Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-09
CRUELTY 70 caTLpREN.

Elbridge I. Gerry, in the " North Amer
lean Review" has timely article on cru-
city to children and thework of the societies
organized to prevent it. These organizations
hsve had much to contend with, and all
the opposition has been the outgrowth of
wrong, or rather an unthinking, public
sentiment. OF this we have long been
convinced. The American people are es-
pecially afectionate parents, and their
children engross more Of their love than
the world gives them credit for. Indeed,
as rule Americans are too indulgent to
their offspring, And this brings us to
remark by the essayiat named, upon the
engagement of children in trying public
exhibitions. He says: $50 long as per-
sons of culture and refinement can derive
pleasure from tine performances of children
without rejecting on the injury which
those performances occasion the child,
there is but little hope Of public sentiment
being enlisted against those practices. The
glare of the footights constitutes divid-
ing line between the false view entertained
ny the audience and the painful results
concentrated in the person of the child,
and sure to ensue. Yet rejecting people
would hesitate to place their own children
in position where, night after night, such
constant strain would be put upon them,
snd the Golden Rule seeing to be entirely
forgotten"
The truth is that the societies are in the
main right, and the exhibitors nearly al.
ways wrong. There are cases of misdirect-
ed zeal on the part of the associations, ard
these are seized upon to cast contumely
upon the humane efforts made by the peo-
pie who compose the societies. But it is
also true that for every case where child
is not apparently injured by performing on
the stage or under the canvas, there are
hundreds who arc ruinsd for life by such
public exhibitions, both physically
and morally. In due time
public sentiment will take the right direc-
ton on this subisct, It is recalled that
when the Society for the prevention of Cru
city to Animals was founded in San Fran
cisco by few earnest men who saw their
way clearly, and who did not fear to do
their duty, it was the laughing stock
of the town. It had but a friend or
two among all the press of that city.
which, with remarkable unanimity, poked
witless fun at it, and either denounced its
members as sickly sentiReatalists, or feared
to speak a word in behalf of the aims of
the organization, which were wholly unself-
ish. The venerable President, distin-
guished physician, was the special object
for the poor jokes of the public wits.
Philanthropio radicals" was common
epishet applied to the officers. and crazy
reformers and eranks" were the designations
for the members. Yet that society is now
among the most respected Of the city, and
long since the press ceased TO make it the
subject for scofing. But the methods of
the organization have not in the slightest
degree been changed its procedure is even
more severe, if anything, Than in the early
days of its existence. Public sentiment
has changsd-that is all there is in it. Tie
public conscience has been educated to &
proper appreciation of the subject. So it
viii be with the work of preventing cru
city to children. Most of us viii live to
see the day when We shall wonder that ever
any doubt was cast upon the efforts Of the
men and women engaged in tbs humane
work. Such men as Mr.. Bergh may be
radicals, they may be extremists, they
may, by zsal, be induced to go to excessive
lengths. but LEI rs remember that without
just such leaders 10 reforms woH,d be &C.