New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-21
Existing iioralities.

those W no advocate Social Reform upon the prln-
ciple OF universal Association. You copied the lat
Ter with an appropriate reply. | wished at the
time 10 answer the writer in the Observer in diff
ler,n, manner bat thinking the subject 10 be one OF
that delicate nature which scarcely admits OF being
treated in public paper, omitted TO do IL On
reflection. however think l was wrong to defer
10 Ibis reason the Press teens with monstrosiiies
of eli kinds growing out OF the false and d!sordered
relations of the sexes seauc,ions, repes &c, trials
OF Costello with all the disgusting details Of her
profession are daily pareded before the whole com
uuni,y, old aud young, male and female, so that the
public must have become quite well acquainted with
The secrets of Lcenlousness. II ID not my purpose
10 magnify this terrible picture of depravity, but
wish 10 speak of facts, indicating the present
STAKE of the virtue and morality of Society. and IN
vie toe jealous defenders OF good morals IN the
Observer and elsewhere, TO attack those tdtSe In
stttutlonS aud Arran gementS an tie present Sys.
tenn Of Society which produce the dreadful social
evils instead OF Quixotically attacking bugbears In
doctrin&of their own creating. which have no ioun
da,ion in fact or principle.
Let US look al the state OF things around us-in
our own City Of New York-and II we Ind that at
least three fourths OF the relations OF the sexes are
venal licentious and adullerous, may we not well
conclude that some reforms are urgently needed,
even in our very perfect social Organization, so
considered by the Observer and other defenders OF
things as they are. New York, doubt, is far less
dissoute than most of the Capital cities OF the
world and its moral condition will offer US fair
estimate Of the fruits of the present social Order
called Civilization.
There are ia New.York ii is said ten thousand
prostitutes this is the result of careful estimate
by one of its Aldermen ltappears to as however,
TOO high that is, If we include those only VINO are
engaged regularly in this course OF life as means
of subsistence. But il we deduct twenty-five per
cent, for our estimate the astounding fact stares US
in the face that there are in city in our Christian
land about as many prostitutes there soldiers
in the United States Army, and this great army OF
prostitutes has 10 be recruited amer ecery eaght
gears. "a portion in SIX portion in ten, the ave
rage eight
What is the source of Prostitution in Society,"
This is a most important question, which should be
carefully studied if any cure is desired for the great
Social ulcer The Observer will probably solve 1t at
once by saying that il has its source In the depraoity
of human nature. Now allowing human nature 10
be depraved we havetwo objections to raise against
this solution of the moral teachers OF Society.
ls 1t has been clear y proved by careful and eX-
tensive researches on the part of some French Ply
scians that nneteen-twentieths OF prostitutes are
So not from centous propensities, but from poverty
and other circumstances which force them against
their will resort this mode OF lie, and that IN
all cases where they obtain by accident competen
VI,
draws them into IL for passion is not satisfied there
by, but terribly violated.
I'd This deprav,y of human nature includes OF
necessity all of Mankind Now we find large
number of women virtuous; they can Withstand,
and do withstand this corruption Of moral purity
if this be So why is a part drawn into II! Evil
IDENTITY there are external causes, besides the inter
nal depravty which are in operation.
What then are the causes of prostitution There
are several having their sources in false arrange
ments OF society; but we will mention merely two
al present.
ls; The rant of Occupations which are adapt
ed 10 the nature of woman-to her strength and
decacy, which are justly rewarded, and will Sc.
cure decent livelihood. In the present system OF
society, man has monopolized almost all branches
of Industry. except those OF the needle and the
kitchen. These branches are so overgtccked that
there is no room for thousands of applicants and il
is positive fact that at times starvation is pressing
upon hundreds of young women IN our city, and
that in this Christian Capital with its two hundred
churches, sisters in humanity are forced from
absolute want OF the necessaries OF life into prosi
tuition.
Again. the occupation of Sewing, conducted as i,
is is most deleteriuus the health and many con-
situations cannot bear up against the sedentary and
incessant application which is required OF those en-
gagged in it, On The other hand kitchen work Is
deemed dishonorabe; young women who have
been brought up with any sentiments oil. pride and
respectaby v, i'll not submit 10 its servile and de-
meaning conditions. Thus loss OF health on one side
and sefrespect and ambition on the other, drive
many from these few occupations which are open
TO them and force thenl--not with power perfectly
irresistible it is true but far stronger than should be
placed in the way Of mortals and which would
overcome, we think, majority OF these male
preachers of moray-to listen 10 proposals which
offer some relief for suffering by q sacrifice the
nature and extent of which is not at trst seen and
understood
oF ,N.a nhcar at,H 9TH Gro
animated BY a strong and sincere desire to do
away with vice and immortality, the earnestness
OF the feeling would soon produce ceerness oil In
tellect sufficient to enable them to discover the
causes of them and this knowledge would direct
them rightly in laboring for their removal. The
class OF evils we are here speaking Of requires first
of all Industrial Reform. and good Organ
eaton of Labor, which will secure TO ALL an
honorable and fairly remunerated employment,
ard thus place all above want and the temptations
of Poverty.
cd The second cause is the non guaranty OF Wo.
mans Righis-Rght ofproperty, Right 10 her chill
dren, Right TO some means OF honorable divorce
| when ill.lreated by men; and other Rights the
denial of which, together with the want OF proper
systems In Industry, render her a poor weak, and
defenceess being, q creature subject TO the will and
caprice OF the male sex, who IS degraded, discarded
and banished from Society. for the rery same acts
| tchich entail no od,um or disgrace upon man.
Let moralisis. who are 50 loud in declaming
against Effects go the root of the matter, and de-
nounce causes, and will listen 10 them and have
some faith in their declamations but this is the last
thing they will do.
We have spoken of Prostitution as one evidence
of the maieralism and brutality that reign in present
society in the relations OF the sexes II there are
seven or eight thousand prostitutes in the City there
must be at least five times as many men-residents
and sirangers-who visit them. This covers over
quite broad field of the relations we are speaking
OF, and | think that we may safely calculate that
one quarter OF those relations in our large towns and
cities exist under conditions of absolute prostitution,
under this head
The second evidence of the fact we wish to es
,ablish namely OF the impurity of the present re,
ations OF the sexes 10 be found in the Nenal Mar
riages which are ocommon-marriaScs for money
or other considerations OF interest 10 crafty SEN
sual desire, without spiritual Love They are so
numerous that may safely calculate one,thlrd al
least come under this head in Europe among all
the higher and weather classes fouriiths. These
marriages are adulterous they are in fact kind OF
legalized prostitution, wholesale disposal OF the
hoit-