The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-29
A Suggestion.

VI
And inasmuch as it concerns |
society and the public welfare, it
should invite the attention of the pub
lie. Much has appeared in the news
papers of late years which savors of
anything but justice to the man who,
having violated the law, has paid the
penalty of the law. Let those who
read such articles pause and reflect; let
those who are observant stop and con
slider. The result of their cOgitations
may possibly render the future more
secure, and may aid in giving to every
American citizen those rights granted
him by the constitution. In consider
ing the status of the ex-prisoner, l
have no desire to condone crime; but
on the contrary, to inspire justice.
We are frequently told that crimi-
nails are punished in order that they
may be reformed. This may be true
in theory, but is it true in practice? !?
Society condemns certain acts as GRIM
inal; it prescribes penalties for the
commission of those acts, and it grants
the court discretionary power in ad-
ministering justice to persons found
guilty of committing said acts. 1t al
so gives to the convicted man, under
certain reasonable conditions, full res
toratlon of citizenship when he is dis
charged from prison. SO far, so good;
but is it far enough? The prisoner be-
comes an ex-convict. What is it that
attracts his attention in the papers ?
What is it that Mrs. Grundy is whis-
pering in such audible tones, that
floats from tongue to ear, that weighs
like lead upon the heart of the man
who in his lonely cell a short time ago
resolved so to conduct himself in the
future as to command the respect of
all men? On all sides he hears that
he is an "ex-convict." How Mrs. Grun.
dy and the highly moral journalist
amuse themselves at his expense! How
they prejudice the public against him
He wonders why he left his old cell ir
the prison. Because he sinned anG
was found out, is man to be forever
damned? When he has paid his penal
ty, and has been provided with pass
ports admitting him to the domains o.
full citizenship, must he forever wall
in the shadow of bitter memories? HI,
is supposed to be the equal of any maj
in the eyes of the law. II he is ivin,
an honest and exemplary life, is it no
an injustice to continually hold hin
up to public gaze and criticismp
The candid man-in fact, any mai
who loves liberty and justice-woul,
do well to ponder and think what tn
result is of such public utterancet
Doubtless these cruel taunts hay
made many man reckless and despel
ate, driving him blindly into haunts o
crime.
Give us, then, law that will remed
this evil. Let it be misdemeanor t
speak or to publish gratuitously th
fact that person who has been pur
ished for past offenses, and who hs
been restored to the full rights of cit
zenship, is an ex-convict. AS thing
are now, an ex-prisoner must foreve
stand as q monument of shame, to b
scoffed at and spurned in every wal
of life, no matter how pure and homo
able career he may be leading.
Such law as I have in mind woul
be wholly just. It is true beyond pc
adventure that the persons most deser'
ing Of condemnation are the person
most addicted to finding faults in otl
ers. Reflect on the suffering they il