The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-21
Parents Responsible for their Children.

If any section Of the known ciyilised world needs
reformation in the bringing up YOUTH it is assuredy
this. How our youth obtain respectable
position in society," we are utterly loss to conceive
the remotcst hope. Our youth more the object
OF pity than blame. Their parents, guardians and
friends, are more cupable than the youths themselves,
fornos enforcing proper discipline.
The Louisiana Baptist has taken this subject into
consideration and we most heartily hope that the ed
tors never win cease in their audable work until
complete reformation takes place Let ministers drop
politics and exciting harangues and preach morality
That paper says in the canton Of Unterwaid in Swift
zerand there is ancient law, yet entirely obso
lutte By which parents are punished for the faults Of
their children. Parents VINO do not train their chill
dren properly, and who allow them 10 become NUS
ances to their neighJor are placed for certain time
upon stone in a nsIicuons place, with rod in the
right hand and formerly every who passed by was
at liberty to it upon their backs olate as 1885,
father and mother were obliged to sit upon this stone
with paper fastened to them in front, which was
written, Duty forgetting parents
We do not know whether the idea suggested by
these facts can ever be made practical one in the
present governments. But something Of the kind Ger
t2iuly does seem to be wanted. When rude boys run
riot through the streets fighting and learning and teach
ing all manner Of villany, and making life and prop
ery insecure and almost undesirable and the proper
redress does not seem to be to arragn these juveniles
before the tribunals or to imprison them. AT that
age they are the subjects Of parental authority and dis
cipine rather than that Of the State Its certainly
question, whether instead of preaching to parents
on the subject to induce them to exert this authority
some distinct efficient penalty should not be visited
upon them, whenever their children are guilty Of
tain practices The fatheris responsible for the debts
Of his children. Why not for their mSdeeds? If boys
Of ten, twelve or sixteen years old caught run
ming about the streets at night, wiz not arrest their
father take him before magistrate, and fne him? So
if boys are caught fighting in the streets, throwing
brick-bats or mud, depredating upon property, it
they are illmanneed or reYereut is there not some
Nay in which the parents could be put to such a de-
gree Of personal inconvenience az 70 induce them be-
times to exert that authority which God has given to
them for this very purpose? II change the
laws, every one help to the formation Of sound
public opinion which L often stronger than law In.
stead Of complaining of the bad boys Of your
ncighborhood, complain Of the bad parents. Don't
blame the boys altogether Half the time it is not
their fault Lay the fault At the right door, Let the
parents of bad boy feel that all the odium Of bis
badness is theirs There may be pity for him, bus
there are certainly sour looks for them Such a state
Of feeling and of judgment in any community would
have much of the effect Of positive law.