The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-23
Mr.. s.ssa.. Esss.srAsn.ry ssil.

Mr.. Bergh's Esssaerasaary Bsil.
Mr.. Henry Bergh il one Of those excellent
and enthusiastic gentlemen who permit their
emotions 10 run away with their Judgment
This is the only theory upon which we can un-
derstand the extraordinary "bll relating 10
animals," 10 which we made reference yoster-
day. Now. We can understand bow o wise
measure might be adopted. compelling igno-
rant and brutal men 10 show moro mercy 10
their animals and more regard for their CON-
fort This we understand 10 be tho real mean
ing Of Mr.. Bergh's mission. tho real function
of the society over which he presides. In o
work of this kind he will command the ad-
mration and sympathy Of ell humane men.
But Mr.. Bergh follows bis theory. and is
absorbed by il until il becomes . passion. al
most monomania And. we say IL with the
utmost regret when be enters upon IL be be
comes a. rapt in its contemplation and a.
insensible to mere suggestions Of common
sense as the valiant and generous Don
Quixote when he discoursed on chivalry.
Upon what other theory can VIC I'M
derstand his bill4 Whoever commits
q cruelty upon an animal shall be
guilty of misdemeanor. In othor words, our
butchers and fishermen must abandon their
calling or be prepared to follow Mr.. Tweed to
Blackwell's Island Then. all Mr.. Bergh's
agents are to have the powers of sherifs. with
permission to search houses and make arrests
and seizures. So that no housewife can
plunge o struggling lobster into the pot or
arrange quantity Of living oysters for soup
without being in peril from one Of Mr.. Bergh's
sheriffs. Surely it was never seriously in
tended to give this power TO any body Of ire
sponsible men who may wear the badge OF his
romantic society. No one would seriously OBJ
ject to visit from Mr.. Bergh himself TO look
after the Holsters, the oysters the CLAIMS or other
suffering jewellers in the kitchen. because he ia .
gentleman and would be welcome everywhere.
But we cannot say SO much for those he may
employ. Heaven knows, what with police
men, municipal and private detectives, rev.
enue agents, Custom House spies, informerz,
the emissaries Of Mr. Sanborn and Colonel
Howe, the atmosphere swarms with agents
enough without Matching another brood to do
the bidding of the President of the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Let there be just, wise, humane law. really
reaching the evil Mr. Bergh knows very
well that certain animals have certain uses in
the economy of life ; that some must labor,
like the horse and oxen that others must die
for our uses-beasts and fish and birds This is
law as ancient and immutable as our human
necessities. What Mr.. Bergh really wants to do,
as we understand him, is to secure these ami
mails from unnecessary pain. He would not in
terfere with the slaughter Of o pig or .he exter-
mination of rat. He has learned, we have
no doubt, what savory mysteries may be en-
veloped in tender steak, deity cooked with
mushrooms or truf1es He does not propose
to interfere with that nor with the terrapin
and turtle on their way to become soup He
means that animals not necessary for food
shall not be slain wantonly, that horses shall
not be overdriven or badly fed, that we shall
not have bull fights or bear batting. Let him
draw moderate, plain, sensible bill providing
for this and this alone, and there will be no
objection to it's passage. But there is
serious objection to passing any bill that will
submit New York to the enthusiasm of Mr..
Bergh's Imagination. and, more particularly,
give him power to add another swarm to the
multitude of officials who now prey upon
society under the belief that they administer
justice and execute the laws