Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-08-31
Cruelty to Dumb Animals.

We nave been reminded by an article
in one of the dailies of the abuses to
which beasts of burden, and especially
the horse, are subjected. The local col
umns of the Sunday Enquirer contain an
item on this subject, in which the report
er relates the following shocking case of
cruelty:
ga fellow driving a blind horse that
had evidently been toIling all day fol- a
scant allowance of poor oats and hay, yet
burdened with the c~art-harness, and eX-
pected to find its way without other
guide than the curses of his driver
through the crowd of vehicles that pass
the thoroughfare directly to the Bier
House, where the vile wretch, to whom
circumstances had given the power to
torture and abuse this unfortunate crea-
ture, would add torpidity to his already
uselessly stupid brain. Not meeting these
insane expectations, the poor horse would
be lashed over the face ON II side, turn
ing quickly away to try and do right !;
again on theo other cheek would come the
cruel, singing black-snake whip; his
poor sightless eyes were lifted to heaven
in mute appeal for that protection which
man so meanly extended. The way of
life for him is full of pain and suffering,
hunger and thirst, and hopeless misery.
Who shall say that away back in the
memory of colthood (for horses do re-
come not up recollections of green fields,
sweet waters, and, above all, liberty to
enjoy the light and shade of the Creators
beautiful world
Now, here is a plain case of outrage
Gus disregard of all law, human and di-
vine; for not only does the great Law
giver inculcate mercy to the lower ami
mails, but the statute-books ofevery State
contain the laws of human legislation,
making it a penal otfense to infiict I'M
necessary punishment upon domestic
creatures, and those of Ohio are, we be-
lieve, unusually severe upon this subject.
We do not know whether or not the po-
lice are instructed to make arrests under
these laws, but they certainly should be.
There is less regard in this country fol
the comfort and well-being of horses and
mules than there should be, arising,
doubtless, in part, from the haste and
hurry in which all kinds of carrying is
done, but principally, we believe, from
the general employment of ignorant
men who have been reared in the lowest
purlieus of the cities in the management
of these useful and valuable creatures. II
cannot be reasonably expected that ruff
fans who have been accustomed from
early childhood to the daily sight of and
| pal III SSSIlS VI 1OlCLSC dlIlO
riot, and who are in the constant habit
of stimulating their evil passions with
| strong drink, should be the most careful
and tender of mortals toward the animals
over which they are placed as masters,
Yet this is the very class who are Sc
lected, generally, for that purpose. 1t is
no very unusual thing to see an ape-faced
negro abusing horses that are gifted with
at least as much intelligence as their ty-
rant, while volleys of curses and showers
of blows are rained upon the helpless vic
Tins of his ferocity. We have seen, at
the Cincinnati approaches to the suspen-
sion bridge, noble teams struggling and
straining with vast loads UP the danger
GUS incline, very often slipping with
their polished shoes upon the iron of the
railway track, falling upon the rough
pavement and bruising their knees, while
he cruel lash was piled without stint in
stimulating the poor beasts to the utmost
eXertion of their strength. Three tons is
a customary load, on a heavy wagon, for
four horses, ard even this is frequently,
through the negligence of the driver,