The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-09-17
The Grading system.
PART II.


the grading system here advocated, may be
placed. is the uniformity of its action. All
would be impressed by it more or less, and
the greater number very much. The eff
cheney of an army. is in proportion to the
discipline. intelligence and uniform action
of all its members, and not to the superior
ity of few. Virtue is maintained in a
community. not by few high examples of
it. but by an elevated general standard.
The grading system constitutes a strong
recommendation for high order of individ-
ual reform. Men are gregariOuS creatures.
Where one goes another will follow. and he
will seek not merely to follow. but to out
strip. 1t is thus that armies rush impetu.
OuSly where the braveSt would hesitate to
advance alone, and even boys at school eX-
hibt under an impulse of emulation pa
tlence and self sacrifice foreign to their age,
and which none of them probably would
singly command. Once actuated by any
common impulse, uneducated minds are al
ways more entire in their subsection to it
than those whose views are more extended
through culture. and where they act in the
mass their movements become accelerated
at every step. Union, and more especially
virtuous union, is power. Men can do
jointly, what they cannot do singly. The
union of minds and hands works wonders.
Men become efficient in proportion as they
concentrate their powers Joint effort con-
quers nature, hews through mountains, and
has reared the great pyramids. Man left to-
himself living without fellow, if he could
so live. would be one of the weakest Great
ures. Associated with his kind he gains
dominion over the strongest animals. over the
earth and thesea. Thehuman heart is kindled
by association. An electric communication
is established between those who are brought
into contact, and are bound to each other by
common labors and interests. Man droops
in solitude: no sound excites him like the
voice of his fellow-man. The mere sight
of human cOuntenance frightened with
generous emotion gives new strength to do
or suffer. Union not only brings into play
forces which before existed. but by the in
terest and feeling which 1t arOuses it be.
comes creative principle. calls forth new
powers, and gives the mind force which
would otherwise have remained unknown.
Prisoners will be found just like other men.
They are born social beings. are so fash
toned by the hand of the Creator, and it is
in the society of their equals-nOt in exclu-
sive contact with superiOrs-that their best
qualities will be called out. To say that
men can be best fitted to return to society.
without any other social relation whatever
than that of prisoner to jaier. seems as
great sOlecism as it would be to say that
admirals may be best taught their special
duties by being kept on shore. or artists, by
being debarred the use OF their implements.
Instruction and practice must go together to
fit man to meet the difficulties and temp
tations of social life. And if either is omit
ted. the discharged prisoner must inevitably
60 lame and halt.
All past systems of prison discipline have
been, in the main. different notifications of
force. Whether separation or silence or en-
forced labor, or whatever else they may
have been, the leading principle authority,
has been their chief if not the exclusive reli-
ance. Let organized persuasion now have
trial. persuasion with such forces behind
it as will, by sort of moral necessity. de-
termine to right choice. The true princ-
pie then is. that man mourning punish
ment should. like one who has fallen into
pit be required to struggle out of it. and not
be allowed simply to endure out of it. The
ability on the part of the prisoner to better
his condition while in prison. or in other
words. regulated self interest, is one of
the mightest and healthiest moral forces
that can be introduced into prison manage
ment But it will be said. Why give pre-
NUNS to criminals while you give nothing
to honest people who are struggling with
misery? These objections will be offered
by persons who have never made a study of
penitentiary science. and have never had a
near view of prison life. 1t will probably
be the opinion of the great majority. Such
persons will not admit that criminal who
applies himself to labor. in order that he
may lead new life in the future. thereby
performs meritOriOus action. The action
of an honest man-an action which he
certainly would not accomplish with the
zeal. the sole condition of success, if it had
been imposed on him simply as barren
task. With too little reflection the major
ity cries out for punishment. always pun
ishment. nothing but punishment. But
they forget that punishment alone makes
the burden greater and does not arrest re-
lapses The majority. therefore. defend
the principle of excessive and useless ex-
penditures. since the social security gains
nothing by them. Is the majority so flush
of money. that it can afford to throw it out
Of the window. all for the barbarous pleas
ure of taking vengeance once and reserving
the right to revenge itself again? Crime,
like misery. is disease It should be cured