The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-11-12

1 the genesis of offences against Law
and good morals has its origin very
largely in childhood The children oil
today are to be the men and women
of tomorrow and those who are de.
pendent, neglected and the jewellers
/ In the slums, will be the Migrants and
criminals Of the next generation
while from those who are we'll train
ed and educated will come the honor.
able men and women OF the future
Though much has been done In the
past few years for the relief of this
class of children, there remains much
to be done to compass the desired
ends. To save children from pauper-
ism crime and moral degradation, and
| to aid them, through education and
moral training to a better life, is one
iof the most noble and commendable
works in which the public can en-
gage. The saving of children, whet-
her considered from a moral, philan-
thropic or economical point Is an mr.
gent duty with which every commun-
[ity has to deal
AS an economical question alone, It
Is OF the greatest Importance and con-
Germs the entire commonwealth.
This Is no new doctrine, for 1t was
recognized by the Grecian philosopher
Pericles, nearly 500 years before
Christ when he said that, THE loss
the commonwealth suffers by the de
struction Of the youth Is like the loss
which the year suffers by the destruc-
ton OF the spring. 1t is also In ac-
cord with the doctrine which prevails
in every civilized government that,
THE care Of the child Is the concern
of the state" This work Of child
saving Is one that appeals pathetically
and forcibly to our charitable i'm
pulses and they are appeals to which
the state cannot afford to turn deaf
ear. There are organizations OF a
private and semi-priyate character
that are doing much along these lines.
and they are to be commended and
encouraged in their good work. They
are successful so far as they succeed
But there are hundreds of cases far
beyond their reach and hundreds of
others with which they could not sue
cessfully deal If within it.
There are thousands Of children
with parents or guardians too indol-
ent or Indifferent to do for them
themselves, or Of such character that
what they do is utterly demoralizing
It is frequently the case in thas,a.
homes that both parents are fx1 y5e
stantly occupied IN breaI%xyso con
that they g pnot, If tn 1 winning
telligence ea dist 8Ssley had the in
time and antf- q position, give the
aY2h,ittl4 attention to their little ones,
rv- nj would result in their Develop
ment into good children But 1t is
more frequently the case that the
home has been ruined by intemper-
ance and divorce. The child has con-
stantly before him the example of his
dissipated turbulent parents, who
have little or no interest In his well
fare. These are cases that need the
long, strong arm of the law to reach
cases where the state should inter-
pose its authority and guardianship
for the rescue of the child.
DR.. Leon Harrison said 1.-THE day
will come when parental folly and
negligence will no longer rule SUI
premely the destinies of little ones,
when every child shall have his heri-
tage of opportunity If even the state
must Intervene; II even the common
wealth as Plato prefigured in his ideal
republic, must assume control of the
nurseries and train up according to
the wisdom of the wisest each new
born member Of the race" 1t were
better that this be done than that
the republic perish; but the necessity
for such an extreme of paternalism is
not indicated by the present condi-
tions Of society.
We have too many good homes, in
which children are being raised UNI
der the benign influence of Christ
ian mother and the strong sturdy de-
cisive guiding hand of a Cody faith
err, for such an experiment on the
part of the state to be even thought
Of; and yet we find that the number
of delinquent children is so large,
that the subject of their salvation is
most careful attention of our great
est philanthropists, A good child is
the natural product of a home, and all
efforts of philanthropy to make chill
dren better are consciously imperfect
substitutes for the natural influences
of a healthy minded home. II 1t were
possible, 1t were better that no child
be placed in an institution; for life
at its best cannot be as good as a
good home; but blessed be the state
for providing institution homes for
children who are homeless or who
are unfit to be placed in family
homes. Very few neglected children
are found in a fit condition mental
ly, morally or physically to be placed
in good homes. There is much need
to make them fit subjects for adop-
ton or indenture, Hence, they must
be kept in school where they can
be taught, even against their will,
the primary duty of obedience and
authority. Many persons, even those
of intelligence, have wrong idea Of
an institution. They look almost
wholly upon its financial side. That
side Is important, but not all import
ant nor even most important,
Legislatures are as rule too Mig
gardly with their appropriations to
provide for the payment of salaries
necessary to bring to the work class
of men and women of the highest
type of citizenship. There should be
placed in charge Of our institutions
and in every department, men and
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