New-York tribune., 1906-08-22
PARENTS, RESPECT YOUR CHILDREN.
prosperity.

Il
We profess strong feeling OF sympathy with
the remarks by Justice McAvoy in the local
Children's Court one day last week when he had
before him a thirteen-year-old boy who had been
turned out OF home by his father to Shift for
himself, who had in consequence been arrested
for vagrancy, and against whom his father had
the effrOntery TO appear as complainant ask
ing that the boy be sent away TO some institu-
tion, as he could not support him. The justice
did send the boy to a protectory, but he told the
father that If he did not pay 30 cents week
toward his support he would send him-the
father-to Jail He added that he proposed TO
do all he could 90 stop the inhuman practice Of
bringing children into the world and then turn
ing them over tGAhe community TO be taken care
of, and that In lis opinion no man had right
to get married and become the father Of chill
dren unless he was willing to do his utmost TO
support them.
That opinion Is quite sound, and its express
sion and enforcement seem 20 be needed in a
good many cases. Race suicide Is doubtless
deplorable thing, but it is a thing Of which no
worthy nation stands in serious danger. The
propagation Of waits. and paupers is a no less
deplOrable thing, and it Is a thing that is real
and actual, right here in this city, as well as
widely elsewhere. It is obviously delicate and
difficult matter to deal WITH In at least many
cases. The principles of Nautilus cannot be i'm
posed upon the community according to q grad
uated scale, inversely as the wealth Of the peo-
pie. II poor people want 70 raise large FAM
lilies It is their right to do so, equally with the
rich, provided they take decent care OF them
But If they do not take decent care of them, or
II they throw them upon the community as
burden for it to bear, they would seem TO be
going beyond their right or at least the COM
munity would seem TO be justified in taking
some action toward them. We recall the case of
blind man In Brooklyn, who was for many
years a professional beggar on q certain street
corner, and who meanwhile became the father
Of four or five children, for whose support he
importuned the public for aims 1t Is a Ques-
ton which was the more scandalous, that or
the case Of last week before Justice McAvOy.
Even in such cases it may be impracticable
TO prescribe Malthusianism- But 1t does appear
TO be practical to apply generally the example
set by Justice McAvOy, and to make such par
ents understand that If they bring children into
the world they have got TO take care Of them,
and If they will not do it voluntarily In their
own homes, through the prOmptings Of that par
entail affection which even brute beasts possess
and display, they will be required to do it under
cOmpulsion in the WOrkhouse. It Is shocking
enough to have children thrown upon the state
for support But for the state to accept such a
burden and at the same time let the responsible
parents go. free would be simply to encourage
that sort Of inhumanity and that imposition
upon thrifty and decent citizens Filial plety is
good thing to inculcate, but So toO is parental
piety, even by means Of the strong arm OF the
law.