The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-09-12
Enemies of Society.

All who do not conform to the laws
made by society for its government and
self-preservatiOn. more particularly those
whose sins have found them out, are desig-
mated as ''enemies of society,"" AS far
back as the memory of man runneth, there
has been state of war existing between
the orderly members of society on the one
hand, and its unruly element on the other.
The conflict still wages with undated
zeal. and. sad to relate, the already vast
army of the ungovernabe is daily receiv-
ing fresh accessiOnS to its ranks. In the
prolonged contest, society has had every
advantage such as superiority of numbers,
more compact organization. unlimited funds
with which to carry on the unequal combat.
and yet, despite of all those favorable cir
the diminutiOn of crime, and the end
seemeth yet afar off. In the conduct of
war between nations, if an army meets
with series of reverses it often is found
generalship. In such an event an immedi-
ate change of commanders is made, differ
ent tactics are employed. and it frequently
happens as consequence of the adoption
of such policy. that disasters and defeat
give way to ultimate triumph. Now, in
view of the barren results attending the eff
forts of the forces of law and order
in their management of the campaign
thus far. does it not seem highly probable
that their ill-SuccesS is attributable to some
mistaken policy which they have been pur-
suing? A brief review of the apparently in
terminable struggle may tend to throw
some light on this question. At the incep-
ton of hOstilities. the war upon the part Of
society was waged as one of determination,
and no quarter was given. Crimes which
nowadays are considered trivial, were then
rated as offences which rendered the per-
petrator subject to capital punishment. The
Imprisonment inflicted was solitary. and of
lengthy duration. The gibbet and guillO-
tine, the rack, and other instruments of
torture were kept in constant employment;
the dead bodies of malefactOrs were left
dangling in the air to strike terror to the
hearts of evil-dOerS; but Notwithstanding
the vigorous enforcement of all those eX-
IRENE measures the number of the lawleSS
did not perceptibly diminish. AS civiliZa-
ton became more widespread, the war
gradually changed to one for suppression
only: and the rack and other instruments of
punishment were succeeded by transporta-
ton and the treadmill. which in their turn
were found to be unavailing in reducing
the number of the refractory, or bringing
them to terms.
At this stage of the conflict there APP
peared upon the scene John Howard. the
phiIanthrOpist and pioneer apostle of
prison reform, who did much to amelorate
the condition of the. unfortunate class i'm
whom he interested himself. He was no.
bly, aided in the work to which he devoted
his life. by such eminent men of letters as
Hugo, Dickens. Reade. and others who
champiOned the cause of fallen humanity;
and as a result of their labOrs. a new de-
parture was taken in the treatment of
criminals. and their lot was made more ell
durable. Coming down to the present
time, and dealing directly with our own
country. we find that the old plan of cam
paign is being gradually superseded, and