The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-02-26
AN INDIGNANT PROTEST.

The Journal is in receipt of a letter
from a Massachusetts woman-a plea
for the helpless creatures dependent |
upon man for food and care, but who |
in turn contribute in no small degree |
to his comfort. 1t is direct appeal |
to humane workers to exert every effort |
in behalf of those "who cannot speak |
for themselves" She writes
II am not proud of my native State |
Vermont, since the bill was de- |
feated in the recent General Assembly |
that should have passed and protected |
dumb creatures from torture and suf-
fering. Facts in reliable papers print
ed in your State show to the world
that there is great suffering among
the animals in Vermont. Humane
workers God bless the little band)
are unable to convict or punish even
those who cruelty abuse some of your
stage horses. Mortgages and all sorts
of strategems are cut and dried to pre-
vent the law from reaching them
but their hour will come. Don't
hide your light under bushel, you
who feel yourselves to be humane, but
he willing every one should know you
are willing to work for this cause.
The best citizen, father and friend is
always proud to be humane man, the
best wife and mother, the kind-heart-
ed woman. We are proud here in Old
Massachusetts, to speak for those who
can't speak for themselves but until
Bands of Mercy are formed in all OF
your towns and cities, you will never
have clear consciences, even if you
make long prayers. Wealthy people
should become members of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami
mails and be liberal to agents, not
afraid to urge prosecution when cases
are bad enough to need it and come
boldly forward to tell what you know
in open court that justice shall be
served to man and beast
Henry W. Longfellow once said:
Among the noblest of the land
| Though he may count himself the
| least,
The man honor and revere
| Who without favor, without fear
In the great city dares to stand
The friend to every friendless beast. "
Only recently have come reports of
several instances of cruelty to dumb
animals the details of which maze
one shudder and cause visions that
"will not down" These instances
are perhaps the exceptional but there
are others-every day acts of thought
ess cruelty of so common occurrence
that but a passing thought is given,
or an exclamation of pity.
A vast amount of torture goes I'M
fragrant to call for complaint that the
law would recognize, as the appear
ance of overworked, underfed and
otherwise ill-cared for horses often
testifes There is no limit to the
tales of cruelty that might be related,
which never reach the ears of the
humane society and which it could
hardly help if they did.
A wide field for work lies here with
difficulties sufficient to almost deter
from effort were it not for the thought
of what one man, Henry Bergh, hai
been able to accomplish, to say moth
ing of the noble effort of many others
1t is a work in which the sadness il
seldom lighted with much comedy ant
it requires an optimist pure and sim
! pie who can go through all the scene
that greet the earnest worker for thu
S cause and not be constantly bowed
3 down with grief that such base hu
, mainly exists, Speechless tales o
I misery, neglect and wretchedness
told by pleading eyes and gaun
o bodies, are far more pathetic than an
L word stories. The slow process of til
e law is often discouraging and one
@ inclined to wonder at the meage
S penalty inflicted for its infringement
Il in such cases-almost as much as VIII
It something isn't done at once, on frs
o evidence.
d Organization and education mus
IS be effective. The thoughtless mus
= be made to see, the indifferer
n aroused, and the deliberately cruz
J. restrained by punishment. s@N
y The Journal would gladly see a
s. wrongs righted, have all needles
Is suffering prevented, and the helplel
id cared for and protected. 1t hearth
IL encourages any attempt to make Il
SO world brighter or happier throue