New-York tribune., 1891-05-09
yEW pREVENTIVE SOCIETY,"

After all. how inadequate is law and how weak
are the courtsl But fortunately we only nave
IN denend 10 a small extent, on elther. AS "
neoplp. we are jealously guarded by fostering
societies for the prevention of this and associations
for the promotion Of that. Ana tIlaO these sooio-
tics are useful is shown by the fact that tney
are constantly increasing in number Each uaS
sees the incorporation of some new socletS loi
tbe regulation of something. 1t is no longer
necessary to appeal to the weak and VaciIlauhs
rolice or TO the timid and uncertain courts "leh
Won have a grievance If you see hackn"n
with his horses nose-bag checked up too hlgh
repott his case to the Society for the PreVehll0n
Of Cruelty to Animals. If you hear your hei@l-
bor's ofspring waing in sad minor Key inform
the Society for the Prevention OF OruelV "
Children If cats howl sngly or IN unison oh
vour back fence there is the Society Tor the rre
vention of Cats by Humane Methods III your
,,rocer cheats Won notify the Society for the En-
termination of Dishonesty. If you have reason
IN bclicve that q friend is tarrying in an insane
ASYLUM against his will you have choice between
the Anti-Kdnapping League and the society
for the Snatching of Folks from Insane ASyluins
and Other Places. If life insurance solicitor
or book agent bothers you you again nave d
choice between the Society for the Prevention oil
Crime and the Society for the Enforcement OF
the Criminal Law. But, as we SAID, notwitn-
standing the number Of existing societies. others
are constantly being organized The news reaches
us on apparently good authority Of the incorpora-
ton of another important association called the
Society for the Discouragement OF Murder IN the
First Degree.
1t appears to us that this new society has
great and good work before it, We scarcely need
pause to condemn murder. Indeed, circular
explaining the object of the new society signed
by its secretary, Mr.. Eben Bickneli GOiorth.
sneol,s in no uncertain tones concerning wilful
murder. @Murder, especially when carefully
planned in advance says this circular. is fire.
ouentlv uniustifabe" In thus declaring itself
the new society will have the support of the
entire country. "It is our object" continues the
circular. so 10 elevate the moral tone of the
community that premcditated murder and long
| considered slaughter may he looked upon with
| susnicIon.o What fair-minded man will refuse
| to hold I'D the socicty's hands in this laudable
| endeavor? ave would, in the first place" the
circular goes on TO say, question the motives OF
| every man who kills brother man. Did he act
| with a high moral purpose Was he actuated by
| lofty motives? Did he keep in view, he in
serted the cartridges in his pistol or whetted his
| knife on his bootleg, Right, Justice and Princi-
pie? Alas too often we know that the profes-
sional murderer has none of these things in mind.
In too many cases he is low and selfish, and 1t
| shall ever he the object of this society TO sec
that murderers do not escape without trial and
to create healthy public sentiment against MUIR
| der. Persons knowing of recent cases Of murder
in an aggravated form will please notify us.
| Address Eben Bcknell Goforth, secretary of the
| Society for the DiscOuragement OF Murder in the
| First Degree"
or course The Tribune sympithizcs with the
s. ID. NJ f. d.. as we suppose it Will be called
when il becomes better known. And its creaton
reminds us that government by society is really
| in its infancy Take, for instance. burglars and
the crime of burglary; we doubt If there is one
association to attend TO either. There might and
should be an AntLRurglary League, and Society
for the Prevention of Burglary and lIousebrealS.