The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-07-04
Vol. VIII.-NO. As.
A CONVICT'S NEEDS TOWARD REF
ORMATION.
(Thjrd P0per.)


Oh! for the power that will forever
eradicate from the mind of the Grim
inal the degrading nurtured inclina-
-tion for evil doing, not alone against the
laws of nature, but the laws of man.
For without this sencouraged propensity
of violating law, man would act
natural, which to him would not alone
mean harmony and peace within, but
harmony and peace with the Creator
and all mankind
What are the directions which must
b. learned and followed in order that
convicts may forever cast aside the
shackels and fetters which bind and
prevent them from enjoying coveted
freedom, blessed liberty which every
man receives at birth and which he
may either enjoy or destroy? 1t is,
study yourself; study your own inclina-
tions; study that motive power within
which lies buried in thought, revealed
by action and which continually urges
you to do that known to be direct
violation of law, to which man ofttimes
yields in spite of the words of warning,
contempt and shameful weakness
pointed out by the governing seat of
the nd-Conscience. Two great
known forces within, control the man:
Doing right or doing wrong. One is in
obedience of and in conformity with
the laws of nature, the other direct
violation. No act of man can be in
termediately classed. There is a
dividing line and deeds committed
either fall to the right and are classed
as good, or to the left and are classed as
evil, which are either rewarded OF
punished First there is cause, fol
lowed by the effect always plainly dis.
cernable. We all know that by thrust
ing our hand into seething furnace
which is a violation of the laws OF
nature, it will burn. Instantly the
hand is Withdrawn in order to avoio
further suffering. Still the punish
ment for this violation does not i'm
mediatly cease. There remains &
smarting. burning sensation which
needs care, attention and soothing
lotion, before we can expect it to hea
and cease paining. So it is with th'
violation of any law of nature although
punishment may not come so sudde1
in some cases, yet ultimately it will
sncroach upon us and we slowly begil
to realize the effect of the transgres
sion.
The acts of man are controlled b.
his will power. He can either per
form or reject them, just as he will
If he violates law it will leave an i'm
preston on some propensity ofthe mine
which if long continued, soon grows t.
such enormity that it is never satisfie'
until gratified. In violating law an
in experiencing the punishmen
thereof, the novice, to prevent a recul
renee of the endured Inconvenience
resolves to avoid another transgressior
Still this act has uncOnsciously lelt a.
inclinable impression on the mind, an
upon the second presentation of tn
temptation greater effort of resis1
ance is required than was necessary i
the first. 1t is at this point where S
many through weakness fall. Coz
Sequently, there is a certain caus
which produces certain effect, an
like causes under like conditions wi
incontrovertibly produce the same e
ect under all circumstances. Hence W
must study the cause of our action an
discover where lies this yielding veal
ness of violating law. When found
is our solemn duty to at once discou
age it's further qualification and witt
out delay educate the diseased proper
sity in observing and conforming wit