The record-union., 1891-04-19
HUMANE ASSOCIATIONS.

The fourteenth annual report of the
American Humane Association for 1890
is just out. On one page of the report is
| the picture of horse. The animal shows
all the points of good breeding and was
some day superior horse. AS repre-
sented in the engraving it is emaciated
| and covered with sores, and the hoofs
have grown out SO long that they curl up
and describe semi-circle, thick, horny,
and half tubular in form. The note in
explanation of the sad-looking animal
reads as follows:
Nine years ago this horse was valued at
over $500, and because he ran away the
owner, for revenge shut him up in his barn
ana has never permitted him to leave his stall.
Strangers were excluded from entering the
| barn. Mr. d. Fl. Whitehead, agent of the
Milwaukee Humane Society, found this once
| beautiful sorrel horse, with fine bony head
large hazel eyes, and intelligence like a man
covered with bed sores, reduced to nothing but
| skin and bones, and the hoOfs grown long and
rocker-shaped. When the animal was united
for the first time in nine years he hObbled ont
into the sunshine to nibbIe the green grass,
and showed his gratitude by a low whfnny
The owner Of this cruelty treated animal was
only fined $25 and costs and again the de-
fendant sought revenge by suing Mr.. White
head for retaining the feet, and the Judge
decided that the society should pay 500 and
costs, which the society did, and now own the
feet. Such cruelty is shocking, and such deci-
sions are setting premium on cruelty.
The comment of the Humane Society
in the closing sentence is altogether too
mild, and fails to express the indignation
every man worthy Of the name should
feel. 1t is nothing less than amazing
that any human being should be guilty
Of such inhumanity. The man who can
sink to so low level of revenge would
not restrain his passion if it prompted
him to cut throat or strangle an infant.
The fellow ought to be tied in horse
stall for nine years himself-the punish
ment would be less severe than that he
inflicted upon the dumb brute unfortu-
nately subject to his will.
The brutehood that is beneath US, by
its very helplessness appeals eloquently
to our sense of justice, to our forbearance
and merciful nature. The gospel of gen.
tleness needs to be preached all the times.
1t is forever at war with the brutal in
man, and it must without cessation bat
tie for the helpless creatures that do us
service. But few years ago humane
societies were the laughing-stock of the
land; their members were termed sickly
sentimentalists, morbidly sensitive and
chicken-hearted Thanks to the pro-
gressive spirit of the age and the blaze of
enlightment, to-day these associations
command universal respect and enlist
the best energies of the noblest manhood.
Nevertheless, that the continuance of such
| organizations is necessary proves there
still are british men who must be re-
strained and punished for cruelty to ami
mails. The Humane Society that was
| founded in San Francisco some twenty
years ago had difficult path to travel un.
til public sentiment was sufficiently in.
formed in that city. 1t was the butt Of
ridicule and the target for the shafts 0.
satire for several years. In fair time
however, it won its way to public conf.
dence and regard, was chartered by legis.
lative act. was endowed by James Lick
and to-day is one of the most beneficent
institutions of the metropolis. Yet this
gain in its favor does not signify that
there is not still need to labor in the di-
rection these societies take.
In Sacramento we think there is less
cruelty to animals than in most cities
There are here no steep grades to overtax
horses, no special temptation to overload
teams, for cruelty in the main manifests
| itself in the ill-treatment of horses. New
ertheless, it would be by no means lost
labor to set up even in this city some sort
of guard, to organize some order of So
ciety resembling those in San Francisco,
Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Kansas City,
Mobile, Rochester, Atlanta, st. Paul,
Milwaukee, Boston, Denver, New York,
| San Diego, Louisville, Nashville, Los
Angeles, Newark, Tacoma, Atchison,
Elgin, Akron, Dayton and two hundred
and forty other towns and cities of the