The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-06-13
The State and the Convict.

The State and the Convict.
In order to derive any lasting benefit from
the Imprisonment of criminals it is nee
cesSary that the state shall regard the GRIM
inal as an unfortunate member of its family
rather than an OutcaSt and enemy. The
true relation of the state to the convict
should be similar to that existing between
the parent and an erring child. between the
guardian and his ward. When a guardian
is appointed over minor it is because the
state in its parental watchfulness deems
such minor incapable of properly taking
care of the property left it: and it is the
duty of the guardian to watch the every IN
terest of his ward as faithfully as he looks
after his own property. Thus the state
guards carefully the interest Of her Obedient
children, never allowing one Of them to be
'unjustly treated without using every pOssi-
BILE means to right the wrong, and if neces-
sary punish the wrOng-dOer.
1t is only in the treatment of her erring
children that the state shows harshness
not compatible with the kindness and low
ing care extended toward the other mem:
berS of her family. Not content with giving
a definite punishment to those black sheep.
it condemns many of them to wear the garb
of disgrace the balance OF their days, with
no other consolation than the faint hope
that after they have become worn out men,
tally and physically, and death, perhaps. has
laid the stamp 0f its near approach upon
them, they will be given freedom for the
remainder of their short term of life.
Every citizen who has had any connection
with this prison. land it is probably the
same with every prison in the county;
knows that there are men here who have
shown, after years of confinement. that if
they had ever been criminally diseased, they
are now entirely cured and are justly en-
titled to the exercise of the rights of free
men. And though the state as body may
be willing to grant such men their freedom,
it is in the power of any individual citizen.
who has in the past suffered at their hands.
to keep them here indefinitely if they are
SO inclined.
But the question as to what relation be-
tween the state and the convict will have
the best general results is many-sided
one; it rises gradually from the stern vim
dictveness of the pessimst and misanthrOpe
to the humane theories of the learned pen
OlOgists. The man who has had his house
broken into by burglars, or the one who
has had to give up his property at the point
of gun. will be inclined to think that
burglars and highwaymen should be imprs-
Oned for life if not more summarily dealt
with. While such a feeling as this may be
very natural, no one will say it is just and
still, it is individual feeling of this descrip-
tiOn that has kept many man in prison
after he has made reasonable atOnement for
his crime. and has proven to those about
him that he is fit to be free.
we'll remember about ten years ago. a
time when l was proud of my own scrupu-
lOus honesty, had sum of money stolen
from me. 1t is safe to say that if the thief
was caught and l had the privilege of SEN
fencing him. he would receive every day
that could give him. My idea then was
that thief was special species of animal.
interchangeable in his evil prOpensitieS, and
that it was only mock sentiment which
kept him from being shot down like wild
animal. The thought never crossed my
mind at that time that within few years
l would be classed as one of his kind; as l
felt that such a change was utterly impOs-
sble. There are many people in the present
day who judge the criminal in about tie
|. same manner; they see only the evil side of
mans life. and draw their conclusions
from such observation. There are others
again. who do not care how things in gen.
eral go. so long as they are not personally
injured or affected by the wrongs suffered
by others. How many are there that read
about the late catastrophe in Pennsylvania.
who gave second thought to the intensity
of the sufferings of those directly affected
by it? Perhaps great many. perhaps a
very few; but it is certainty that large