The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-14

Win absorbing interest Dy tnOSe VINO nave
watched the career of the actors.
Mr.. Bergh and the Pigeon sbooters-The
Monomnninc FoiIed.
Notwithstanding all the threats of what he
could and would do to prevent the pigeon
shooting match at Jerome Park coming off
Mr.. Bergh has utterly failed to make them
good. He received fair notice that the match
would be shot, and it was. True it is that
his deputies were on hand, but they were
powerless to enter upon private grounds.
This they we'll understood, and they wisely
refrained from exerting force when they knew
that force would be used to repel any attempt
to make an entrance. They requested admis-
sion, but this was denied them, and they left,
feeling that their errand had been
as fruitless as it was supremely ridicu-
lous. Mr.. Bergh may have learned by
this time that, no matter how much the public
may approve of the principles upon which the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami
mails is founded, it will not countenance the
invasion of private property in order to carry
them out. If he is not yet aware of this fact
it is about time that he was made so. He
has received his first lesson, which may be
sufficient; if it is not he has only to attempt
again to carry out his plans in order to have
them as completely frustrated as they were on
Friday last. He claims power superior to
that of the Emperor of Russia or Queen of
England. He seeks to trample upon the
sacred rights of the people. He endeavors to
exert an authority that is inadmissible, and,
by striving to do too much, is rapidly destroy
ing all the good done by the society that is I'M
fortunate enough to have him for its President.
If all of Mr.. Bergh's claims were allowed,
if all he demands were conceded, where would
the end be2 At what point would he stop?
He and his agents have already in many
cases overstepped the bounds of prudence
and of polteness; they have even gone so
far as to insult not only men, but ladies.
They have stopped upon the slightest pre-
text-indeed, upon no pretext whatever
private carriages; in fact, their insolence has
been carried beyond endurance, and the time
has come when it must be ended. If allowed
to proceed further he will endeavor to invade
the privacy of ones dwelling, should he by
any possibility hear that dog or cat was
being maltreated therein. Every door will
have to fly open at his bidding, and no
place will be secure from the visits of him
self or his satellites. This thing cannot be-.
In no country but this would he have been
permitted to 60 as far as he has, and even
here the people are beginning to tire Of it, and
are really questioning bis entire sanity. They
consider him monomaniac, and although
desiring to deal charitably with his weakness,
they will demand that check be put upon it.
He is fast making q society that should be
most useful comparatively valueless, and If he
il allowed to go on in his Don Quixote style
he will entirely destroy it. For the sake Of
preserving it, for the sake of having animals
humanely treated, for the sake Of carrying
out all the good purposes for which the
society was org anized, let us have another
head to it. Let us have President who will
not bring 1t into ridicule, who is not half
crazy upon the subject of pigeon shooting
and other so-called cruelty; let power be
taken entirely out of his hands, and placed in
those Of one who will use it with discretion.
Why would it not be best to place the duty
of preventing cruelty to animals entirely in
the hands Of the police, and hold that body
responsible? 1t certainly seems the most
proper plan. If this system were once inau-
gurated the chances are that the wishes and
purposes Of the society would best be carried
ont. At all events, it would prevent troubles
and annoyances that are fast becoming seri-
ous--that are rapidly assuming the proportions
of o public nuisance. The probabilities are
that Mr.. Bergh has reached the end OF MS
tether that be has seen how absurd the