The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-13
SAMUEL DARLING.

outside. will mourn the loss OF SAMUEL
DARLISG, one OF its most eminent citi-
zens.
Mr.. DARLING was man OF unusual tall
ents and abilities, of rare good qualities
OF heart and mind, OF singular devotion
to principle, aud extraordinary unselfish-
ness of purpose In whatever he set his
hand 10.
In the trade or profession of mechanics
he held high rauk. and his skill and
genius had received wide recognition. His
works live after him.
Within recent years, Mr.. DARLING had
become generally known throughout
Rhode Island as an aggressive Opponent
OF the practice of vaccination, his energies
being particularly directed to the repeal
OF the compulsory vaccination law, now
in the statutes OF this State. And in the
rapid growth of the anti vaccination sem
timent, MIR. DARLING was a recognized
leader in this country ana abroad. Mr..
for the greater part of his life, practiced
total abstinence from drugs and doctors,
and because of the quite general endorse
ment by the medical profession of vacci-
nation and vivi section, ho became Bit
ter opponent of the doctors as a class,
and never hesitated 10 assail them Wig
orously on general principles--a course,
however, in which he was followed by but
few of his sympathizers and supporters in
mis- crusade against vaccination and vivi-
sect ion. Indeed, it is not unlikely that
by his aggressiveness against the medi-
cal profession he alienated a great deal of
support, botn within and without the
profession in behalf OF bis work against
vaccination. But, though too outspoken
and straightforward to push his ideas
with tact, his sincerity, honesty and dis
interestedness of motive were soapparent
that he succeeded IN awakening tre-
mendous public sympathy With the cause
OF anti-vaccinstio and 1t may at least
be hoped, that though he will not be
here to advocate the measure, law re-
pealing the compulsory vaccinstion stat
ute may be passed at the convening of the
Rhode Island General Assembly.
To this end and object, Mr.. DARLING
has devoted his life since retiring from
active business five years ago. He had
collected a tremendous library OF the lit
erature of snti.vaccination and was him
self prolific writer on the su bjoct, TO
which he gave the most serious and con-
scientious study. In the battle which
he originally undertook single-hsnded
plo and the active opposition Of eminent
medical authorities, MIR. DARLING is said
10 nave expended upward OF $50, 900 for ed
ucating the people TO his views. He
must have distributed thousands upon
thousands OF books and documents and
leaflets on the subject. lie h ired adver-
tisng space In the newspapers in which
be printed his matter, and at one slime,
we recall he presented more than n
hundred sets OF books treating OF the
subject to the mem hers OF the Assem- bly,,
costly argument beyond which, be it
said, Mr.. DARLING never used his means
to nrigbteously influence a law maker.
for what ne believed to be. and for
what we believe to be, the interests of
the people. lie regarded vaccination as
a horrible crime upon humanity and
compulsory vccination as an unqualified
outrage. From what he did he could
hope for no personal emolument and'he
looked for none. His energies and his
financial resourc ces were at the command
OF humanity I'm this respect and that he
made his cause popular and would live
to see it successful was his sole and un-
selfish ambition. A brave, courageous
spirit was Mr.. DARLING's, seeking only
what be was profoundly sure was the
right; fighting only against what he be-
lieved was terribly wrong. The cause
for which he fought with so much Of vigor
and patience will survive and triumph
unless the future shall demonstrate that
Mr.. DARLING ana his co-lsborers have
made great mistake, which we do not
believe they have. But even so, all honor
20 him, our fellow citizen, for the sim
cority, the disinterestedness and the do
votion with which he prosecuted II to the
best OF his attachments ana at the sacri-
dee OF oil personal interest. And all hon
or to him ns "A man M parts and tator,s