The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-06-06

IN the last issue OF IHE MIRROR we
an article entitled, "a Con-
Wet, but still Man" showing where
forgery had, through overwork, earned
sufficient money to repay the parties
whom he had defrauded, and who had
repeatedly refused executive clemency
almost forced upon him, taking the
ground, that he had committed crime
for which he wished to make full repair
alton; not only to those who suffered,
but to the state.
To say that the case is an unusual
one, is putting it mildly. The repair
alton to both parties was fully made
when he had demonstrated his WORTH
ness, through the return of that he had
deprived his fellow-man of, and the
true repentance he had shown for his
crime. Truly, the law is not meant as
a hardship, and the governor in offer
ing pardon certainly felt that the ends
of justice were attained and wished to
restore him to a larger field of useful
ness, to relieve him from degradation.
The case, however, is of far reaching
Importance to the convict as it will
lead to kinder and better feelings
toward the erring one who is confined
behind prison walls. 1t will do much
toward tearing down that almost uni
versally accepted theory, "Once a
convict, always criminal and lead
the broad thinking and sincere re-
former to try and know more of the in
dividual prisoner and less of what
some one knows of him. The instances
of men being confined in prison, en-
tirely inocent are very rare; but that
man can be convict, and still not be a
criminal is fact that could be dem
onstrated, did society show the same
zeal in fallen mans redemption that
they manifest in his punishment and
degradation. There are many men in
prison today who are without one
criminal propensity, whose whole heart
and soul recoils at the bare idea of a
criminal life; who, in moment of
weakness, or the result of some organic
disease have violated the law, and been
cast aside as worthless and lost. With
an opportunity these men would cheer
fully repair the wrong committed, and
begin again, stronger than ever to do
the right; while the rigor and degada
ton of convict life, brushes out the
good and leaves them, too frequently
unfit for the world. 1t is an almost
impossible accomplishment to reform
man, to convince him you have his
betterment at heart, you would see
him be a man, and at the same time
surround him with conditions thai
make him feel he is but a unit, {
breathing thing.
The human heart, no matter how low
it has fallen, is pregnable, and can bt
filled with better feelings, lifted tt
nobler purposes than a desire to com
NIT crime, or lead wicked life; but IL
, order to accomplish this, that hear
must be surrounded with elevating in
. fluences; taught that the happiest lif
is the one of honesty and true man
hood, and this can only be accomplished
, by those who heartily desire the eleva
; ton of the human race, and who ar
! capable of diagnosing the individual
! case and applying the proper remedie
e to effect cure. TO the intelligen
: man, whose heart is not criminal, tn
: punishment usually consists in tn
: commission of any wrong action tina
4 touches the conscience, and what h
q needs is the broad hand Of brotherl
: sympathy to teach him where he wa
y weak and help build him up, make hir
> stronger. Punish crime by all means