The Portland daily press., 1872-04-11
Tyranny Among Rrutes.

The following letter from Mr.. Bergh, in
answer to a letter of inquiry sent him by
lady of this city, explains itself. His sugges-
ton that the society here should be a branch
of some society already established in the
State can hardly be accepted. We fancy that
Mr.. Bergh would not have favored such a
plan for New York, if the society had first
started in Albany or Buffalo, The legal or
ganization of an independent society for
Portland can readily be effected under the
provisions of chapter Sc of the Revised
Statutes. By chapter 124, section "a, all fines
imposed for violation of the laws against
cruelty to animals, enure to the benefit of
such society, so that it probably would be
nearly, II not quite, self-sustaining:
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE -
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
Office No. 6s6, Broadway, N Y, Apr. s, 1872.
Mrs. J. B. CARROLL Portland, Maine:
My DEAR MADAM,-I am in recent of your
esteemed note, asking for information how to
proceed in organizing society for the preyen-
tlon OF cruelty to animals at Portland, Maine.
Lou perhaps are aware that the agitation of
M .hls SUBJECT IN 1869 resulted most happily; in
the chartering of parent society in your
state, and the enactment of statute which
regard as among the very best ever passed by
any Legislature. y
It is usual to regard the first society charter
ed by State as the parent institution. and all
subsequent ones, in the same commonwealth
as branches. 1t is SO here in New York: the
branches elect their own President and other
omcers, under certificate of association pro-
vioed py the parent society as soon as formed,
transactions, for publication.
oihPncity OF method in all governmental
ana omcial proceedings, is always best Ac-
cordlngly, when undertook some seven wears
ago, to promulgate the rights of animals
which, until then, were neither fully accorded
tnem oy public sentiment nor provided for by
statutory law-I employed a very brief mode
o. initiating the idea. At the top of sheet of
paper wrote these words:
The undersigned. sensible of the cruel and
demoralizing treatment which thoughtless and
inhuman people Infct on the inferior animals.
herepy agree to lend their names and influence
10 the formation of a society to be devoted tn
the reformation of this evilf
With this in hand I addressed mvself to
many OF the most prominent citizens of the
town, taking special care to procure the names
OF every religious and political denomination.
IN order to avoid everything looking like par
tsan bias. P"1
With these names went to the Legislature,
and making them corporators. obtained a char
ter and some laws called meeting in New
YORK OF the parties and the public generally;
maze speech; procured the nomination and
election OF officers, one of whom-the Presi-
qentIwas constituted; took an office, put up
TIE shield of the Society which is seen at the
Top OF the other page, and which is already
saopted by 1S States of our Union, and then
went went out personally into the streets and began
the the battle OF mercy to the defenceless brute.
What has been achieved, the press of our conn
try has already recorded; but believe that one
OF the lost humanities has been recovered by its
influence and action; and religion and civiiiza-
ton have vastly profited ~
have the hoEor to be, Madam,
Your most obedent servant.
HENRY BERGH, President,