We have received reports of various philanthropic societies in the
States of Connecticut and Massachusetts. They have mostly in view
objects similar to those of this Society: that is, the alleviation of
public evils, by direct action upon the minds and consciences of those
by whom those evils come.
Among these are the schools in Massachusetts for alleviating the
condition of girls and of boys,—separate institutions, but working
admirably in the fulfillment of the designs of the founders.
The Report of the Board of Trustees of the “State Reform Schools of
Connecticut” is exceedingly interesting. These last seem, in design, to
correspond very much with the “House of Refuge” in this city; and it is
gratifying to notice that all of them appear to be in a flourishing
condition.
There is one “Report” that specially arrested our attention,—that of the
“Massachusetts State Agency for Aiding Discharged Convicts.” Here seems
to be a true charity, not dependent, alone, on individual efforts and
contributions. It appears, by the Report, that the amount expended by
the “Agency,” on account of “the government of the State,” was $1,656
32. That, of course, as the Agent says, “will meet the discharged
convicts’ wants for a brief period.” If we had not extended our Report
this year much beyond usual limits, we should feel disposed to copy most
of the Report of this Charity into our own Annual Statement. The
following, however, is too well put to be omitted:
“Society has a vital interest in a mission that induces the
night-burglar to abandon his trade and allow men to sleep in safety,
and that converts the felon’s tools into proper implements, and
brings his mind and heart into a _willing_ frame for
house-_building_ instead of _shop-lifting_ and house-_breaking_. We
approach an employer, and for _his safety_ confide to him our
knowledge of the past life and present state of the applicant, now
penitent and resolved on reform. By awaking sympathy, we open a door
to honest industry, which he enters, and is surrounded by shop
mates, ignorant of his crime, ready to fellowship him without
prejudice; so that, feeling safe from those taunts that would
otherwise assail him, and which, surely, have no healing or
strengthening power, he becomes inspired with hope, and courage to
make self-reliant effort, trusting that, with the added blessing of
Heaven, he will henceforward be an honest man.”
Many of the Reports which we have received are from State Prisons,
Penitentiaries, &c. They, of course, are interesting for the statistics
they contain, and will be acceptable to those who are directly
interested in, and responsible for, the condition of penal institutions.
But we feel naturally more interest in the progress of improvement in
the care of the prisoner, than in the cost of his maintenance. It is
gratifying to find that, in all these prisons, the voice of instruction
is heard, and that, in addition to stated religious exercises, there is
personal visitation, and this seems to be followed up by the established
preacher or “moral instructor.”
The State “Schools” in Massachusetts for rearing, instructing, and
reforming girls and boys, not only in separate buildings, but in
separate parts of the State, appear to be doing immense good. The
reports upon the conduct of many who have graduated from the Schools,
show success; and some remarks intimate also, that the failure to reform
all, has excited unwelcome criticism. We do not copy the reply: it is
exactly what every “visitor” of this Society feels,—it is what the
managers of the House of Refuge in this city would say. The largest
anticipations of the self-sacrificing philanthropist are not to be
realized. The true philosopher will appreciate the benefit to the
individual and to society, resulting from a single reformation.
We have received the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Executive Committee
of the Prison Association of New York. It is a clear, explicit statement
of the doings of the Agent and Committees of the Association, and will
be read with deep interest by those who have a sympathy with the
unfortunate and a desire to assist into goodness those that have done
wrong. The details of proceedings by the Agent are quite similar to
those set forth by Mr. MULLIN, the Agent of our Society, and show a low
condition of primary justice in New York, and a wretched state of the
lower stratum of society in that city. Tyranny in the small landlords,
utter debasement of the moral faculties in the multiplied liquor
dealers, and a determination on all hands to do the worst by others and
the best (according to their own estimate of good) to themselves,
distinguish the condition and conduct of those who in New York live by
fleecing the shorn and miserable, and making vice of every kind
subservient to their plans of personal profit.
The Report to which we now refer, contains much that is usually
presented in the Annual Report of the Inspectors of the Prison. The
statements, however, are interesting as showing the condition in New
York of those affairs which occupy the attention of our own Society.
We notice one circumstance in the Report of the New York Society worthy
of attention, viz., that the agents of that Society have used their
influence with the courts to increase the severity of the sentence
intended to be pronounced upon a convict. This was justified by a
knowledge of the antecedents of the offender, and of the character of
his mind. We are not aware that any interference exactly of that
character is to be recorded of those who represent our Society; but we
have occasion to believe that in one or two instances an opinion was
given _against_ a re-consideration of a sentence with a view of
lessening its severity; and that opinion was accepted. There was more
mercy in such a course than in shortening the term of imprisonment. In
one instance, at least, the beneficial results are obvious.