Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-01-17

ousluetS Oh human government. The rig
OF The people u punish crime by meth0
prescribed by law is perfect. IL is said tn
self preservation Is the first law Ut natur,
abd resistance to wrong is an inhereI
right" 1t Is upon these principles Tia
the government undertakes to protect
subjects and preserve itself against Grim
and hence laws are enacted BY the authu
ny ot which the agencies Of the COVER
nent seize the viOlatOr Of the laws al
transgrsssor Of the rights Of citizens, ar
SUBJECTS him TO discipline, confinement
death. This Is pen,,lugy, and its history
cOevai with the history Ut government
People living under an organized govern
Meht have absolutely no right 70 punis
any onender without law. To punis
without law is the erossest violation I
| Iaw-it Is crime Lynch law wherever
exists Is savagery, OF IL evidence Of und,
vtlOPed or Of degenerated society. No
should the government impose pur
lshuient IN any spirit Of ver
Through the Years OF its growth. I Tor Dr.
quarter OF century, provided by Law pun
ishhent as penalties to be imposed upo
wrOng-d0ers, tempered according To III
degree Ut CRIME. Chief amongst those per
allies 10 confinement in the peniteutiary
The territory has never yet built or Owne,
i.hment 1T it's criminal classes. TN
Usited States has a penitentiary within tn
territory al Deer Lodge and ever since tn,
beginning VI the year 1874 the terri,Ory ha
secured the confinement, care and supper
OF IT'S convicted criminals in that prison
under contract with the United States gov
ernnent. and there they have been con
hned, male and female, old and young, OF
Whatever nationality. No prisoner 10 re-
quirsu To work one hour VI the time fol
which ne Is there confined. The institu
tlon y very slightly. well-provided and
WeiEkept home. furnished with the beat
li,euicsi skill, Kind nursing, ample supply
OF reading matter. and q chaplain. fhr
buildings and grounds are admirably ar
ragged for the safe keeping, comfort aud
nealth OF the cOnvicts. These considrra
tons. with the vigilance and skill Of the
present keeper, Hon. X. =. Kelly. show the
tenarkaD'e fact that no death has occurred
1 r' within the last three ana II half years
thete are out seventy cells prOvisied there
~ which To keep prisoners. This limited
provision for room has necassitated the
putting 0f two convicts in each cell, and.
IN addition to that number, there
are periods Of time when ten to fifteen
otners have to be bedded on the floors II
the open rooms, and guarded with extra at.
tentlon To prevent escape. The territory
has thus paid for boarding in idleness the
convicted criminals since jan, 1874. two
hundred and seventy thousand dollars, and
Inc AUDITORS Office shows the fact that these
annual OUTLAWS are Increasing from three to
.e..h Thousand dollars every year. You
are therefore confronted with the question.
you willcOntinue this imprOyident
movie OF treating the wrong doors Of this
etritOry, or As other governments have
lone, you will provide a penitentiary ana
'ther institutions To meet the wants of
AOptana's people for confinement aud pun
ects OF the government?
, All civ!l governments Ut which history
ives us any account, had their system Cf
,en0iOgy and fashioned Ia their own
Hosen way their execution. But we are
u 1lid VI the fact that America gave To the
verdi the hrst penitentiary, and here was
Orn the idea Of refOrmatOry discipline in \
rison. This grand conception, as a means
depressing crime and retaining fallen |
zen. was taken up by all the states of this
onirderacy. and until about the year 1885 |
ne american states were leading the civil
ed world IN their enlightened and i'm |
scved methods 81 furnishing crime. Since |
zen, however, England and some OF IN.
lder governments have outstripped
"a gone far m advance Of our people
lontana has place among the American
and IL now in sight OF
atehOod, securing to her people full and
lual political rights with those ~ other
'vrfei9h states OF this great confsderacy
states; the swelling tide of Immigration
ms great empire Of unfolding wealth
yes 10 the thoughtful statesman no un-
rtaln sound. Its warning voice co,,ns sells
prepare and lay we'll the foundation Of
'ery department of this rising govern
ent, and especially TO provide the ampest
curi'y 10 the citizen against crime and
olence. Montana cannot afford any
niger 10 neglect and refuse to have q state
ieOn, one OF such architectural propor-
ms and dimensions, extent and security |
will fully answer all the present amt
turs demands Of this growing power. aud
sane put under such humane govern.
INT and control as all cOmpOrt with the
lightonad age In which we live. Montacs
no longer an orphan, capable only of ex-
'isinx such power and doing such things
The congress of the United States allows,
Is q full grown, we'll matured iutelIi-
nee, self reliant. and fully capable Of
wing out and shaping her own institu- !
us, and giving direction 10 their admin
ration. shutting . prisoner up in bas. | c
anu sePHTHrIHV MN from The world 10
enough. IL Is neither lust to him nor z
The state TO stop with that little measure }
punishment: but. in addition, | e
r. should be imposed on him a
Il hin 'n sSs walls IN big -; con 11
ise and behind the bottled doors. This q
N element Of discipline which should br G
nintstered and enforced by the cOrrec u
hand Of the state. and the guilty Grim. a
should IN this way be forced TO con- a
,n'e u som. degree TO his own support x
lie drinking Of the bitter cup he h nself =,
prepared. There IL no hiding the fact q
crime holds high carnival In our land u
detection and punishment Ut crime u
. one of the greatest items OF cost to our Is
ornament; and 1t requires armies OF on n
! 10 hunt and discover criminals, and u
governments are powerless tn prevent O.
commission OF crime. The hope Of ~
nal hltaQ And tho fnae nf l IN
alike powerleea. The convict re. 81
'ed t. work In prison. ~ honest people W
outside, will he prepared to better I'm az
place A. free man when again tufned OF
upon the world. on
House OF aEFORn. a.
Ia . source OF sorrow and regret, and ne
20 O. dark curtain over the hearthstODr OF,
ANY homes. that many of the youths OF fe
territory. while yet In the morning Of in,
TAI victims 70 crime, and become sub BIZ
the absence Of any other pro he
N for their confinement, they sh
vent 81 the county jail or u the peni- by
ary, ard there kept In idleness, the a. oil
ltee OF Older men who are hardened W.
skilled In crime. Thus the state 10 sal
ally pufttaR In apprenticeship the Of orr
ing youth to the tuition aad mOIdluc he
. very worst men and most offensive ths
aeters In the commonwealth. These me-,
Il pupils, already marked o. felOus. the
cady IT, absorb and become saturated ter
ain and the evil spirit, cherished and or
rd In malice toward the world BY the
adepts 10 crime. In many instances cua
come out worse In heart. and eagerly upt
upon . holder life OF shame and eve
e -d0inR. There 10 . solemn 0bliga, int,
upon Tho government to extend its I
e arm absut the youth Of the country, act
guard his way we'll against the evil snt
I. ,cuous PopuIetiOn, not only those ut our
- nss Wno H4 y large seeking whom u
can seduce, but sisO against those in fui
Wn possession and confinement in and
q. The duty OF the government does sigl
Ease toward . wsywsrd boy who has loo,
convicted 81 crime. He may be only sue
81 yeers oio, and should not be thrown stru
n"r snould ne Dc sentenced to life gar
ruVs~, uuueI JpN Instruction. and fnfe- | nm