The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-12-30
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

t lmperfections in human nature hav
5 led to the establishment in this countr
and in some parts Of Europe Of s~ocietie
whose mission is the prevention of cru
city to animals and to children.
At first sight n with "a gentle an,
kindly nature can scarcely conceive hoy
any human being could be so cruel as 4
wrong IA helpless child or a still NOR
helpless dumb animal. but the fact
show that brutalizcd human beings ar,
more cruel than wolves and more vindic
tive than hyenas. In our large cities tn,
agents Of both the societies above re
ferrcd to are always on the alert. ant
special laws have been made to enable
them to bring quick punishment upor
offenders. If IA man leave his horse un
~blanketed on a cold day he is charged
with cruelty and becomes liable to ar.
rest, fine, and Imprisonment. In Mich.
gan and some of the other states negii-
gence or other causes which inilict cru
city upon live stock are severely pun
ished and indictments for such offences
are frequently found.
Out here in Montana If thousands Of
cattle and other stock perish on the
ranges We hear only a lot of maudlin
sympathy for their owners and not one
word about the inhumanity which leaves
the helpless cattle without food or shell
ter to have the life pinched out of them
by the wintry blasts.
The TmBUNE is familiar with all the
arguments that can be employed for and
against the proposition that it is right
and proper for men to use the ranges as
they are now used, and TO leave their
cattle to their fate as they are now left;
and we say without fear of successful
contradiction that IA law making this
wanton cruelty a penal offence would be
IA good thing for the state. a good thing
for the cattle men. and AN especially
good thing for the cattle. The law
should be so drawn as to enable owners
Of cattle and all kinds Of live stock to adj
Just their herds in such IA manner dur
ing the coming season that they ca Se
fed and sheltered in the severe weather:
and to make abundance of feed available
Tor Montana cattle a rigid provision
should be made against bringing in
stock from other states for grazing pur-
poses.
We fully realize the opposition that
such a law would meet with, but it would
be for the benefit of the many as against
the few who are now seeking to monopo-
lie great areas of country against the
public interests, 1t is not our belief that
many Of these men are ST. hard-hcartcd
they do not Themselves think some
with a feeling Of rcmorse of the
sordid cruelty displayed in raising cattle
after the present fashion. No mar pos
scssed Of human feelings can regard with
Indifference the reports that are now cur.
rent OF cattle with their noses worn sore
through roofing in the hard crusted snow
feed: with their legs cut and bleed
ing, and their bones worn bare through
exposure and hunger, with no altcrna-
tive but TO lie down and die.
1t is horrible, and should not be toler.
ated in a civilized and progressive state
any longer than it will require to pass a
making such crulty IA criminal Of
against the commonwealth. II is
true that there is no law to prevent a
man from bringing human beings into
the world for whom he fails to provide
proper shelter and food; but there ought
to be such a law, and its non-existence.
)r the fact hat human beings perish
the neglect Of their own parents is
10 reason why dumb hrutcs which It is
right and duty Of the state to pro
.ect, should be subjected 10 such deadly
Tut IEIGtNE believes that the press
the Legislature of this state are sin.
ere and honest enough TO take hold Of
his problem and solve it, and we call
Ipuu all our readers to send us such
acts as are III their possession regarding
he suffering and death IF live stock in
heir neighborhoods during the recent
old spell and throughout the present
winter. Let us as humane beings do all
We can to bring about the enactment of
law which VIII bring swift and sure
punishment TO any man or set Of men
Who attempt to winter mere live stock
n tins climate than they are able to pro-
Ide food and shelter for.
~l'E"LNTLN an old man named .Adamski