Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-11-26
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wish in that direction. As the messenger
handed this card to me lie told me that
:. carriage MS ct the door forsmy dis
posalin visiting the prisons. II so hap
pe.1ed. however, that was crowded
with engagements and [ could not make
tho visitation. But do You suppose such
cheerful permission and carriage to
boot would have been afforded me if the
prisons of Russia are such hellS on earth
as they have been described 20 be? |
asked an eminent and distinguished
American, Have you visited the pris-
CTS of ST. Petersburg, and how do they
differ from American prisons:" He re-
pied, Il have visited them, and they
are as well ventilated and as well condi-
toned in every respect as the majority
c. the prisons III America" Are women
whipped in the street. No; that state
lrent comes from the manufactorv of
fabrication, q mallufactory that ru,is
day and night, so that tue supply may
meet the demand.
But how about Siberia? My answer
is. Siberia is the prison of Russia. u
prison more than twice the size of the
United States. John Howard, who did
lrore for The Improvement of prisoners
and the reformation CT criminals than
any man that ever lived, his na,nc a
synonym For mercy throughout hristen-
dem, declared by voice and pen that tie
system of transportation OF criminals
fom Russia to Siberia was an admirable
pan. advocating open air punishment
IL Their than endungeonment, and also
because it WAS taking all offenders hun
dsedS Of miles away from their evil
companions. John Howard, after wit
messing the plan of deportation Of criui-
ir3la from Russia to Siberia, commended
it TO England. If a man commits muir
der in Russia, lie is not elecTocutetl as
We clectrocute him, or choked TO death
h.; halter as we choke him to death.
Russia is the only country on earth from
which hetleatl penalty has been driven.
except in case of high treason. Muir
Gsrers and desperate villains are sent to.
TIE hardest PARTS of Siberia, but no mai
is sent to Si5cri. or doomed TO any kind
OF punishment il Russia until lie has u
fair trials SO far as their being hustled
OF in the night and not knowing why
tiiey are e:>iled or punished is concerned.
;iiist;se criminals in Russia have all open
trial before IL jury just rs we have III
America. exceptin revolutionary or riot
o;.s times. and yen know III America at
s,a"h Tires the writ of habcas,cOrpus is
suspended. There are in Russia grand
luries and petit jrries and the right to
challenge the jurors, and the prisoner
ccufronts lis accuser. and, mark this. as
il. 10 other country, after u prisoner has
been condemned by juries and Judges
h. iu;:y appeal to the minister of the in
terror. and after that to tho senate, and
after that 10 the emperor, who is con-
sJantly pardoniuS.
As said. the violent and murderous
:1e sent to the hardest part,of Siberia,
bat the more moderate criminals to more
propitious parts of Siberia. and those
who have only 4 little crimillaiity to
parts of Siberia positively genial for
Climate, for You ought to know, II yol
do not know. that Siberia is so largennd
wide and long that it reaches from friS-
;ditv TO torridity, from almost arctlc
blast 20 climate as mild as that CT Italy.
Run Your finger along tile map of the
world. and you will find that the lowest
,;art of Siberia is on the fortv-iifth de-
gree of latitnae. and the richest part or
Italy is Oh the Same fortv-iifth degree OF
latitude, so that Siberia reaches from
iI:e furs ut the Eor;h TO the palm LEAF
fans at the south. It has been demon
.StrateG that nii,ety per cent. of tiie Rus
sian criminals colonzed into Siberia 90
into u climate mi!der than New Iork-a
land songEul with birds and embroidered
With fora enougi, manifold to confonndt
tic botanists. Much of the soil is q rich
lean. and ha;ves;s wait for I. plow to
liberaIe them. When a criminal is sent
10 Siberia, il the vast majority ct cases
it gives him I'll opportunity to make
new start under the best possible cir
ci,lastances Tie criminal is allowed 10
take his OF her family along, and that is
Il mercy no other country grants. In
lie quicksilver mines OF Siberia, the
hardest place Of repatriation. only one
fourth uf ll:e miners are ciiminale. The
othri, tl:rce-fuuriIs go there because they
Glucose j rs /. place 10 earn their living.
After being IL Siberia awhile the COLI
Gcmnod so TO canning Il livelihood, al!'!
trey come 10 own their own farms and
orchards ard vineyards. many OF tncse
l.ople coming 10 wealth. and thousands
CT them arder no inducalucns would
l;ave those ,rirts of Siberia which are
l.:.r;:dises for sa;iibritv aud luxnriance.
Now winch DO you think is the best
style Of rrisoa-Siberia or many OF orr
American prisons: When II man con-
1niIs !. big crime III our Country tile
judge looks into the frightened face of
tie culprit and says: You have been
found guilty I sentence yo;l To the pen
iscntiary for ten years He goes to
prison. He is silutin between four walls.
No sunlight. no fresh air. No BATH
room. Before he has served his ten
wears he dies OF consumption. or Is so
crervated that for the rest OF his life he
sis with folded hands-a wheeling in
vali;l. In preference to the shut in Life
Of the average American prisoner give
ne Siberia. Besides That, when Offend
ers co,nc out Of prison in America. what
chance have they? Ask the poorly sup
ported societies formed to get these pco-
1lc places for work. Ask me. 10 whom
the newly liberated come from all the
prisons ilnploling what they shall 30.
No one will comnend them. The la.l'or
OF incarceration is on their check. VINO
wants TO employ III factory or store. u
man or wollali who in answer to the
question, Where did you live LAST"
should make forreply. State prison at
Auburn or Moyamensing. Now IN 81
IBERIA they have a better chance. Iney
are never poken OF as criminals, but us
unfortunates, and they ale allowed every
opnortunitv of retrieving their lost rep
uia.ion and lost fortunes.
talked with the president of the
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