The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-14

train up the child in the way he should
not go, when he is old be will not de
part from it. Ii is true and safe to
teach, "Whatsoever man soweth, that
shall he reap" But we also reap what
others have sown; and whatever socie-
ty sows, that shall il also reap. In SO
far as the social well-being is involved.
every member of society is his BROTH
er's keeper.
OBLIGATION or SOCIETY.
Every one knows that opportunity to
do wrong often causes wrong to be
done. This is especially true of chill
dren, who are very much more easily
Influenced by surroundings than grown
people. 1t is. indeed, unfortunate that
the age Of their greatest need is fire.
quently the. time of greatest neglect.
Some children are predisposed to one
kind of vice or crime very much more
than another; and, if their environ
ment is such that they can be kept out
Of temptation for certain length of
time. some other quality is apt To de-
velop in them sufficient to conn teract
the weakness Many children come
into the world with load of evil in
fiuences within and without; and their
start in the struggle Of life is handicap
ped, partly because society fails TO per-
form its duty toward them.
There will. no doubt, be enough
temptation left to test the character of
the youth, and give exercise to his
power of resistance, when society ceas-
es openly to encourage vice and crime
by putting temptation in his way.
l contend that every one blessed with
favorable environment is under moral
obligation TO assist in creating such an
environment in society as will give the
children of his weaker and more un-
fortunate brother fair chance to be-
come yirtuous, intelligent, self-support-
ing, and law-sbiding citizens. The
well-being of society demands this.
1t is, therefore, necessary that society
should devote its first efforts to helping
parents to help their children, and pun
ishing parents who neglect their chill
dren. The parent has the duty laid
upon him by both God and nature, to
guard his child against the dangers of
unlimited street rowing after dark.
When he neglecls this duty, then it is
not cnly the right, but the duty of So
ciety, as means of selfprotection, TO
assume the responsibility.
Early prevention is the most effect
i've reform. Reform schools do much
good; but it is infinitely wiser, more
economical, and more humane, TO pre-
vent children from falling, than to re-
form them after they have fallen.
cURFEw AS A REMEDY.
Since many parents do not keep
their children at home nights, and |
since it is for the public good that this
be done, city councils are fully justified |
in passing an ordinance that tends to |
enforce the performance of parental |
duty and shield the children from the
dangers and temptations of the city |
streets at night.
Recently there has been well-defin-
ed, healthy revival of the curf-w in |
America, but applied only to children |
under specified age. In their last an
nHal report the board of education of |
Springfield, Mass says: "We are in
hearty sympathy with the re-establish- |
ment of the curfew, or its equivalent, |
lately instituted in some cities, aud Sc
riously considered in others. The conf
munity thus recognizes its own laxity, |
and proposes 10 do through legislation |
what ought to be done by the common
sense of parents"
OBJECTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES.
/ am aware that when step of this
sort is advocated there will be some OPP
position. No reform of social condi-
tion was ever carried Sdt unattended
with difficulties aud opposition. Mon
ey is freely appropriated to build and
maintain poorhouses, reformatories and
prisons; but we meet much spathy and
even opposition and abuse, if we sug-
gest a measure whereby their necessity
is lessened and their expense greatly
reduced.
Many who approve laws fOrbidding
child labor in factories, or compelling
parents to send children to school, OPP
pose a curfew law because ii Is paternal-
istic. Instead of interfering with any
inherent right OF parents, the curfew
assists parents in discbargiDg their duty
TO their children and the community;
and it does this most effectually when
the children get beyond home control.
The parent who properly looks after his
child puts strict limits on his liberty at
night, and is not incOBvenienced by
the curfew. But, if the parents are so
Indifferent to their children's welfare
as to let them wander at will at night,
then the duty Of watching over them
is not assumed by, but thrust on the
city. The curfew interferes with the
wishes of only those parents who ig-
more their duty. Legislation is always
necessary to restrain and punish those
whose conduct endangers the general
welfare.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
In order to secureIhe enactment and
enforcement of curfew ordinance il Is
Decessary to create a strong public SEN
timent In its favor. The ordinance will
not enforce itself; and il is useless to
enact IT, if public sentiment will not
sustain the officers in enforcing it.
Without strong public sentiment in
its favor, il will be ignored, and do no
good. In order to create such q public
sentiment, it is necessary to secure the
co operation of churches and other so
cieties, of the public press, the public
officials, and other prominent citizens.
Occasional sermons from the pulpit,
lectures by officials and others, and ar
ticles in the local papers, will arouse
such a public sentiment and insure
success.
The citv that adoDts and faithfully