The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-10-03
Why Is 1t I!

Why is it that men after serving time in
penitentary, upon their release will re-
enter upon life of crime only to be re-
freedom. to undergo another and perhaps
longer confinement?
A few weeks ago l read an article in
THE MIRROR entitled when We Are EX
Convicts." 1t was stirring appeal for us
to improve every moment of our time here
in order to be the better fitted to earn an
honest livelihood upon our release. In con-
sidering this subject my thoughts naturally
turned to those of our number who have
been cOnvlcts, eX-cOnvicts and are now con-
victs again. What were the unfortunate
or outward circumstances that combined to
return them to life of servitude? Was it
an inherent tendency to criminality? Was
it the treatment which they received during
the previous confinement? Was it the in
capabilitY to overcome the prejudice which
the world holds against man whose sin
has been found out? Was it the influence
of strong drink? Was it laziness? What
was it? These are grave questions and
doubt if a complete solution will ever be
offered. Of course, individuals differ; and
temptation which is almost irresistible to
one man is none at all to another. There
is no doubt that the greatest cause in eX-
citing man to commit crime after a release
from Imprisonment, as well as one who
does not have to write the name with an
lex" is whisky; and yet it plays far
different role in the one case than in the
other. A man who comes to prison for the
| first time may often be able to trace the
cause of his downfall with unerring ac-
curacy to that fountain head of imiquity the
saloon. 1t is we'll recognized fact that
liquor can and does bring man down from
high moral plane to the level that makes
crime possible. but as / am not writing Oh
the temperance question | will not follow
this point further than to state that liquor
will do this and at the same time will So
blind the eyes of the victim that he has mo
idea of the end towards which he is drift
ing. So in the case of an initial imprisOn :
ment under the above circumstances we
may truthfully say that liquor is the active
cause and that the man, to great extent,
| is passive one. But in the case of Sec
Ond termer the period of Imprisonment has
been sufficient to bring plainly to the dull
est mind. the degrading and criminal ten
denotes of strong drink. He can no longer
plead ignorance for he has had rude
awakening. He now knows the end and
has tasted of it's bitterness. If he leaves
the prison now, and flies with eager foot
steps to quatf again the burning essence
of degradation, it will be no less fatal this
time than it was before. but the fault. to a
much greater extent, will be upon the man.
And how any one in his right mind will
knowingly put his head in the lions jaw a
second time, passes my comprehension; but
the fact remains, that he does.
There may be an inherent tendency to
criminality in some. but upon this question
nothing but a careful genealogical research
will throw any light.
There are number of second termers
here, and some who have had the privilege
of writing more KS after their names than
[ will have ten dollar bills going out, but
of the latter it is not my purpose to treat,
and yet, if the exact history of each case
could be known, the trials, the temptations
and the discOuragements,i it would undOubt-
edly arouse deeper sympathy. My ac-
quaintance with second termers is not very
extensive, but must say that several OF
them are among the brightest men whom
have met here; and how in the world they
ever took leave of their wits long enough
to make a return to this place possible is
more than l can understand. Drink they
did in every case so far as l can learn. but
that alone does not seem to be an adequate
cause; inherited crimnality is out of the
question; it was not the treatment which
they received in the former confinement,
although l admit that it may have been the
treatment which they did NOT receive; il
was not. of necessity, the prejudice of the
world. and am 10th to believe that it was
laziness. although the latter undoubtedly
plays its part, Notwithstanding the fact
that it is always denied. All of these