The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-02
A BITTER PROTEST.

Elsewhere in this issue of the CALL ap.
pears pathetic communication from an
ex-convict. Besides thanking the CALL for
the good which it unconsciously did him,
it tells the old, old story of the distrust
which an ex-convict inspires, the Gripping
effect of his long imprisonment on his
capabilities and opportunities to resume
the struggle for existence, and hence the
double burden that he must bear in COM
petition with men upon whom this great
affection has not fallen. To the penologist
these are all old and sore problems, but II
will not be amiss here to consider some as
poets of the matter that have not received
due attention.
Upon the opening up of a new and prom
Using territory there is always hocking
thither of well-meaning men who wish to
escape hurtful habits and associations, OF
other men who have committed crimes the
punishment of which they desire to escape,
and of other men still who bear the stamp
of felon. In the TWO last-named instances
the newcomers invariably take new names.
The history Of the development of Aus
tralia, New Zealand. California and Cape
Colony would be seriously impaired were
the work of development done by men OF
these two classes to be left out of account.
The hint therefore, is that ex-convicts
who really have a manful spirit and q
wholesome ambition can have an approx
imately fair and even start with the world
by changing their names and recommen-
cling the battle of life in new country. 1t
is not impossible that this can be done in
an old community, but new offers better
opportunities.
This refers to the conduct of the ex-con-
Wet himself. That phase of the problem
which concerns the bearing of the COM
munity toward these unfortunates requires
a different point of view. Equally as pitt
full as insanity or chronic disease is the
ex-convict who has gone into prison a
young man and emerged old, gray and
broken; and even though he may be in
corrigible, his case is none the less, but
even the more, pitiful for that, for the
affection under which he suffers is as de-
plorable as though he were insane or q
consumptive. 1t is not his case we are
now considering, for society must protect
itself against him, as against lunatic,
by Whatever means. In order to be on
the safe side society chooses to regard as
vicious every man who has been convicted
of a crime, without regard to the character
of the offense, the nature OF the provoca-
ton or the disposition OF the criminal.
1t is herein that society commits crime
not less serious than that for which the
convict has been punished, and aids in the
perpetuation of career which penal in
situations are intended to correct.
Whether an ex-convict whose normal
instincts are right deems it good to conceal
his history and to that extent deceive
those among whom he desires to lead an
upright life is a matter which we shall not
discuss further than to say that its deter
mination is for the individual conscience,
and that the forwarding of self-interest
without doing harm to others is duty as
well as right. Certainly, when such an
ex-convict observes the cruel unwisdom
and ignorant seltishness which inspire the
bearing of society toward him, the tempta-
ton, not to say the necessity, perhaps,
either to practice such deceit or enter upon
determined course OF crime, is more than
many very worthy men would be able to
resist.
That which society needs to do is to
organize intelligent machinery for securing
all possible knowledge upon which it may
base a wise and humane treatment of such
ex-convicts as are willing to have their
history known in order to secure the bene-
fits OF such treatment as may be devised in
their special interest. In laying such a
course the convict deemed worthy or prom
Using, in order that he may be on even
terms with the world, must be treated with
Snecial cousid Iteration and an uufailino
charity.