Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-04
PROTECT THE CHILDREN.

The following is an extract from an
address address by NJ Payot, inspector
OF public schools Of the district Of
Marne, France. on a subject Of world
wide interest. Speaking Of the injur-
ious effects OF scenes Of violence placed
before children he sald
~ request the teachers TO see to the
removal from the walls Of the school Of
an pictures representing scenes of vo-
lence lu one school | counted in fifteen
engravings fourteen that gave behcad-
ings. tortures, massacres and treacher-
Gus murders. These engravlngs are
generally hung up 10 Illustrate history,
but are historically false and ridicu-
ious But We're they even IN every re-
spect true they should none the less Do
removed from schoOlrooms. We should
lie careful not 20 familiauze children
with sights Of violence and feroCity.
The brutal Instincts OF the human race
are not yet sufficiently weakened or
crowded out by higher ones 10 admit
OF our placing before the eyes OF the
young scenes Of murder and other afro
cities Our moral law is based on the
intangible law OF absolute respect Tor
human life, How can a child help be-
ing shocked 10y the Inconsistency OF the
lesson 20 this effect with the pictures
before his eyes? lie may not pay at-
icntlon TO the lesson but ne viii scan
the engraving and remember &C. We
should teach children that unjust war
Is a horrible inheritance Of ancestral
brutality and that a nation which
takes up arms without having first
tried every means Of Cancellation. with
out having made strenuous efforts 10
sottle differences by arbitration. COM
mits an abuse of force. That nation
dishouors Itself II places itself beyond
The pals of reason and humanity. and
its conduct lg hestl0l insiil into the
consriences of the children. which be
assured win receive It, this truth. IN
which the safety of civilization lies
namely that % nation has an inviol1ble
soul and that AIN abuse OF force COM
mlttcd AGAINST q nation e. an act Of
brigandage"
The views here expressed are right
lt should be added though. that great
number OF grown up persons are child
rem Boz this respect that they always
scan the details Of horrors with eager
ness, whether placed before them IN
picture or sensational stories. And as
children they are morally injured
thereby Their brutal instincts are
stimulated at the expense OF the high.
err.
10 is encouraging 10 hear a French
educator condemn the taking up OF
arms by nations without first exhaust.
Ing every means OF cancellation. France
is a country where milimrism Is held
iu high honor. But perhaps the French
nation Is commencing to realize that
there are higher honors than those
achieved on the field Of death and car.
mage.
The fact Il that there are unmistak.
ahle signs OF q return Of the pendulum
from the extreme military direction in
to which II was sent by the policy OF
Bismarck, towards the other side that
Tor which the Russian Car cast his in
nuence and strength. Peace is hecom.
ina more popular than Il has been for
many years. The military burdens are
breaking dawn the machinery Of states.
Tne idea that war is good IN itself.
or even a necessary evil. is reiegated
20 the dark corner where It belongs.
Il Il well that the new ideas are
placed before the children. For in