Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-02

71z1l
lENM al the habit of observation
lF q and the laws of logic, has
lM M been sprung upon the world
I'D A in the last few months in a
lk8elRzRk little booklet written by
Robert Blatchford. 1t is a
wonderful work-wonderful in its sim
plicity; for the terse, lucid and direct
presentation of it's argument; and Won
derful in the fact that, while taken
and tested nationally, link by link,
that argument seems impossible of
disproof or question by the intelligent
individual who stops long enough to
consider 1t, yet 1t is in practice pref
ty generally ignored, where 1t Is not
actually denied by society in almost
every walk of life In other words,
the author has had the daring-I use
the word advisedly-to demand our at
tention to the fact that we are blum
dering along in a line OF actlon To-
ward one another as social units that
is entirely at variance with the best
theoretically expressed deductions
from the teachings Of experience; and
equally contrary to the dictates OF
reason and, therefore, of justice. For
a writer of experience thus to fly IN
the face of his public argues a daring
of no mean order.
Not Guilty: A Defense of the Bot
tom Dog" [Clarion Press, DON
DOM is the title of Mr.. Blatchford's
book, and the title is an uner-
ring index to it's contents and aim.
The doctrine of free will notwithstand-
ing, few-when brought directly to the
point-will seriously deny that a
thing, an animal or a human being. Is
shaped or modified by surrounding in
fiuences and conditions. If polished
stick or stone is Clipped and chafed
with a cold chisel, Clipped and chafed
will be its condition, it's polish a thing
of the past. If a good-tempered dog
is habitually leased, or is kicked and
otherwise treated as "a cur" an ILL
tempered cur it will become, beyond
the shadow of doubt. That hui
man being will take the impress of its
environment we all tacitly admit when
we seek to shield our sons and daugh-
ters-aye, and our grown-ups, too
brothers, sisters, husbands, wives
from contact with any sort OF bad
influence or bad company.
Nevertheless, society in the aggregate
has agreed to build about itself, or, al
all events, has allowed to be built or to
grow up, a system of Jurisprudence as
well as of theology which holds every
one culpable and accountable for traits
of character moulded by surrounding
conditions. Blame and punishment are
in our thoughts, on our tongues and In
our acts in all the relations of life, the
year and the century round. This is
all wrong" says Mr.. Blatchford, "and
I shall here deny the justice and reason
of every kind of blame and praise, OF
punishment and reward, human and
divine"
Let not the unthinking jumper at con-
illusions rashly cry "Monstrous! Are
- I'D al re-
unchecked?" That is not Mr.. Batch
ford's contention. He speaks by the
card: let us check and tally him by the
card. Let us not put into his mouth
words he never used, nor meanings ne
never contemplated: that way mad
says we should not BLAME, not tha'
we should not disapprove; that we
should not PUNISH. not that we snoulc
1T check and restrain. He urges ABOVE
all that we should prevent crime by at
lacking and changing the conditions
that cause crime; and he brings 9
weighty and categorical indictment
against society for that 1t neglects lts
manifest duty in this respect. lie does
not blame society, but he lays the
charge equarely upon 1t, that IL is Sc
woefully enslaved to the old ana mis-,
taken course of blame and punishment
that we have failed almost entirely II
the urinary consideration of cause:
In an authors apology, Mr.. Blatcn.
ford describes his book as 'not sui
and learned work; but human DOCK
written in humanity's behalf, by man =
for men and women" l shall trust
he SAYS, ito common sense ana com
mon knowledge and common EnghsI
to make my meaning clear.
"Tf II moves us to learn that dlseast
and ruin may be avoided; II 1t inspires
ms TO hear how beauty may be coz.
iured out of loathliness, and glory GU
~ shame: how waste may be turned te
wealth and death to life, then the case
for the Bottom Dog is one TO Dc wen
and truly tried. ., ,,ar,
90 sweet and sound / do not rear y
Mead for the Bottom Dog, nor TO ash
FOR q patient hearing"
shall pass lightly over chapter l
.~rhe Laws of God" 1t was written
apparently to forestall the ob1ectlons
~ readers who, unwilling to accept ano
unable to meet the authors arguinee,h.
IN its human aspect on the plane OF tlt
nbvsical and material, would seek snei'
Ter in the trenches of divine oroi'
vance" as. for instance, did the priest.
" anologists of chattel slavery ai az
wyi+ch nersecution. 1t deals with tn'
attitude of those who, while postuiaII'
ING cod as the great first cause Oh a.
things good and evil yet throw '