The Irish standard., 1909-10-09

the performance of their duty should
likewise be rewarded, and the reduce
ton of their sentence should be de-
termined by the prison board of ex-
aminers. s..
Life prisoners could not, of course,
enjoy the benefits of this commuto,-
ton in its fullness. Application and
progress, however, should merit con-
sideration before the board of par
dons and make them more eligible for
executive clemency. ...t...
1t is true, night school is at pres
ent in operation at the prison, and
undoubtedly it's efforts are fruitful.
The hour assigned for this work. how
ever, is unfavorable, and the brief
period of study totally inadequate tor
satisfactory progress TIL. incesslnt
labor of the shop renders the men in
capable of profitable eveEing study.
The fact that out of 1.702 inmates in
prison, only 200, at the most, are, en-
rolled in the evening classes, bears or.
this contention. The assimilation Of
knowledge requires leisure. The mind
to be receptive must be free from IA
tigue and distractions. Morning
classes would find the minds of the
prisoners refreshed and active. where
as the evening hour undoubtedly finds
them at their desks wearied afte.. the
days labors.
The objection may be raised that the
older men among the prisoners could
not enjoy the benefits of the 1A,ly
courses because of enfeebled intallects
or mental incapacity. Some perhaps
would unwittingly assert that adj
vanced maturity would find it's efforts
Intellectual. History disproves this fall
lacy. Cases are on record showing
that men of advanced years have
mastered the languages, the arts, and
the sciences. What has been accom-
plished in the past can be achieved in
the future. Where opportunities; are
Offered: for intcl.cr",, al Improvement
and an intellectual endeavor is exer-
cised on the part of the subject, noth-
ing Is IL possible l., tn., l":l'n Of men
tai advancement.
If the establishment of day school
such as l have suggested SHOULD re-
ceive your appreciation, it would. un-
doubtedly entail expense. l am aware
that to successfully operate such Il
system of mental training requires the
services of competent educators-men
whose experience in educational mat
tiers would make them capable direc-
tors. AS I have previously stated, the
educated prisoners could be employ ID
as instructors, subservient. of course,
to the professors paid by the state
This financial outlay. however, wouli
be insignificant when compared with
the benefit which would result; for
education, by enlightenine the intel-
lects of the inmates, would lessen
criminal tendencies, engender love
of civic virtues, and thereby safeguard
the welfare of our commonwealth.
Since the activity Of our state, aud
municipal leaders has been upremit-
ting in safeguarding our interests iby
means of education as a deterrent
measure, why should not civic endeav-
or be directed towards the intellectual
improvement of our convicts, when,
from statistics, we know that as a
class they are professedly ignorant?
The committal of these men to our
penal institutions has been occasioned
by the infraction of laws which in
many cases were either unknown to
them, as in the case Of many foreign
ers. or because of their moral turpi-
tude and environments. BY sending
these men into society again. with
their vitiated tendencies uncurbed and
their mistaken ideas of justice uncor-
rected, we are jeopardizing the well
fare of our citizens by unleashing up
on them the criminal hordes of. our
prisons. Edward Everett. addressing
the Literary society of Amherst col
lege, wisely remarked: Beneath II
free government there is nothing but
the intelligence of the people to keep
the peoples peace. Order must be
preserved, not by military police or
regiments Of horseguards, but by the
spontaneous concert of well-in-
formed population resolved that the
rights which have been rescued from
despotism shall not be subverted nv
anarchy"
Intelligence. then, must be the guild.
ing spirit Of a nations safety and the