The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-08
Stillwater Minn. Thursday, Aug s, 1889.

sion if it wishes to perform the task it has
undertaken. Any or every man that comes
to prison is not necessarily so vicious or
confirmed in criminal habits that he should
be considered on par with the lower ami
mails. While there are few fiendS in hu-
man form who would seem beyond all re-
demption. experience shows there are means
by which the great majority of those who
now prey upon their fellow men may be- re-
turned to the fold from which they have
wandered. To reach this end the criminal
must be Systematically treated. He must
be put through certain course to relieve
his moral sickness. 1t is not necessary that
any arbitrary process shall be used. but
there must be systematic method under
lying the prescribed treatment Instead of
making a machine out of the man, man
must be evolved from the machine. To ac
complish this. the first and most important
thing to do is to classify the prisoners. Di-
vide them into two or more grades and
treat them according to the intensity of
their malady, as it is to be done with those
men about to be sent to the refOrmatOry.
Do not make fish OF one and flesh OF the
other, but treat them all as they deserve.
One cause that prevents a more decided
progress in the treatment Of the criminal in
late years is that we are inclined to be
either too poetic or too prosac in judging
him. Some people would hold him up as
poor, martyred angel who is being pun
ished and trodden under foot by his mum
dane brethren. Others think that no pun
ishment is hard enough for him, and that
he should be immured for life, where there
would be no possible chance of his again
falling into criminal habits. There is a
u hot fxun mott fQC
which, if followed out. will have good re-
suits. The criminal, in the abstract, is no
worse than the ordinary man. All OF the
human family have their failings: the diff
ference is that those of the criminal are
more pronounced, and therefore call down
the censure of his more fortunate fellow
men. Otherwise he is kin to humanity in
every sense of the word. He has committed
rash act, he has not used his faculties in
the proper manner; but he has the facul-
ties and what is required is that he be I'M
pressed with the necessity of using them in
legitimate lines. This can never be done
by treating him as you would dumb brute.
His better nature must be appealed to-; the
smOlderng spark of manlness still within
him must be famed into flame that will
arouse his dormant energies and weld the
link of human kindness that will join him
III brotherhood with his fellOw-men. and
make him an active warrior in the battle of
life instead of a preying jackal.
Seventy-tve men are to be taken from
here to receive this systematic treatment
speak of-but what is to be done with the
balance remaining here? 1t is impossible
to send all from here who are deserving and
eligible; therefore nearly similar methods to
those to be used in the refOrmatOry should
be adopted here. The grading system can
be used here as successfully as in any other
penal institution. The tenor of the law
passed by the last legislature grading the
good time money to be given us. plainly
implies that the men should be divided into
three classes. 1t is the most systematic
method of dealing with prisoners. and is the
only way by which the state can fulfil the
duty it undertakes when it attempts to curb
the evil propensties of its prisoners. and
develop in their stead manly principles.
There is no necessity for etfeminate Senti-
mentality in the management of prisoners.
But there is urgent need for good, sensible
business methods founded upon humane
principles and warranted by mature expert
ence the aim of which should be to decrease
crime by instilling pride and self-respect
into the criminal. Do not be satisfied by tell
ing the criminal that you THINK he is a
man. but show him by your actions and
treatment that you really believe him such,
and he will eventually prove himself one.
RONDA.
Some papers do not like the English habit
of emitting the article "the' before the
names of yachts. especially in the case of