The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14

of greater punishment in the future. When this law went In effect in 1893.
 ~ per cent of the first offenders became second offenders. In 1903, after ten years l trial, there were only 54 per cent of the
 first offenders who became second offend ! CTS. What marvellous results in the bet- 1 terment of social condldons-in giving | heart and hope for reformation to thosu ! inclined to criminal life. If the citi- zen can be so treated by the law and the
 courts, as never to commit a second of- | fence, he cannot become an lncorrgible | criminal
 l The happy results of this law have been
 so encouraging that Senator Berenger has l introduced another law along the same i lines. This last law provides for a court l of suggestion. Before the judge alone
 appears the first offender and the wit
 nesses against him. If on the trial he $ | found guilty, the court suspends the sen | tence for three years. with the sugges-
 tion that if the offender will go and sin | no more for three years the sentence will | be suspended and he be finally set free. | That no one will have access to the rec ! ords of his case. If he fails to observe [ the law, and is rearrested and convicted for a second offense. he will be doubly punished. The new law goes step fur
 ther in protecting the first offender from the humiliation of q public trial. He Is conscious of the fact that few know Of
 his offense His self-respect Is thus pre-
 served and he is given greater self-con-
 fidence and strength of character to fight the battles of life.
 It Is a recognized fact that all social
 evils cannot be cured. nor all criminals
 reclaimed, yet in most human hearts there
 is spark of divinity ready to be kindled
 into a better life Nothing happens in the course of human events without a cause. Mans march on the road to ar n la ri iof1
 or wrong conduct in society The viola
 ton of n moral law Is as memorable in consequence to noble character as the violation of q physical is to a fine physique. Each brings with it train of evil results that tells 3ultinautely upon
 the man. morally and physically. Hencs
 the criminals and weddings in the social organism The converse of this propo-
 sition Is also true; the observance of the 1 moral and physical law leads to nobility
 of character and to physical vigor to bet
 ter individual citizenship and higher na-
 tional life.
 It is kindness coupled with educativs force thatacures cruelty, obstinacy and
 lawlessness in the heart. It will tame the wild bird and the wild beast. 1t will sub due the most vicious brute. When ex-
 tended to man. it touches his better na- ture and calls into activity the nobler qualities of his soul. His inhibitory pow
 CTS are strengthened and his anti-social impulses put under control.
 New Method in America. Tn the last decade we have had inaugu- rated in America the juvenile court, the . detention home or schools for juvenile of- lenders, the probation system to stem the ever rising tide of juvenile delinquency;
 and also the indetermnate sentence. scientific charity, rescue homes social settlements social welfare work in in dustrial establishments for the social up- lifting of struggling. neglected, heartless and hopeless humanity
 These are some of the wise preventive
 methods of treating the cause of crime that are rapidly supplanting reformatory and repressive measures which have
 striven in vain for centuries to check crime by dealing with results rather than , causes. The day is at hand when we are beginning to apply a real phllosophle spirit to spiritual phenomena, and the iit- fuence of science for good promises to be more powerful in staying the march of crime In America as we advance in civilization.
 To train the citizen to live right, to oh- ! serve the moral and physical law, so that mankind may attain the highest possible (CONTINUED ON PAGE 23.)