The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-10-01

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sonal influence, but to gain the good will
and support of the honest and influential
friends of the criminals. It is not presumed
that this is very common practice. There
is, however. disposition in the people to
attribute every pardon to corrupt motive
on the part Of the pardoning power. The
writer cites an instance of man being par
dOned just before an election to save his
citizenship. So far as we are able to learn
it is not necessary in any state Excepting
perhaps New Hampshire) that a con-
vct should be pardoned in order to save his
citizenship. We believe that in all the
states, save New Hampshire. provision is
made in law for the restoration to citizen
ship of convicts. We have before us the
laws of Minnesota and Illinois, which are
nearly alike. and we believe the laws of the
other states are substantially the same.
The Minnesota law is given here as it is the
more comprehensive:
! convict who shall pass the entire period of
his Imprisonment without violation of the rules
and discipline. except such as the board of man.
ayers shall excuse. shall upon his discharge from
prison be restored to the rights and privileges
forfeited by his conviction, and shall receive from
the governor a certificate under the great seal of
the state evidence of such restoration to be is.
sued upon presentation to the governor of a Ger.
tiicate of such conduct. which shall be furnished
to such convict by the warden.
How many eX- cOnvicts avail themselves
of this provision we do not know, but so
far as can be learned only those who 20 out
OF the prison with the intention in mind of
becoming law abiding citizens 60 to the
governor to secure their reinstatement as
citizens. Professional criminals care moth
ing for the rights of citizenship and they do
not ask for restoration; they do not dabble
in politics, and they do not, as rule. take
enough interest in elections to cast votes.
They do not sit among the law makers or
are they lobbyists. They do not make
Flaws for honest men to live BY" Ex-
convicts are not power in the government
of the country nor are they. as class,
found in the ranks of anarchists or social
lists.
The writer asks in conclusion:
Can we Christian people continue to accept
this citizenship? While we every effort to aid
discharged prisoners, while we stand faithfully
by the side of our less fortunate brothers and sis.
tiers, we, dare we, continue to impose upon
the people at large. laws where the vote of the
criminal courts equally with that Of the honest
man? With tender consideration for the weak and
erring does not justice require honor and honesty
among lawmakers and lawpyers2
Everybody, whether criminal or honest,
will say Eyes" to that last question. But
we think that everybody will see the incon.
sistency of the three questions taken to-
gether. The writer would aid ex.convicts,
yet would sink them lower than they now
are. They are good enough to send to as
sociate with God and the angels in heaven.
but they should be banished from associa-
ton with the men and women of earth.
We do not believe there is an eminent
that advocates the disfranchisement of the
eX convict. We have searched through
many prison congress reports without find
ing single word advocating such treat
ment But we find mention of such treat
ment having been discontinued In some
countries as ''unfavorable to the progress of
man endeavorlng to regain his position in
society. A man was not a free agent as
long as he was a marked man." In Eng
land prisoner on his discharge becomes
possessed again by right of all the privi-
leges OF citizen. So will the ex convict
be treated in the United States so long as it
is civilized country. The ex convict needs
no other help in the world than that people
treat him according to his conduct. He is
not an object for sympathy. Give him the
chance that you would give stranger. to
show whether or not he is worthy of the
right to be treated with respect. Give him
a chance to show whether he is trying sin
cerely to atone for his past. But if you
would not create large. united. dangerous
criminal class. do not inject the poison of
disfranchisement into the soul of every man
who has been punished for transgressing
the laws of the land.
Wise men hesitate-only fools are certain.
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