The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-04

THx LICENT1OUSNYSS AND IMMORTALITY or THE
PROVINCIAL PREss.-During the past few years
the New York secular press has vastly improved
in its moral tone, while the religious press has
sank sadly in reputation and decency. The
most rigid voluntary censorship is daily ex-
ercised over its columns, and only through
mere accident, such "a will happen occa-
sionally In the best regulated journals, do we
find an impure expression even in the records Of
the proceedings in the criminal courts. Indeed,
so far has this become the rule that short time
since, when one or two Objectionable SEN
fences clipped into the reports of trial in
neighboring county, the whole press, came
down strongly upon the offending journals
for printing In an amended and purified form
evidence which had been given in court Of
justice. Time was, and nota great many years ago,
thatit wast thought impossible to make newspaper
readable without two or three columns of highly
spiced police reports, while The avidity with
which the public, or q majority Of it, swallowed
the accounts Of rich seduction or rape case
was equalled by the eagerne@ displayed by the
journals in catering to an appetite 80 depraved.
But we have changed all that; and the change
must not only be gratifying to the moral feelings
of every good citizen, but also produce the best
effect upon the moral tone Of the community.
We only want to see similar improvement upon
the morals and taste of the religious press, aud
then we think New York will he ready to meet
the approaching comet and sho Judgment Day,
without reproach.
While we congratulate our contemporaries Of
the metropolitan press upon this reform, 80 much
needed and so quietly effected, we feel IL to be
our duty TO condemn the lcenuous and immoral
tone Of the press In other great cities-such cities
especially like Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati
Chicago, 81. Louis &C., DC. Their columns
TEEN with the most Disgusting details Of crime in
every shape. Boston, which was once 80 highly
esteemed for the supposed morality Of its men,
the virtue Of is young wemcn and the chastity
of is matrons leads the lcentious army. For
the hast month the Boston papers have been
filled with reports Of trials for seduction, rape
and adultery. The staple literary food Of the
modern Athenians is more beastly than the OBJ
scene stuff which is prohibited by law In New
York
Not only do these journals give the reports
with every obscene word carefully preserved
but editorial comments are made, in which the
Atby details are reiterated and splced up to whet
the slmost satiated appetite Of q sensual and de.
PRAYED public-madc sensual and deprayed by a
licentious and immoral press. Attention ia
called to the reports by advertisements In which
the worst features Of The cases are tempingly set
forward, az the proprietors of the Broadway
bazaars pacard their new and choice wares
The newspapers vie with each other In hunting
up the evidence Of mans beastiality and wo-
mans weakness and the skill Of the writers il
exhausted in giving the prurient stuff in a
piquant shape.
The influence of these reports and editorials
upon small community like Boston may readily
b. imagined The drawing room resounds with
The slang OF the brothel and the grog shops
The youthful mind becomes early familisrizeo
with vice, and eager 10 embrace It
The remarks on this subject should not w