The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
SUBSTITUTION OF THE STATE FOR
THE PARENT.

THE PARENT.
| One need not be a professional sociol-
ogist to note the tendency toward what
may be called paternalism in legislation
in States whose people are accustomed
| to sneer at the Puritanism of New Eng
land. The Legislature of Iowa, recently
| In session, came very near passing a
''curfew law; which required that chill
| dren be kept OFF the streets after 9
o'clock. 1t is said that this remarkable
measure would have been enacted If 1t
had not been represented that the cities,
where the evil was greatest, would un-
dertake to deal with 1t themselves. The
absolutely prohibiting the manufacture
and sale of cigarettes within Iowa. The
Legislature of Ohio has passed a law pro-
hibiting the sale Of cigarettes. cigars and
tobacco in any form to persons under
sixteen years of age. attaching heavy
fines for the first. and fine or imprison-
ment, or both, for the second offense.
In several cities in the newer West
ourfew ordinances have been discussed,
and in Omaha, Neb., such an ordinance
has been passed by the Council over the
veto of the Mayor. If We in this city
have not heard of a curfew ordinance
yet we are sure to do so, since there Is
a national organization devoted to its
advocacy in the cities of the West. But,
independent of this movement, conserva-
tive people are bordering over the condi-
items. Not long since number Of we'll
known citizens rather acqufesced in the
opinion of one Of them in favor Of what
he called the adoption of the curfew.
Very naturally the convention in which
this declaration was made followed the
Bryan horror.
This new movement in the direction
Of paternalism by the State and city is
due to the fact that the proper parental
authority is not exercised over children.
A larger part of the young know moth
ing of parental restraint. They go and
come at will. Many parents seem to care
very little where their children are or
what they are doing so long as they are
not troubled by their presence. Another
class simply yields to the caprices OF
those whom they should direct, and, if
slaves of children who soon learn to be
dictators and tyrants. All that many
children know of authority is that exer-
cised by the teachers in the public
schools. To that authority many silly
parents show themselves hostile, thus
x<.lr oid aivSf "a nj xvh T.
ever upon children. Very generally the
parental restraint of two generations
ago, often severe, is now denounced as
unnecessary. That Difference which chill
dren were taught to show to parents
and older persons seems to have de-
parted in large measure.
Parents are not wholly to blame for
this change. Those who are regarded
as the teachers of ethics do not, as a
rule, lay SO much stress upon the natural
duty of parents to look after the morals
of their children as upon the statute Of
the State and the ordinance of the city.
Instead of impressing upon parents the
necessity of exercising proper authority
and watchfulness over their children
they ask the State to take the place of
the parent. If boys throng gambling
rooms the parent is not implored to see
that his sons are not there but the po-
liceman is set to watch such places to
prevent boys from entering. The laws
against the sale of cigarettes to children
are commendable as indicating the
States opinion of such traffic, but those
who can best prevent the evil are
parents. One hears very little of the
duty of bringing up children in the fear
of God" but much heated defamation
regarding the duty of the State to look
out that there shall be no places where
they can be taught evil ways. The pre-
vailing sentiment, judging from what is
publicly said by those who are regarded
as teachers. is that the policeman and
not the parent shall see that children are
at home at the proper hour. and that
they do not frequent disreputable places.
Indeed, it is not too much to say that
the present tendency is toward making
the State responsible for the proper
bringing up of children by making it
impossible for them. in their freedom
from restraint, to find places for evil as
ISOLATION, or even evil associates.