Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-09-17
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x A COINCIDENCE. <
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4DOEs HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?ss
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One hundred aud ~fiftv-seven years.
three months and fourteen days ago from
Saturday the eighth, since the imDrison
ment Of one hundred and fortysix Eli
giiShmen in a dungeon known as the
Black Hole of Calcutta. by the order Of
an Indian Nabob; out of this number,
t~wenty-three were rescued alive, when
the cell was opened. All these lives were
sacrificed to satisfy the rage of Sur
ala Daviah, an Indian chieftain.
In order to satisfy the rage of subor-
dinate officials of our Denitentiary sys-
TEN which this great state boasts, twelve
cJnvicts were confined in a like dungeon
on one of our Texas farms. used to en-
pIoy our state cohvicts. When the cell
was opened eight of the number confin-
ed were dead. victims of this imperial
states prison system.
Through the small openings. four of
those unfortunates. who were stronger,
sacked enough air to survive throughout
the long night. or until their
guards were satisfied their punishment
DIS SuilltlcDt. Ill ttHtE eight. dlttl
fighting in vain with the stronger ones
for access to the ventilations we're fore
ed to submit to that awful death, this
gfea state made possible for them. by
employing inhumane and INSCRIPTIONS
guards. 1t is true that they were neg
roes but in all sincerity. did they not
possess soul and were human as you
E- -. 49,. .,lIn.- nf thn
crimes that they were now paying the
penalty.
And history repeats itself. 1t is now
the Black Hole of Texas, instead of Cal
cutta.
Nearly every country. state. county and
city has its own i.!eas of penal treatment
and it behOoveS us to adopt the most
progressive Ontario. Canada. as well
as several Of our own states have put in
operation a most revolutionary scheme.
This plan ronistS in taking cOnvicts
from prison cells and placing them on
farms and country roads with nothing
but their word of honor to keep them
from escaping. There are no bolts, bars
or cells. no armed guards, to shoot them
down, just a mans promise to b. good.
Yet, extraordinary to relate. these plans
have worked very satisfactorily. Why
cannot Texas emancipate these poor UNI
fortunatcs from this servitude and
place him in a position. that will be use
full to society and the world at large.
All that are confined in our state pri-
son are not negroes. but every national
ity On earth is represented. among those
are men who for a moment gave
way to their weakness and committed
some ofTense against the laws of society.
that ordinarily would be repulsive to
them. vet they must pay the pealty,
with is Just but in this progressive age
shall a great state like Texas approve
of treatment OF this kind. These poor
U~nfortunateS ONE were children. and
some kind mother founded them to her
breast. 10 king forward to the time when
her son would b, 4 shining mark in this
world. Blu alas he diel in q dungeon.
Where? Texas. What for. A weakness.
Who is responsible? The answer is so
ciety. Yes. he sinned against the laws Of
this state and according to precedent he
aust take the consequences.
Remember. men are not sent to prisons
altogether for punishment but to show
them the error of their way and to teach
r them to lead honest and upright lives
after they are granted their liberty. DO
YOU think that those poor fellows that
survived that awful night will feel kind
| " TO society. The state is convicted by
public opinion Of one Of the greatest out
|, RACES Of modern times of extreme negli-
| gence which cost the lives of eight men.
: Care should be exercised in selecting of
~ficqrs. not only for this duty, but men of
unquestionable character should be chos-
en- to administer and enforce our laws.
T. Il. WHITE.