The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-08

alone can effect the change; YOU shall
nave our help so far as il can go. bat
until you make the effort We must de-
tam you in custody. hoping always
ina, ,tt you VIII decide wisely, and well.
mus, there is eliminated the thought
Vi vengeance, or of retribution, or of
any of the old, old hindrances which
nave marred and embittered the lives
OF thousands in the past, before men
hau dreamed of better things
II we are agreed upon this my pa
per would not need to be written, but
there is another view, and this view
IS that Of a majority who will not con-
cede to us even the quality of inteli-
gence sufficient to carry on the work
OF regenerating. or reforming those
who need to be led in better paths
These conservatives not only deny the
truth of our theory, but ignore the re-
SUIT OF experiences which show that
fully 40 per cent. of the offenders COM
ing under the new law" are reclaimed
and restored to citizenship.
Here is recent utterance from one
or the most brilliant and talented edi-
tors of Georgia.
| had suggested the desirability of
permitting and encouraging convicts
70 acquire knowledge of trade
which would enable him, or her, to
gain an honest living when released
from custody. And this is what the
editor writes.
There are, for instance, those who
believe the chief end and aim of pencil
ogy is reform. And thinking that they
would have the convict taught a use
full trade or accomplishment first and
foremost. and let all other considera-
tlons be secondary. "This class of
thinkers are. however, in our opinion,
QnfiTnlN
cording to our ideas, the first great
principle of the law.
An eye for an eye and tooth for a
TOOTH is the basis of every criminal
statute.
The principle was that to begin
with, is that now, and probably shall
ever continue to be the same. Certain
~ when lawbreaker is arraigned to-
day he Is supposed to be arraigned be-
1ore the bar of justice. whose other
name is retribution.''
This is in striking contrast. with mod
ern penology as interpreted by most of
It's advocates: it has a medieval fla
Vor, we seem to be looking at a page
of Fifteenth Century practice, and we
breath more freely as we realize that
this is only the utterance of one man,
and that it is not likely to prevail
Here is more along the same line:
punishment, therefore. is the great
end of law. For the eye he has taken
the criminal must be deprived of an
eye-in the name of Justice herself that
attribute Of the gods and as a deter
rent and warning calculated to pre-
vent others stabbing the body social. L."
The entire editorial advocates the
Farm for the ConVicts," and is a
wholesome presentation of that branch
or the subject! this has been success
fully tried and Is available for a con-
siderable number, but there are many
who require the sterner discipline and
restraint of the modern penitentiary:
and to this we must come or stop short
of the best attainment.
l take issue with those who would
deny convicts the opportunity to ac-
quire knowledge of any trade, on the
plea that it would interfere with %Hon-
est labor" The benefit resulting from
the transformation of a dishonest con-
vict into an honest wage worker would
be greater than any possible harm to
come to any workers.
That is narrow, selfish policy which
would systematically deprive even an
erring brother of the opportunity 10
earn an honest livelihood. :
This editor denounces the e1ease svs-
tenn, which seems not to have a sim
gle disinterested advocate, and which
must soon be a thing OF the past. and
we are face to face with a need for a.
better substitute.
The recent Prison Congress held in
Philadelphia gave much attention to
the work OF the prison physician.
Good health is necessary to good dis
ciplne' so say the experts, and this is
SHOWN by the practice of encouraging.
ana permitting "out of door exercise
resulting in better health and better
oiscipl1ne without resort to. or threat
Oh punishment Yet, in the face of
such facts there are wardens who ap-
peal to the lash as an absolute need in
securing the best discipline.
Each year the number grows less
and in most prisons humanity prevails
and the best results follow the appeal
to the higher motive.
statistics show that in the United
states prison reform has progressed
more rapidly and better conditions pre-
vail than in any other country NOT ex.
cepting Great Britain. To what extent
Georgia has contributed to this condi
tlon does not appear in the record of
any statistieian; our convict eamns are
blot upon our civilization and cannot
be too soon replaced.
Where in all New Testament Scrin.
ture is this law of retaliation, of retri-
button, writteno Who demands Gan eve
Ior an eye. tooth for a tooth .,
There is joy In heaven over one sin
ner tnat repentath more than over
ninety and nine just men who need M
repentance" For the penitent. the
iost, the wanderer. there must remain
ever the open door, the restoration. the
final good '''e
For whom was the fatted calf killed.
Not for the diligent worker. who had
never strayed but for the one who had
violated law, transgressed, who weak
ana sad returned, repentant. and
round his fathers house open and he
a welcome guest. This is the shirt
which animates the penologist who be-
neves that so long as life remains
there is hope for reform, and he dares
not close any open door upon any sup
plant.
The Empire State of the South can
not afford much longer to drag this
chain, clanking as she moves forward
in all else that makes the higher civil
ization. The "Indeterminate Sentence"
has been effective for good in many
trials; the policy of OBTAINING the pa
tient until cured prevails in medical
practice, there seems no valid reason
why similar treatment should not be
applied to the moral delinquent: treat
him in such manner as to cure if IL
be possible, but If irreclaimable detain
him for the protection of the public:
such instances are few.
1t is gratifying to realize that how
ever much men differ in the matter of
prison reform there is unanimous tes-
timony that the convict camp and the
lease system are no longer to be toll
Grated. We wait for the movement