Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-02

tober, was set apart for The considera-
ton of questions relating to the treat
ment of crime and criminals for fifteen
years. The description of modern pris-
on methods has aroused interest and
the pressing home of the duties of cit
liens has stirred many hearts. The re-
form Of the criminal is paramount
among the prominent men who have
discussed prison problems. Some of
the remarks of the late Phillips Brooks
are deserving of especial attention. He
said:
sit is easy to deal with the prisoner
so that he shall not repeat his crime
you have only to kill him or keep him
unpardoned behind his prison bars.
1T is harder to deal with the pris-
oner that others shall be less inclin-
ed to crime on his account-that de-
mands deep study of human nature
and of its hayward impulses.
1T is very hard to deal with the pris-
oner that he himself shall be reformed
that is not done without sympathy,
tireless devotion and quenchless faith
Eugene Smith, student of sociology
and political economy, says:
''rhe protection of society is only
partially and temporarily secured by
the mere incarceration OF the criminal,
and it is wholly lost when he is dis
charged from prison. In order to rem
der the protection effeclual and perma-
nent the convict ought to be subject to
such disciplinary training in prison as
shall tend to rescue him from life OF
crime after he regains his freedom.
Hence it is that the reformation of the
criminal not only becomes a legitimate
aim, but should be made the controll-
ing, the paramount aim in the prison
regimen. 1t is the most radical means
of protection; the public veal demands
it as a governmental measure best
adapted to- secure the common safety
and promote the general prosperity.
Thus we arrive at the philosophical
principle upon which prison reform,
which resulted in an. impulse of Chris
tian charity, has became political
problem, and one of the most import
ant of public interests with which
statesmen and legislators have to
deal.''
Bishop Whipple of Minnesota says
there was time not long ago when
the only idea of imprisonment was
punishment for wrongdoing. In most
cases he says it left the criminal more
of John Howard and OF Elizabeth Frye
there has been a steady improvement in
prison discipline, through the labors of
great hearts like President Hayes,
Bishop Gillespie and others.
He added:
sit has dawned upon human hearts
that the end to be reached is restora-
ton. Many of the poor souls who
fcome under prison care have been
quite as much sinned against as sin
ming; through heredity, environment
and defective training they have missed
the road, and we, under their tempta-
tons, might have done the same. They
have our common humanity.
The prisoner has for time lost his
freedom. The greater humanity has
taken him into its charge to educate,
reform and fit him for the duties of
life. The tenderness and hopefulness
of which [ speak have no relation to
the mawkish sympathy which strews
flowers in the criminals path. The Of
fendor must learn that the way of the
transgressor is hard; that whatsoever
man soweth that shall he also reap
But this discipline must be for correc-
ton and not for destruction. One of
the greatest needs of today is an inter
est in discharged prisoners" ~
Bishop Lawrence of Massachusetts
takes radical view of the needs of
the community, and says: aRe-
Every boy in the reform school, ey-
cry inmate of the Jail, belongs to the
community and ought to be living as
a useful, self-respecting member of the
community. Cannot we create a civic
pride that will prompt the people to see
to it that our boys and men so live
that they will be of and in the COM
munity? Cannot we create spirit In
the people that will make them blush
with shame as they hear of the thous-
ands in our prisons. For, however
much we may dislike it, their sins fall
on us and on our Children
BRY-ANITE PROPHESIES.
Here is an article that was published
in nearly every Bryan democratic pa
per in 1896:
r,,