The New York herald., 1874-12-18
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN.
A CHECK TO BRUTALITY And HEARTLESSNESS
Object and Scope Of the
New Society.
THE DRUNKARD's CHILD.


has sprung into life whose object is In striking
accord with the feelings OF love and Kindness
toward little ones now prevailing all over the
Christian world Ii is the Society for the Preven-
tion OF Cruelty TO Children. The project OF Its or
ganization has enlisted the cordial sympathy and
hearty cooperation OF many OF the best men and
women OF New York-"bestn In the highest sense
Of the worldwide have felt that such an associa-
tion could I'LL gap in the charitable institutions
Of New York-a gap OF which they were but too
fully conscious Scarcely q month passes but
some shocking story OF q child's atrocious NAL.
treatment through brutality or neglect, or botn
perhaps is made public, and the hearts Of the
kindly and humane are wrung by the recital OF
the sunerings TO which the helpless, poor waits
Of this vast metropolis are 30 frequently sub
jected-of the brutality and cruelty to which they
are daily exposed
PAINFUL MEMORIES,
II is scarcely necessary to revive the fearful
memories OF the Mary Ellen case and OF other sad
instances OF the kind to point out the necessity of
the step which has been taken In this direction
Although the Legislature passed during Its last
session some sound laws concerning this evil the
condition OF thousands OF children Is still most
deplorable. The brutality Of drunken parents the
inhumanity OF the padrone or Of guardians who
beat child II 1t does not return from its
begging errand with the prescribed amount OF
money. and the negligence OF heartless and cruel
keepers still hold their sway. and will
probably continue to do so until the laws In
question are vigorously enforced. In Lon
don there has been TOR many years o
society Tor the projection Of women and children,
and whenever . case OF cruelty, injustice or neg
lect Is reported at It's once Its counsel take at
once the necessary legal steps to prosecute the
Offenders and to teach them not only respect for
ho Ia Of nd an al for 0f I'm
humanity. New York. with Its splendid array OF
charitable Institutions, has yet failed to respond
to the cries OF the poor little walls Its Streets
IN Its squalid tcnements ana fostering slums.
and the society named above Is about to ex.
tend TO them the protection which the dumb
brute has already received Tor years and years.
THE LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT.
The movement out Of which this association has
arisen was started BY MIR. Ebridge I. Gerry, whose
the readers OF the HERALD, and Mr.. John D.
Wright, wealthy retired merchant, who Is par
charitable deeds. meeting was called to take
place at the rooms OF the Christian Association,
can wam T. Jones e.
bridge +. Gerry, Burden II. sherman, Rev. stephen
II. 1yng. Jr, Albert Akin, William L. Jenkins Rich
which was attended by many Of the foremost bank.
ers and merchants OF the CITY, the prelim-
Of q regular society. subsequently con
stltution was adopted and an organization
eueCteu Dy 0LeCCllS Lue lOiOWtuk uaIneu Rcutlc.
men officers or the association president, John
2. Wright; Vice Presidents James Brown, Peter
Cooper, William a =; Dodge, Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Bergh and Elbrldge
T. Gerry; Secretary, John L. Grlfren; Treasurer
Executive Committee, Wilson G. HUNT, Louis J.
Jennings, Joseph Selgman, D. Willis James, Rob.
Benjamin II. Field. Burden a. sherman. Israel
Gorse, William n N; vermlye; Henry Bergn, John
The fOnatitutfOn defines the and
OF the society plainly, and brief extracts are
herewith appended. The objects are stated "a
| EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION.
S LITTLE hd,s q s State
nsnt and improper treatment engender:
Of ss @ sE ~ as
ana c S & s s"o
sTu q
The members Of hi. society shall consist Of the per-
S and & s S 4. sr
The this society shall onsist Of President
Counsel ana .xecutive Committee Of fifteen members
Of society and other Officers
@ q @ to ns S n
year. in advance, be paid Immediately election
life ali cues for membership BY the payment at time
The Counsel legal adviser of the society," t
officers and Executive COMMITTEES and shall have the
Instituted Sy asainsi il them either them, cr
with the advice and Consent the PRESIDENT he may
% or sse @ 10 any uSs suit or and
o qee sI a S bs @ N the s
the pest interests OF the society.
MR.. JOSEPH sELIGMAN'S VIEWS.
Yesterday several members OF the Executive
Committee were called upon. among others Mr..
Joseph Seligman, the well known German BANKER
and Humanitarian. He said that he had not yet
society, being preoccupied with business, but was
OF the opinion that 1t could do great deal OF good
ana he had o that woaa Ws ae
heartlest cooperation among the Germans OF New
Mr.. Elbridge T. Gerry, who volunteered to serve
gratuitously al Counsel, and upon whom in that
capacity the really important duties win de-
necsion with the subject. He said the
Mary Ellen case had famiarlzed him to
human treatment or large number OF children.
on that occasion Mr. Bergh had prosecuted tue
Offenders, but ne tMr. Gerry became convinced
Animals could not ordinarily pay the attention TO
these cases OF suffering children which they de.
hearted men could be found who were willing to
take hold OF this important project an inestlmable
been found and now there was no reason to
doubt that the EFFORTS OF the organization would
NEE: with abundant success.
THE SCOPE OF THE SOCIETY.
There were q great many admirable institutions
in New York as for instance, the Catholic Proteo.
undoubtedly did all In their power to ameorate
the condition OF poor and suffering children; but
none OF them covered the particular ground
which this society had chosen for Its operations.
They cared for children who were brought to them;
control over those not fded to their authority.
1t was none OF their business to 60 to the slums,
where children were beaten and starved and
or the guardian or the offlcer Of the Court
In case the institution be ret0rmatory-
brought child TO their doors they
could save IL, but not otherwise. They
could not prefer criminal complaints when aware
cisely what the society proposed to do. It would
invite every citizen ana every woman who heard
OF case OF this kind to lay the iacts before It's
0ficers and they would at once take the necessary
steps to rescue the child ana punish the offender
Great care would necessarily be used to investi.
gate each case thoroughly In order to make sure
that the complaint was not prompted by malice;
but when its truth was once asccrtained they