But things are different, and advanced opinion requires some concessions even from justice, and what was to be endured in other times may be amended. now, and even crime may be expiated without the full extent of infliction, provided the criminal amends his life and seeks to do good.

For a long time persons who take an interest in social science, have been of opinion that the pardoning power in our State should be administered by a person or persons who had means for discussing the claims made for clemency. But as the power is one that belongs to the Constitutional privileges of the Governor, the question has not been presented for deliberation. But at the present moment there is a probability that the general provisions of the organic law of this State will be submitted to a Convention for revision and perhaps for amendment. And those who desire some change in the mode of granting pardons, are hastening to digest various schemes which have occupied individual minds, and to present them in a proper state for consideration, by the constitutional convention. It would be difficult to arrange for consideration all the plans which have been talked about. They include almost every idea connected with the important subject, from an exceedingly lax hold and easy release of the convict, by the most readily reached power, to the total refusal of all claims for reconsidering and annulling the decision of the courts.

A Committee of this Society has been entrusted with authority to consider the subject, and to report its views and recommendations to a future meeting. We are not

supplied with information touching the views of the members of the Committee, but we know that they contemplate no radical changes in the spirit of the Constitutional provisions upon the subject, excepting perhaps to place the pardoning power in the hands of a number of citizens from various parts of the State, citizens some of whom by their local residence, will be likely to know something of almost every case that may be presented for their consideration.

We have heard it said that some of the Committee approve of the provisions of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey with regard to the authority for granting pardons, and that it is likely a proposition to place a provision of that kind in the amended Constitution of Pennsylvania will receive the approval of a large number of the members of this Society and the recommendation of the citizens of this part of the State.

In New Jersey there is a Commission of Pardons, and all applications for releasing a convict from the penalties which the Court has laid upon him are left entirely to that Commission.

While people are looking up men to represent them in this convention we hope that judicious people, who have little to do with primary elections, or with any elections till they read in the newspapers the result of the voting, will, at least, weigh well some of the propositions for amendment, and especially that which refers to the pardoning power.

CONCLUSION.

In a review of the state of public mind and the advance of opinions in regard to reformatory punishment, one is struck with facts that indicate a vast progress towards the great end-the alleviation of the miseries of public prisons and the amelioration of the condition of the prisoners. We must not begin to count the number of States or communities that have adopted the true system, and cherish fears of success, because, as yet, little or no fruit is found. As well might the agriculturist despair of a crop, because in April he saw. nothing but buds upon the trees, or in May could count nothing but the first bursting forth of vegetables planted.

We have for some time seen in Europe and in this country the public mind directed towards the great object of prison discipline, and we have seen and felt the influences of special legislation with regard to our prisons. Propositions from all quarters are made for promoting the object, and though these propositions do not indicate the true mode, nor does that legislation correct entirely the existing evils, yet they admirably illustrate the state of public feeling, and are to be counted, at least, as some steps in the right direction. Public knowledge will probably find expression in the kind of legislation which we have and shall have-but individual or associated effort will increase public knowledge, and thence influence legislation.

We regard with philosophic satisfaction both the efforts and almost necessary failures of efforts to improve

prison discipline. These are failures only as it regards the final accomplishment of the object. The very failures-being failures of attempts to advance-make room for new efforts, all in the right direction, and plans, however visionary, and schemes of combination, however enlarged, may, while they demonstrate exceeding love of self-glory, nevertheless awaken attention, excite observation, and while these wrecks denote a lack of wisdom in the planners of the voyage, they are beacons to warn others of the danger-they mark the channel, because, though wrecks, they were wrecked near the right path.

Those who would pilot a ship through the difficult entrance to a good harbor more often are guided by the remnants of disaster than by monuments of successful navigation. Yet there always was a right way, and there are those who seem called to know and to proclaim that way. They may mourn the disasters of the hasty and the imprudent, but they will rejoice that, since there must be failures, those failures denote efforts with good objects, though, perhaps, erroneous plans. Almost all the plans of prison direction which have marked this century are improvements upon some antecedent systems. The worst have been better than those of which they were the immediate successors; and those which for a time were considered best are now

acknowledged, as in New York, as failures. And some which are blazoned with much laudation as admirable and "self-supporting" will, before long, be found to yield to better theories and sounder practice, and men will confess that society is more concerned in the

improvement of its members than in the profit from crime.

This Society has been more than gratified with the action of the Legislature of the State that established a Board of Public Charities. That institution is what, for several years, this Society besought from the Commonwealth; and it is proper to state that the Society is not less gratified at the labors and the fruits of the labors of the gentlemen that compose that Board.

The Board of Public Charities is securing to itself public confidence, and we believe that the good work will prosper in their hands. We hope the Legislature of the State will sustain the Board, and by proper aid insure to it the ability to accomplish its great mission.

In another part of this Journal we mention the only loss which, this year, the Society has been called to endure by the death of a very active member. This exemption is rather extraordinary, considering the age of some of its active members, and may not be calculated on. To fear death is scarcely the fate of a Christian philanthropist-not to prepare for it must be the fatuity of a mere humanitarian.

In the belief that the motives and labors of this Society are those which God approves, its old active members cheerfully devote the closing years of life to the promotion of that administration of public prisons which will, as they believe, most promote the good of society by the improvement of the prisoner. And those less advanced in years will, as they have done, give their higher energies, their more effective devotions to a cause that has aided good morals, that has been honored by