick by the old man. He may
possibly be able to tell you what the main
issue is at present; and he is sure his party
is on the right side of it; but he cannot ad- :
vance one iOta of evidence to show that the
party is right, other than that 1t is his
party, and, of course, that is all sufficient.
God help the country whose vote is in the
hands OF such men!
have never been in the habit of giving
the convict advice; but l would suggest to
you who intend to settle down when you
leave here, if you have any interest in the
country in which you live, to study this
matter up for yourself. Don't run away
with the idea that you are not interested in
politics, because you are, whether you
know it or not Every thing that Injuries
the country, Injuries you individually; every
thing that tends to better the condition of
the country generally. affects you indvid-
ually. Don't run away with the idea that
politics is something afar off, something i'm
the hands of few rings who work things
to suit themselves; for. even if the rings
do control politics, you can. if you will.
control or break up the rings. Don't leave
it for some one else to do. The other fel-
low has left it for you to attend to. and you
are the very man that is needed-you can
do it better than the "Other fellow" could
You have ample opportunity right in
here to study the matter. Don't follow in
the wake of some democratic or republican
spOuter. and take in all he says as truth;
but listen to them both and draw your own
deductions from the two. Be democrat
or be republican; but above all things be
able to tell why you belong to party; and
don't make the error that because you be-
long to party it can never 60 wrong in
the future. 1t may look like bad advice to
say it, but don't you believe that your
fathers party is the best one. He was
away up in politics thirty or forty years
ago; put six months study on your part.
and you can give the old gent points and
beat him on the politics of 1889. The is
sues OF thirty years ago are not the issues
of to day; and what do you care about the
events that occurred before you were born.
The past is dead; the present and the fut-
ure are yours. So to the polls and know
why you are going, and you will be re-
spected. But if you don't know why you
are going to vote, the only political friend
you will ever have will be the ward heeler
on election day; and he will not recognize
you twenty-fOur hours afterwards.
IT you know anything about politics, tell
it to some one. talk about it. don't keep it
to yourself. Don't believe everything you
hear on one side. and throw the other side