The record-union., 1893-01-21

and unrestrained liberty; at the same
time, through the fact of his legal liabili-
ties persisting for a time, his new-found
powers and purposes are stimulated and
society retains some guarantee against
further criminal conduct
IhI5 IS not the English "ticket-of-
leave' system, though somewh hat simi-
lar; there is an important difference, for
the English system keeps the prisoner in
the category of criminal suspects and in
contact 9Th the Governmental machinery
Tor the detection and conviction Of crimi-
naIs, while this is parole under State
guardianship, and he is responsible to
olncers, who seek his security in right
use OF IDerty, instead of detectives, Dis
tricI Attorneys and Directors Of peniten-
llaries, who seek his conviction and con-
hnement.
In lne disciplinary government OF
prisoners, for individual treatment, the
en- nldSSe plan needs to be substituted.
Prison officers must become better in
formed OF the dferettid of criminals as a
class and from each other. The Spanish
writer, Senor Arenal, says: 'In tile
prisoner who steals two things are OBJ
servable, the thief and the man the thief
constitutes the diseased part, the man the
sound part. No two are alike, so that
two men breaking the law under the
same external circumstances may enter
upon imprisonment with totally differ
ent impressions. The malady may be tn
| same, but the internal resources to Vane
quish it will greatly vary.r
Failing to perceive this, outraged So
clety sometimes crushes the man with the
criminal, or fosters the criminal with
sentimentalism lavished upon the man.
Prison officers seeing only the crimi-
nal constantly antagonizing him, con-
serve not the man until manliness from
| dlsuse dies out, while the criminal, by
the activity of opposition. thrives and be-
comes strong. These diverse qualities,
differently combined, discoverable in
every criminal, are of necessity to be
treated in conjunction. To repress the
/ one and develop the other is the process
OF reformation. Evil cannot be cured
with evil; not until evil is overcome by
| good IS any man reformed. TO distn-
guish one from the other in the same in
dlyldual requires a competent, thought
full, interested mind constantly in con-
tact with criminals.
Since Imprisonment is for protection
the disciplinary management should be
not punitive by remedial. In relation to
teaching trades to prisoners while in con-
finement it is OF secondary importance.
The principal aim should be to illustrate
to their understanding the fruits of a life
OF active industry along legitimate lines,
and when necessary enforce upon them
]
show unto you better way'' is the lam
guage used by St. Paul, whose spirit was
imbued with that of the Master in deal
ing with wickedness. IdIeness and ignor-
ance are the progenitors of every species
OF crime, and to uproot them should be
the principal object of imprisonment
Yet another reform is needed. 1t is
in the ministrations of religion to pris-
oners. Reform its partisanship. 1t is
too often Fictitious or feeble, and is frag-
mentary. The religious influencing of
prisoners should be made part of uni
| fed system of their general treatment.
1t properly belongs to the educational
! function. Because the mass of criminals
in prison are below the point of develop
ment where ordinary religious influence
can lodge, preliminary preparation OF
/ cultivation is absolutely necessary.
| Every reformatory institution should re-
| produce as near as may be the conditions
of free life. The requirements Of good
citizenship should be enforced upon pris-
oners until they manifest their purpose
and ability to comply with them when
released. The parole system embodies
these features. Its feasibility is fully
/ confirmed by the success of experiments
made in the Eastern States.