The record-union., 1897-06-02

sunshine and food, coarser nourishment
and more hard work, heavier burdens
and more of them.
The State should not be unmerciful,
but too tender care of the criminal ele-
the criminal that it may be curse to
him, as we think it has been at San
Quentin. The convict at that luxurious
abode for retired cut-throats and rest
ing thugs; that salubrious retreat for
road agents and larcenists, burglars,
rape fiends, murderers and the like,
should be so fed and housed that they
will be brought to a fine realizing sense
of what liberty and privilege are. We
are disposed to think that solitary con-
finement is too rare; that music and
gatherings and preachings, teachings
and social affairs and access to newspa-
pers and books have been too many and
broad, until the convicts have come to
think that all the world is concerned in
their welfare, and all they have to do is
to rebel against prison officials ana
mankind will rise en- masse in sympa-
thy with him.
May not the English manage these
things better after all? Their rigor is
such that the convict finds life miser-
able within English walls, and breads
them beyond all things else. Here in
California we have instances in large
number of men actually breaking into
our prisons to secure desirable shelter
and refuge. A noticeable instance of
that occurred only a few days ago,
where a third termer committed fel-
ony for the express purpose of being re-
turned to San Quentin.
This class of fellows appear to have
far less liking for Folsom. There the
work is more laborious, the discipline
more rigid-and this is said to be the
statement of the San Quentin officials
themselves-and the certainty of pun
ishment greater. Indeed, we are told
that it is proposed to transfer large
! body of the San Quentin rioters to Fol
som as a means of punishment, as well
as to separate desperate, plotting char
acters. If this is true. it is not credita-
BILE to the San Quentin management,
which. for aught we know, however, is
not blamewerthy for a system that ap-
pears to be too merciful
! But with all this said, there is nothing
whatever expressed that crosses any
principle for which the Record Union
! has so long contended in it's treatment
| of psychological questions, namely, that
the highest aim of Imprisonment as a
punishment is reformation. There is
no doctrine of penology that puts sever
lity of discipline, rigor of treatment and
sharpness of punishment for insubordi-
nation into antagonism with any office
of reformation. The convict can be
rigidly disciplined, and still be taught
that he must subdue his passions; that
reward comes of deserving; that society
does not harbor anger against him; that
| he is treated for his good as well as for
the protection of society.
| Every doctrine and device accepted by
foremost penologists is applicable, under
rigor, exact discipline, hard labor and
severe punishment for insubordinate
conduct. Reformation of the convict
/ indeed, may be delayed if not defeated
by too merciful handling. And that we
| take it has been the trouble all along al
San Quentin; far more the cause thar
the importation of opium, which is givef
as the chief reason for the present un-
fortunate state of affairs there, reason
not sustained, we think, by any proofs
that have been made public.
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