The Nevada journal., 1858-02-19
For the Nevada Journal.


Mr.. Editor Allow me the privilege o
expressing through your columns few
plain thoughts and inquiries on a subjec
by no means void of interest to society
especially parents; and as parent, al
we'll as citizen, ask the privilege o
being heard through your columns. i
is doubtless taken for granted that those
of our citizens, especially parents, who
design making permanent stay in thi.
city feel deep interest in any thing
which affects our social we'll being, par
ticularly the morals and virtue of the
rising generation. Immediately con-
nected with these is the subject to which
| direct attention. / mean the vice of
prostitution and lewdness so promine t
in our city. / have lived in various
parts of California and no where have
witnessed the prevalence and pernicious
effects of this abominable evil as in Ne
vada. OF its prevalence l need not
speak. nor of its many unmasked indie
cencies and disgusting public manifesto
tions, These are patent to all who walk
our streets. / wish to inquire whether
it is the understanding that prostitution
and lewdness constitute a part of our
social organism. That along side the
residences of virtuous families, and in
the most conspicuous places in our
streets, Madam Bawd is to have her es-
tablishment of prostitutes, poodle dogs,
and lecherous paramours Are our clil-
dren in passing to school, or along the
streets, to he made daily witnesses of
the disgusting manifestations of this cor
rupting evil, and be brought under their
contaminating influences Are those
young men and others who vi>i; these
places, to lose nothing thereby of their
rcspectability, but to be admitted TO the
presence and social intercourse with our
wives and young daughters In short
in the formation of our social organism
is prostitution Incorporated as part,
and to be recognized as tolerated and
if not even respectable insti-
tuition?
l make these inquiries, Mr.. Editor for
l have been for months a
citizen of Nevada with my family, have
witnessed all these things, and have
heard scarce word of disaprobation or
condemnation. Our puIpits have been
well nigh silent-the press entirely So
and fl, m no prolific source have heard
one syllable of opposition. In some
places the evil has been abated by law,
in others by popular condemnation and
But l have not heard of the
law provided by the last Legislature,
harmless as it is, being in any force in
Nevada. But on the contrary, the evil
has been spreading. 1t is not my inten-
ton to discuss the iiatiirs of this social
nor the propriety of means
of suppressing it. This l may do here
after, provided you allow me the privi-
lege. Will you. or some one who knows,
give me little light On this first inqui-
ry |! Is prostitution part of our social
organism and in rearing a family in
musl it be understood that
Madam Bawd and her prostitutes and
debauchsd paramours are on the same
social footing with my wife, daughters
and sons, and with the wife daughters
and sons of my neighbors Again, if
this be an institution of our social organ
ism, for whose benefit is it sustained. |
and what are its social benefits The. G |
may afford occasion for other remarks. |
This, Mr.. Editor, is considered a ques-
ton of momcntous social importance.
Though it ihay be an unpleasant one to
You and your readers, 1t Is no less so to
me. But | want an understanding on
this matter. If the present most dis
gusting and polluting forms of licentious-
ness is by common consent a part of our
society, I want to know it, and also who
demands that it should be so Recognized.
And | Sotfld like to know reasons why
the evil may not be abated OF removed
entirely. Mr.. Editor. might y"u not
speak word on this s7biect in behalf
of the mothers and children of this city?
By so doing you would have the thanks
of at least one PARENT