Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-01-04
POLITICAL PRISONERS.
How Irish NationaIists A
gILAh Penal Ins.I. =. -'ou ~ ~


s"Ah Renal Institution.
Under the recent Rri,,sh C.,.
many freshmen notably a number a
,rish members Of Parliament-have
been sentenced for political offences
ana committed to prison. Their treat.
ment while In prison has been the s,,h.
lect OF excited discussion in ENGLAND
iney nave complained not only of IN.
healthy cells and bad food. but also
Vi being forced to wear the clotbino
prescribed for ordinary criminals, and
70 mingle with those criminals n
hours Oh recreation. Not long ago
prominent Nationalist, named John
Mandville. who had been imprisoned
aled short time after his release, and
inc coroner's jury declared that he had
aled from the effects OF ill-treatment
by the prison authorities.
MIR. Gladstone and his adberen4s la
clare that such treatment of men who
nave been found guilty. not of social
grimes out OF inferior and purely DO.
iitlcal offenses, Is not In accordance
with the practice OF civilized pations
The Liberal leader, on a recent occa-
SION. went yet further than this. and
asserted that not even the barbarous
and cruel King '.Bomba" OF Map,es
placed political criminals-at least
those convicted Of less offense than
nlgh treason--on footing in prison
with murderers and thieves.
1t Is quite true that civilized nations
In modern times have been in the habi,
OF making clear distinction between
political and other captives; and even a
London paper, friendly to the present
Tory Cabinet. declares that, In the
treatment OF the imprisoned Irishmen.
"England stands on level, not with
the advanced nations OF the world, but
with the most backward States.n
After the civil war in this country.
the Confederate statesmen who were
captured-notably jefferson Davis
were held In mild confinement, lodged
and fed well, and kept entirely sep
arate from the ordinary criminals.
1t Is a fact, moreover, that, in their
Intercourse with each other, modern
nations deal with the cases OF political
prisoners as If they stood on differen,
footing from felons. The extraditior
treaties provide for the return of fugi
tive forgers, thieves and murderers,
from the land whittier they have es-
capped, to that in which they have com
mitted their crimes. But this is rarely
perhaps never, done by treaties, as t.
political refugees. Most countrie
give to the political offenders of othel
countries what is called "the right o.
asylum" If they once escape, they
may live without fear OF danger, In ;
land OF their adoption,
The instance of the late Marsha
Bazaine. who has just died, after ;
troublous career, at Madrid, is in point
Tried and convicted of high treason
he was at first sentenced to death. Hi
sentence was then committed to i'm
prisonment for twenty years in tn,
fortress of Sainte Marguerite, famou
as the prison OF the Man in the Irol
Mask. In short time, by the aid OF
heroic wife, the Marshal succeeded il
making his escape from the fortress ant
repaired to Spain. There in Madrid h
lived in perfect safety. The Frencl
Government did not demand that h
should be given up.
1t sometimes happens that, out o
friendship. a nation viii give UP t
another a political refugee. But thi
rarely happens. Switzerland is to-da
secure place of refuge for Russia
conspirators and offenders against tn
Cars crown; and England has TO
many years been the asylum of Italians
, Russians, Poles and Frenchmen VIII
have been guilty, at home, OF politica
offenses.. Notable instances Of this wer
Mazzini, who plotted to overthrow tn
Austrian Government at Venice, an
was received with open arms by man
eminent Englishmen; and Victor Hugo
who lived in serene exile for man
years on the Island of Guernsey.
nl-treatment of political prisoners
usually bad policy as we'll as contrar
to modern usage; or. as the Londo
paper already quoted says: Petty an
degrading conditions of punishmer
will only help those to whom they ar
5 subjected to be elevated to the positio
t of martyrs. YOUTHS Companion.