The mirror., 1894-06-21
PRISON CONGRESS.
President BrinkerhOf Delivers the
Opening Address-Many Able Pa
pers Read-GOOd Work Done In tn
Advancement of Prison Reform.

The annual congress Of 1894 Of
the National Prison Association con
vened at the State Capitol Saturday
evening the 10Th inst. President Brink
erhoff delivered very able and inter
esting opening address, synopsis of
which we quote from the St.Paul Daily
Dispatch, as follows:
THE CRIMINAL TIDE.
"In very able address on the rising
tide of criminality, delivered before the
national prison congress-, President
BrinkerhOff has dwelt upon several
phases of most serious and important
question, and one to which public atten-
ton cannot be too emphatically direct
ed 1t is, in measure, gratifying to
national pride that he does not place the
United States, as some theorists on
criminal statistics are inclined to do,
far in advance of other countries in the
increase of crime prOpOrtiOnate to pop
ulatiOn.
"Quoting from an acknowledged au-
thOrity he points out that the level of
criminality is rising throughout the
civilized world, and that in France, in
Germany, in Spain, in Italy and other
countries the advance has been, prob
ably, quite as material as here. He
might of gone still further and have
shown, not for the purpose of eXcusing
or palliating the existence of crime in
this country, but as an explanation of
its increase, that for number of years
past there has been a constant and un-
interrupted flow into the United States
of hundreds of the baser elements of
foreign population, who have drifted
hither under the impression that they
were coming to land where they
would be allowed to do as they pleased,
and whose presence has created many
and serious complications, unforeseen
and unprovided for, in the social life of
the republic.
"While it cannot be charged that our
criminal classes are composed alto
gether of this foreign element, it will
undoubtedly be admitted that it's
presence has very materially added to
the difficulties surrounding the question
and that had proper restrictions been
placed about immigration earlier in the
country's history we would have had a
greater immunity from crime.
"a number of excellent remedial and
preventive measures are proposed, and
UllCI SlllOlCOulCuU WOulu OOuUUloSS Ut
productive of good results. Little if
any stress is however, laid on the fact
that there is too frequently laxity in
the administration of justice and the
enforcement of the criminal laws which
now grace the statute books of the
various states. Evil-doers have toe
often been given occasion to look upon
the laws meant to repress the commits
sion of crime as simple statutory orna
ments, worthy Of no respect and easily
evaded if the proper political influence
is brought to bear. They have found
in the men appointed or elected to ad
minister the laws, mere political pup
pets, in whom there is far less of de
sire to pefOrm their duty without feal
or favor than anxiety to SO guide then
conduct that they may secure a renOmi
nation to office.
Until there is change in this re
Spect crime will thrive. 1t may anC
unquestionably car be Iessened to q
very considerable extent by education
and religion, but the law abiding anC
law favOring people should remember
that their selection of men for places
of authority. men who will act hon
estly and fearlessly, has very much tt
do with the suppression of crime"
Many able papers were read by mem
bers of the association which will un
doubtedly have a good and lasting
effect in the advancement of prison
reform. The Congress as whole be
lieves in dealing with the prisoner as
man, and strongly condemns any meas
ures which would have a degrading
effect upon his natural manhood. Tn,
convention adjourned yesterday t
meet at Denver, Colorado, in Septem
ber 1895.