Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/475

 AMERICAN REFORMATORY SYSTEM 461

NOTE OF ATTITUDE

The attitudinal relation of the state to our prison system is thus shown to be : negative as to any punitive intention ; negative as to administering exact justice for its own sake; negative as to the expectation of deterrence by intimidation; neutral as to regulating the mystical individual moral relations of prisoners; and a qualified attitude as to altruism. The state's affirmative attitude will subsequently casually appear,

CHANGED RELATION OF PRISONERS

This better attitude on the part of the organized state effects also a corresponding change of the relation of offenders toward the state. The change is real, though, for a time, it may not be prized by the prisoners or noticed by the administering au- thorities. Formerly, the fundamental relation was antagonistic — necessarily so for, under the definite-sentence plan the ever- present desire for release must be opposed by the prison govern- ment until expiration of the prescribed period of time. Now, under the new form of prison sentence, the desires of both parties are in accord — the prisoner wants to go and the govern- ment wishes the same; but only upon certain conditions. Here contradiction is likely to arise, but it soon of itself disappears, as regards the majority of prisoners, and the remainder of them, when they discern the peaceable fruits of the opposition, change to an accordance, which is often succeeded by a pleasing grati- tude. While an outside observer might never note this changed relation by any change in the general appearance it actually exists.

It is essentially the principle, "community of interest," which is the germinal basis of most of human concord. Its well-nigh magical effect is seen in states held in union under federal con- trol; civil divisions of states bound in fealty to each other and the state government; communities made orderly; family in- tegrity preserved ; and it is seen in enduring common friendships of individuals. The inner shrine of community of interest is of course self-interest but grown large enough to observe its out- ward dependence. Whenever self-interest is so wisely directed that self-indulgence is self -restrained in the interest of remoter