The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-11-26
OUR COUNTY JAILS.

A great many people of today are {
inclined to the opinion that we are
living in an age that will be recorded ;
as one of reform. Notwithstanding
the fact that reform is the watchWord
of the hour, we believe that the aver
age man will require the assistance OF
a microscope to ascertain the advance
a great many of our reformers claim
to have made. New theories and
methods are eagerly grasped without
giving the subject due thought in re-
gard to the consequences by these
would-be philanthropists whose only
ambition in life is to attract attention
and bask in the sunshine OF their kind
and indulgent fellow citizens. TO the
true refOrmer there is a broad field for
intelligent work; wrongs to be rlghted,
the oppressed to be delivered and to
expose the ambitious designs OF the
grasping to the rays of MONDAY sun
and consign them to the obscurlty
from whence they came.
AS the silent system is now advocat-
ed, the search-light of knowledge should
be directed upon the methods that are
being adopted in our county Jalls
throughout the state, and it will be
found that there has been very little
progress made towards ameliorating
the condition of suspects awaiting
trial. The system is rapidly becoming
popular, and is retrograde step to-
wards barbarism; but, with little
energy and common sense directed in
the proper direction, the real needs,
moral and material, of the prisoner
awaiting trial can be understood and
supplied without neglecting the de-
mands of justice, discipline or human
ity. When crime is committed the
law grasps the suspect and puts him
in solitary confinement to await an
indefinite time until judgment is pro-
nounced by a jury of his peers. Where
can we find in the annals of history a
precedent that excels this in cruelty
in dealing towards suspects? Where
have they derived their authority to
punish suspects in the same manner
that incorrigible criminals are pun
ished in our penal institutions? If the
suspect is found innocent the injury
; done him is vastly more than the ad'
, vocates of solitary confinement will
admit. 1t not only plants the germs
of criminality and dependency, but
affects his moral and physical condl
| ton to such an extent that, as bread
e winner, his powers are weakened. Ii
}. impairs his intellectual faculties ano
: deadens his conscience against all tina
s is elevating, and, instead of developing
J. a healthy desire to respect and pro
0 mote the laws of society, he holds
v their good intentions in derision ant
e their promoters in contempt.
}. The suspect, be he the idolized son
d a millionaire or humble John Smith tn
a scavenger, should be treated in confo1
q nifty with the rules that govern societ
e and common humanity. In dealing
J. with this class of people very little dis
J. elimination is made. All are suppose
J. to be guilty. The law imagines tha
their sense of right and wrong is
IL lifeless as an Egyptian mummy. !
If great many look upon them as so man
Is machines. When an error is committe
q, they are cast to the p'pile of HI
ty manity to corrode and battle with til
10 elements for existence. The men wh
n are endeavoring to force this refine
tn mechanical, soul-destroying syste1
or upon society in this civilized perio
n no doubt deny the existence (
at the power of friendship, love and goo
feeling among men. AS the rays of i
re. telligence pierce their conceited a
,r. atomy, it will find conscience incas'