Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-02
THE CHILD AND THE STATE

The duty of society to the uncontrolled
child, that one needing care, guidance and
restraint, is subject agitating large por-
ton Of the public. 1t has given birth to
children's aid societies, industrial schools
and other humane devices. In this State
1t is very prominent subject, and is Ger
tain to come before the next Legislature of
California. There is a demand for State
Industrial School, or reformatory, but quite
strong opposition to either of these is
developing. The opponents of the indus
trial school, We believe, have the stronger
side of the debate There is convincing
force in their objection TO putting the re-
form regalia upon child To mark it as
an industrial school inmate is to brand it
before society, and to set it apart as some
thing to be avoided. This separates the
child from society, and tends to confirm it
in criminal career. As remedy for
this, it is proposed that the State gather in
the waits and find homes for them, though
keeping watch and ward over them until
they become Of age. This is the Massa-
chpsetts system, and its advantages are OBJ
vious. 1t works well in the Bay State,
and ought to in all other States.
David Dudley Field, in the Forum, con-
siders branch Of the question, the duty
OF the State to the homeless boy. In
New York city, he says, there are 1000
OF these who know not at morning where
they will sleep at night, or at break
last where they can obtain supper. Of
course these drift into low places
aad acquire vicious habits. 1t is agreed
that the State owes such children certain
duties. 1t at least must protect such chill
dren from violence, but this is a very
small matter, indeed-it owes the like
protection to dog. But Mr. Field holds
that the State is not founded for charity
that must spring from humanity. Yet the
State has the right of interference in order
60 promote its own interests, and to pre-
vent the child becoming criminal is at
once humane and wise State economy.
These boys, says the essayist will prob
ably become voters and he factors in direct
ing governmental activity The dictates
of prudence, therefore, direct the State to
conserve the boys welfare, and make him,
so far as it can, useful and wise citizen.
The conclusion is thus reached that the
State may, and should, interfere for chill
dren abandoned by their parents, or left to
drift into vicious currents. 1t was scarcely
necessary for Mr.. Field to pursue reason
ing to reach this end, for the State has set
tied Its policy in that matter in all civil
lied lands. The question remaining is one
OF methods only shall the State leave
all tins work to private effort, or shall it
intervene in its character as the guardian
OF public interests? 1t seems to us that
there can only be one answer to this cues
tion-the State should actively interfere
and do ITS utmost to make good citizens
out OF the waits. Mr. Field arrives at the
same conclusion, and points out how. bv
The compulsory education acts, by grant
ing charters to charitable corporations. and
in other ways the State has adopted this
policy. As to methods, the essavist
lays it down that the State should
not treat the child of Il years as crimi-
nal, and afhx stigma which after wears
do not efiace. But why should the age OF
IL be liked upon as the period which,
once passed, is to permit of processes that
manufacture waits into criminals? WHY
not have the age standard wholly abol-
lshed, and leave the question of best dis
position of the child to the needs of each
case? Mentality Is not measurable bv
age. Some children are hopelessly vicious
at III, and others are not really account
able at 10. Some may be capable of re-
form at IL, and others have passed beyond
that possibility at - If the State is to
shelter friendless children as its wards at
all, why not treat them according to their
capacity, the advantages they have had.
their condition when gathered in, and
their natural dispositions Mr.. Fields
suggested method of caring for children by
the State is, first, to gather in the home
less ones of u years and under, put them
under a guardian, and place them, as cir
clImstances and individual cases may de-
termine, either in institutions or in private
families. He would include not only
children abandoned by their parents, bat
al those who. by reason of parental neg
Iect or parental eabuse, need the care OF
society. Secondly, that officers should