The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-27

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"a fine theory" sneered the colonel.
'sAnd how would you accomplish that,
pray?"
ooh, do not say that it is simple
problem. But, colonel, at present it
seems to me that the law has wrong
aim in view. If q man aban(lons
child say man, for it is the father
who should support mother and child,
and it is only through penury that the
ordinary mother yields up her progeny;
II the father then, fails in his duty,
the law locks him up at present. How
does this work? First, the man is
placed where it becomes impossible
for him to do that, failing in which he
is held culpable; secondly, the mother
is left more helpless than before, for
the hope of retaining the man to her
child is thrown into public institu-
ton, which, however we'll maintained,
is poor substitute for home with
parental influence"
"And how would you have it work?"
asked the colonel, still sneering, but in
terested in spite of himself.
Il have observed" continued Mr..
Mitchell, that foundlings belong to
two classes only. First, they are the
children of the very poor, to whom the
added burden of another mouth to feed
is too great. The youngest born Is
abandoned in order that those who
have preceded it and who have earned
a place in the parents hearts may not
suffer. In these cases 1 see good field
for charity. If we would care for these
extra burdens of the poor until such
time as the parents might reclaim them,
they would not be abandoned. If wealso
extended a helping hand to the parents,
finding more remuneratlve work for
them, by putting hope into their hearts,
they would have increased energy and
would soon learn to support what now
they cast adrift. The little ones would
spend but their earlier years in char
liable asylums and would be taken
home when old enough to appreciate
what home means"
@And the other class?" asked the
colonel, this time without any sarcasm
in his tones.
"Ah! That is the class which would
be the more difficult to control and
therefore would need the most strin-
gent measures. These are the children
of shame. The punishment should be
compulsory marriage and support of
wife and child. In these cases the
mothers may be and often are as blam-
able as the fathers, though the men are
q Put
are innocent and should receive the
full protection of the state. First, their
birth should be legitimatized by the
marriage of their parents, and, second,
the father should contribute to the sup
port of his child"
"Ah, very pretty in theoryv' cried the
colonel. He was pleased to find weak
spot in Mr.. Mitchers argument. but
suppose that the man has no means Of
supporting his child, or, worse yet, sup
pose that he be already a married
man"
In the latter event, of course, mar
riage between him and his victim
would be impossible, but in any case
he could be made to support his child,
which would be more just to the infant
than the Imprisonment of the man."
"But how, in the name of conscience,
can you make man support child If
there is no alternative punishment"
"Oh! did not say that there should
be no punishment. l only argued
against imprisonment. This is fitting
use for the whipping post. Corporal
punishment is sometimes more effec-
tual than any other. For example, if
all married men guilty of this crime
should be publicly logged once month
for a year after conviction l think
much would be accomplished toward
regeneracy of the moral status of the
community. But let me answer you as
to the compulsory support of the child
If the man has means, it would be
easy enough for. the court to allot a
specified monthly payment to the moth
er and child. To insure such payment
a part of the culprit's property could be
placed under the guardianship of the
public administrator, not actually con-
nscated, but so arranged that no dis
position could be made of it against
the interests of the child"
But suppose the man has no visible
means of support?'
IA man who can work and won't
work must be made to work If he
can be made to work for the state in
prison, surely he can be compelled to
work for his child out of prison.
think if man We're fogged every
week until he would make an honest
effort to obtain employment he would
soon look eagerly for work OF course
he might do this and not succeed, in
which case, when he had proved his
willingness to do his duty, he would
have reached the same plane as the
father in the first class and would be
worthy object of assistance"
II guess We'll have to send you to
the legislature" said the colonel, who
found that he was getting the worst of
the argument, and so preferred to let
the topic drop. "Would you like to see
the latest applicant for assistance IN
der your scheme?'
81 would indeed" said Mr.. Mitchell,
and together they entered.