Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-28

The following letter has been re-
ceived by M. F. Stiles, Esq, of this city,
from Calvin Pratt, who is now serving a
term of fourteen years at San Quentin
for forgery. 1t will be remembered that
Pratt was captured in Japan and brought
back to San Francisco to stand trial.
His case has attracted the attention Of
many influential people, who believe it
is one that the governor should look
into. His appeal for mercy is one of
the most eloquent and pathetic we have
ever read.-ED. HERALD.
"He that hath the steering of my course,
Direct my saili'
DEAR SIR: Time, with the eternal
mutation that attends its course, has
nearly reached the milestone whereon
is numbered the fifth year of my con-
finement within the walls of prison.
The kind consideration Of those who
have my prison life in keeping, permits
me to address you in this manner, plac-
ing before you petition for executive
clemency, and to ask your aid and in
fuence in procuring it.
When upon that dreary winters morn
tentiary closed upon me, resolved then
and there to work out, if possible, my
own salvation. How well this resolu-
tion has been kept is best told in the
certificates of the prison wardens, which
herewith append.
III it is remembered that the tasks per-
formed, the service rendered, the labor
accomplished, the record made, was un-
der circumstances and conditions that
require stout heart and take strong
will to keep soul and body from dissolu-
ton, it must, it seems to me, be all the
more deserving of the approval of every
one who, knowing the frailties of human
nature, is willing to accord forgiveness
to those who err and acknowledge it.,
and pardon to those who merit and de-
serve it.
The self-imposed condition of exile
precludes the necessity of offering evil
depce-not even such slight testimonials
as are herein exhibited-of an hereto
fore busy and Industrious life with which
to overcome the distrust of society, and
to replace it with confidence that
possess those attributes so requisite and
indispensable to the good and useful
citizen. To face, while the wound is still
fresh, the world | once knew, to battle,
of ''once thief, always a thief" with
which it greets the discharged convict,
requires courage do not possess, nor
have the strength and nerve to acquire.
The skies of other lands may not be as
bright as this nor the seasons as balmy,
but shall there be, perhaps, unknown.
In that resistless torrent OF industry and
enterprise which fills new worlds and
new creations, may find in the strug-
gle some solace and compensation for
these wasteful, profitless years. In that
land of my adoption l shall find well
come, the little talent and ability
possess will be recognized, my energy
and ambition rewarded. The past. if
known, will never be used against me
My boy will not be taunted with being
''convict's brat" nor will society close
its doors upon my family. Those who
through devotion seek to share my ex-
lie, may ney er be recompensed for these
long years of sorrowful, anxious waiting
for prison doors to open. l may never
find kind nepenthe in which to drink
forgetfulness of the one damned spot !;
still, when the dread angel puts forth
his icy finger to efface it, he will, at
least, find nothing added to the record
Who would not, with this vision of
better things, gladly barter prison cell
for independence and exile; surrender
this fetid, barren existence for freedom
and Punishment; exchange the fetters
that bind the mind, the chains which
surround the soul, the bolts and bars
that encompass the body, for liberty
and expatriation?
ssThe end crowns all;
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it..
And vet, even under these conditions,
1 may meet with opposition. Those who
preach philanthrophy Oh the allopathic,
but practise it upon the homeopathic
plan, may deem the penalty already
paid, as valueess. If honesty of purpose,
faithful performance of enforced duty,
and the penitence brought by years of
punishment, are insufficient for atone
ment, the bitterness OF my fate will still
be less than the joy of those who
achieve victory by wealth, malice and
revenge.
To be immured for five years within
the Goddess cloisters of a prison, to
spend it in the thankless service OF the
law, seems an eternity of desoation, but
if have during the long, unhappy serv-
itude earned my freedom, it will be
worth all the pain, the sorrow and the
suffering that have been caused, to re-
alize it. If fail,-
NIf hope shall whitening fee,
And mercy sigh, farewel,"o
then let there be inscribed above the
tomb wherein lies buried every earthly
Joy, desire or expectancy: "He hath
done what he could" and I'll be con-
tent. The journey may seem long, the
way steep, the burden heavy, but,
while under the weight of the law, the
spur and lash of the taskmaster, clothed
in the motley garb of the pariah and
outcast, the consciousness of having
produced "fruits meet for repentance"
will console me until the end.
I hope that shall not have addressed
you in vain, and that you will return to
the direction enclosed my request upon
his excellency, signed by yourself and
others whom you may influence.
In these days of selfshness and greed,
such signatures bear evidence that,
though aided only by friends gained
through his own work and conduct, an
unfortunate victim of the laws dis
pleasure may be restored to "life, liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness.
"Heaven speed the time that shall bring on
summer
When briars shall have roses, as well as thorns,
And be as sweet as sharp"