Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-10-14
DEPORTATION OF CRIMINALS
augusta Herald

How would it do to initiate the
example of the governor of Mis-
sissippi, we believe it was, who par
doned a notorious negro on the con-
dition that he HE away to Boston
We might relieve Georgia of a con-
siderable army of undesirables in
this way"
1t is the Americas Times Recorder
which makes the above suggestion.
Intended merely to be taken as wit
ticism, or at most as a sarcastic fling
at fictitious incident, it contains
food for reflection.
There are criminals and undesir-
ables in every country and in every
state of our country. What to do
with this class concerns only the peo-
pie of each respective country 1t is
question which they must settle as
with the lights before them and the
conditions which surround them it
may appear best for their country. In
our state, and in the South general
ly. not only have we criminals and
undesirables, as every other country
has them, but this difficulty is increas-
ed by the presence among us of
a race which is morally so undevelop-
ed that very large part of it be-
long tothe class of criminals and I'M
| desirables. This makes the problem
of what to do with this class one of
greater magnitude and increased diff
ficulty for our state.
If the plan could be adopted of
sending our negro criminals and
undesirables to Boston double good
purpose would be served: We would
get rid of them, and our New Eng
land friends in actual touch with a
problem on which their views are at
such variance from our and con-
corning which they find so much to
condemn in US, would soon find that
| our practical knowledge of the negro
and his ways was more correct than
their theoretical notion, and with the
white people of the whole country
! agreed the solution of the race prob
lem would be easy to find. But we
| cannot send this class to Boston,
for all sufficient reason that Boston
would not receive it.
However, if Boston, will not have
them, is there no other place to
which they could be sent? Sending
this class of undesirables to any other
place would serve every purpose as
we'll as to send them to Boston, ex-
| exercise upon Boston would be lost.
If a place could be found to which
these undesirables could be deported
where they would be segregated and
from which they could not escape,
would it not be the Wisest course to
pursue?
Crime and vice is reproductive. By
heredity, association and the environ
ment it creates, crime and vice per-
petuates itself and tends to increase.
In dealing with crime the penalty i'm
posed on convicted criminals is not
only intended as a punishment to
them, but more to protect society
against repetition of these crimes.
Could this purpose be effected better
than by deportation? AS a mode of
punishment it would be the most hui
name that could be imposed, and as a
plan for Kidding the state of undesira-
bles and preventing the reproduction
of criminals it would be the best.
If this be admitted the only ques-
tiCn would be to find a place for the
location of convict colonies. This
should not be a difficult matter, so
long as there are islands in the sea
which are of little or no service to
the cause of civilization under pres
ent conditions. The places for the
establishment of penal colonies could
be easily found What IS needed is
a consensus of opinion that this dis
position of the criminal and undesir-
able classes is best