The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-09-05

1EADOA kNcIOFms
While at the prison in Saltwater last
week. mingling with the unfortunates of
our day. we were more than impressed
with the Importance of inaugurating a
needed reform in regard to the maintenance
OF prisoners. A man once sentenced for a
term of years must serve his time unless
sooner pardOned by the governor. His
crime is made statutory offence and his
punishment prescribed by law. but that
same man in many instances reforms and
would become good citizen if allowed the
blessings of freedom. What moral theorist
can say that man having repented of his
crime and thoroughly reformed is not en-
titled to clemency and liberty? If the ends
of justice would be better served, if society
would be better protected and the world the
gamer by reason of continuing the time of
servitude OF prisoner who has, by reason
OF confinement. become reformed man and
having repented of his crime a thousand
times. why we would say keep him behind
the bars; but if that man is thoroughly re-
formed and by his continuing his cOnfne-
ment permanent injury is inflicted on him,
surely the state is doing wrong irrepara-
bic. 1t is true that his confinement affords
an example to others. but. friends. the cost
of that example to the truly repentant man,
who, perchance, has family dependent on
him, is far more than the ends to be reached.
The question is one of deep interest to this
progressive age and demands the best at
tentiOn OF our people.
How easy it is for those out of prison
walls to pass Judgment on the ones who
are within. In an unguarded moment
man commits a crime; the world has no
charity for the criminal. but the victim is
the subject of sympathy. This man stands
a trial and is given term of years at penal
servtude in a penitentiary to redress the
injury perpetrated on the innocent victim
of his passion.
A decade passes and time works change
in the heart of one who in early life was
surrounded by loving friends and kind
neighbOrs. Ten thousand times he prays
to be forgiven for the act that condemned
him to a living tomb. His character in
prison is above reproach and his influence
among his associates is good. Will any
man convinced of these facts say that his
longer confinement is absolutely necessary
to the best interests of society? If a child
does thing forbidden by the indulgent
parent, reprmand and promise eXacted
from the juvenile that the act will never oc-
cur again is often the price of pardon and
frequently the administration of punish
ment results adversely to precOnceived ideas
of inexperienced parents who. stimulated
by foolish temper. accept no conditions but
arbitrary cruelty or heartless chastisement.
We seek not to lead our readers to believe
that we are in sympathy with wholesale
pardon. or that we regard the sentence of
a man for crime as unjust or barren of good
fruit, but another class of criminals are the
ones we wish to call attention to. for they
have no means of telling the world that
they have eXpiated fully the serious charge
of crime and would. If given their liberty,
redeem themselves and become men of bet
ter principles and better morals than scores
who live i'm free America outside of prisons
and restraints. Granite Falls Tribune.