BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-14
SANJUAN, MARCH "a
Both Brutal And
ChiCkenhearted

Such q vast amount of matter has been
written respecting the terrible cruelties prac-
tised upon dumb animals by their owners
and handlers, that it seems impossible to say
anything on this subject qehich sill increase
or enlarge the pablo opinion of it's ichuman
it or which will make the police of th Q
or Toe other cities of the island more sealous
in their attempts to stamp it out. Taken by
itself this extreme brutality towards dumb
animals 10 neither unusual nor new, but
considered in the light of another Icharacter
istie trait of the people who practise these
sruslties upon dumb animals, the subject
fufnisbs food for considerable thought on
the subject.
Wherever one may 60 throughout the
island are heard cries tor che release Of the
Eve men who foully killed an old man and
who maltreated his family in d ay VII ch
human deviltry and savage passion never
before conceived OF. The details Of this
crime are we'll Known in every hut and house
in the interior, and in many of the larger
cities Notwithstanding all this comes the
cry for the release Of the men, on grounds
Of pity, mercy, charity and humanity.
Oat in this same interior where we every
day hesr these cries can also be heard the
cries Of .damb beasts driven mad With either
fear or fright. lnhuman monsters driving
spiked nails into the bodies, heads and even
eyes Of bullr. Horses whipped with sticks
and stones until the blood gushes in streams.
Dogs kicked and killed az mere pleasure
and pa1tme. This 10 not . general ACCUSE
ton, and should not be construed as such,
bat it 10 Q statement to the effect that such
scenes are net unusual. The breaking of
bulls tail to urge 1t to move quicker is b
recent account from the direction of Rio
Pisdras. The spikes which are used can be
seen anywhere in town, and the cruelty
practissd upon horses 10 daily sight.
Some weeks ago lady, recent arrival
ia San Juan, came rushing into the BOL1s.
TIN Office in state Of great excitement,
and insisted that the Governor be lmmedia-
tsly informed of the terrible thing she lad
witnessed on the Marina. 1t seems that q
horse attached to cart became frightened
BY the blowing of whistle on the bay, or
soma other terrific noise, and started to run
of towards the Marine Barracks. Tne
owner started in chase and caught the ami
msl just % 1t reached the open Plaza. Tken
began one Of the most bru al exhibitions shit
the poor woman had ever. seen. FIRST the
fellow started in by kicking the horse in the
head; then came the whip and that was laid
across the eyes, head and nose until the beast
fell 10 the ground; then he was kicked to
earth again, and when on he feet was struck
with wooden pole which had been pro.
cured in the meantime. Then the beast was
struck till it feel again, and on re-gaining
its feet was felled once m ,re. This was kept
no w,sk nkn<<.
aPPsrsntly enjoying the feast. Amongst
them was policeman. Finally when the
lady sss about to have fsinting spell, the
horse feel to the ground and laid there uu-
able to arise again. Tue owner wiped the
perspirati0n irsm h,s brow and drank Q
sscccos Dc aguao Ofcourse The Governor
was not consulted. Oae groscs callous at
ter awhile,
In the face Of oil this known, open, motor
ioas inhrmAnity on the one GaHd, we have
ecming from these same people cries of pity
for the monsters who comittsd murder and
other crimes much more violent. Oan it be
possible 70 accepst his ~ plea based on pity
or mercy. L. not not rather an evidence of
what is commonly called the sschicken
heart, the fear Of permitting unprejudiced
human justice to seek the lives of men who
have assAilsd 1t.
Is It pity or unjust and unreasonable
sympathy which permits Q man to petition
the pardon of brutal murderer, ten minutes
aftsr he hss mercilessly maltreated dumb
creature. Oan these two traits be reooneIled.
Pity towards Justly convicted brute, and
cruelty towards dumb suffering animal.
There il no law under the sun which can
prevent man frem being chicSenheArtad,
bat there is one in every civilized land
which can prevent him from being brutal to
nnything that breathes, man, bird or beast.
Here in Porto Rice We have passed one.
II u IN excellent law and Improperly carried
into effect can stop this sseful stain on Porto
Rleo's fair nsme. Whether it will be
carried into sfiess a. it should be 10 quss
ton. Under The Military authorities We
had . General Order against cruelty to-
esimsls, but the police Of those days, and
tsoss Of 20 day seems TO have accomplished
very little IN this direction. The Law is
plain and positive and it seem impossible to
inisesn1tr1s il. Toe police bsads should
glys their men lectures on this subject and
make them enforce The law, even II it be
against mans own brother.
Tue firss thing that strikes the eye Of the |
sew arrival here ls the brutality towards |
dumb animals It Is . stain on tae isisnd, |
1od 3 Disgrace 70 tie inhabitants. Il can
bs slapped and should Be ct once.