Polynesian., 1858-07-10
prostitution becomes the business of the GIRL as thev-
ing does of the boy. Is theirs the fault ,''

prostitution becomes the business of the GIRL as thiev-
ing does of the boy. Is theirs the fault: -
Experience has taught us indeed the utter futlity
OF all temporizng and half measures in the face of the
great ills of humanity What miserable Itleness it is
for instance to erect fever hospitals while permit
the seeds Of ver to lie scattered broadcast among the
pOpuaton Of how little avail to whitewash the sepu
chre while the elements of desruction-nviting their
fitting guest, the King OF Terrors to enter-are left
ranking within. 1t has also taught here, that to
diminish remove the evils of prostitution we must
destroy the causes which provoke it. In what way can
houses of refuge for the female victims of prostitution
for example, serve to lessen the of prostitution,
long the which provoke the vice be in full ac-
ton We may thereby, it is true snatch one brand
from the fire, but it is only the cost of another who
will be inevitably drawn into the furnace to fill up the
void. The philanthropist must dive down deep into
the story of prostitution; there only will he find guide
to direct his benevolent footsteps Alright
In reviewing the causes of the evil the writer
says:
ga general review of the causes leads us inevitably
TO the conclusion that the crime is much more to be laid
to the account of the unbrded passions of man, TO the
disregard of society for its high duties and TO the cruel
neglect by fathers and mothers of their chdrens we'll
being, than the vicious nature of the unfortunaes'
themselves. That woman, in this matter least, is
much snned against than SHINING. Let this un-
denabe truth be brought home the hearts of benev
i'll -fostered preiulices which would exclude her from
the consideration of philanthropy, being unworthy
of its regards
cat whose door is this guilt to lie Surely it the
height Of unreasOn ascrbe the crime the charge of
these wreche1 osprngs of vice, to make them the re-
sponsibe beings who to bear the wages of it Il
not vanity, nor the excitement of passion nor a
guilty heart but their very destiny, which forced them
with its iron hand into the shameful trade of lust Let
men think on this and pity and sympathise with 50
/ mis- thp rihl Iyvth
curse so often flung in wanrOnness at eirimportunity
and grieve for the brazen erontey assumed by child
ish vice. Turn away from the sight and mourn over
it in Thank the kind God of heaven who has
cast the lot of those whose virtue is your honor in
happier life, and prove your gratitude Him by some
kind effort for the poor Outcast's good -
"Such are the principal remote or primary causes
which bring woman TO prostitution but there is
Immediate and more proximate agency to which
would especially refer-the motive fact which precip-
tates her her fall and this is the unc rbed gratifca
ton of his Illicit passions by See what happens
The weak and wreched one bred up in vice. or tempt
ed by her suerngs to SIM becomes desperate; warn
ing voice Of friendship greets her tell of better
things, and cheer her with some bright hope no
kind hand is to guide her steps, totterng on the
brink Of the precpice None of these things: but if
the gate of mercy douby barred against her. man
| is there-the strong and pOwerful-the empter, win
ming her to evil and ready to take advantage of her
weakness and misery. Her very suferngs are his op-
porunity. Who can wonder if, thus sorey tried she
falls: She falls and for mans mere passing pleasure
is irretreyably ruined Surely there must be some
thing grossly radically wicked in the ethics of society
which permits the vice-too often the vainy-of man
to pass unnotced and unpunished, and allows his tr
umph weakness to depres his victim into an abyss
of misery. The hard-hearted cruelty of the worlds
sentence is transparent to the eye of equal justice The
qualification of his animal passons-the natural pas
sions implanted in him-aone is mans excuse and
can such plea for crime be listened to What sin is
there may not find justification on such terms as
these The world indeed may lightly pardon him; but
most assuredly that Tribunal which apportions
erring equity to all, will place the black action to its
right account The womans mseries and her trials,
may well hope VIII win the recording angel to drop
u tear Of pardon her frailty.
''IheTe is in truth most convenient but very erro-
idea attached, through its conventional USE
the prostitution. The world is pleased to argue Of
it as though one part only-woman-were implicated
in the vice it represents though prostitution
nothing than the sale of her person by the
The agency of man in the transaction is kept
of view, of quite secondary consideration. But
to honest this mode of viewing the matter is
most unjust-cruelly unjust to the woman. Such one
sided interpretations Of the vice should be plainly
posed There must be two parties every bargain,
and the traffic Of prostitution demands buyer well
a seller: and there are trades TO be engaged in
which bring nflmy on all-infamy on the buyer and
inflmy the seller; and can any trade be more mi
qutOus than this, when measured in accordance with
the plInest dictates OF religion, of morality of reason,
and of honor, apart from the false coOring with which
the sOphstry of the world for its nvenience, has
surrounded it. Writers pass too slightly this
of prostitution-his victmizng of the by
man. We consider it demands especial condemnation,
being the powerful and the most unpardonable
of all We dwell upon because the study of the his
tory Of prostitution has forced upon the conclusion;
that the main remedy for the esenng of the social dis
Is TO be found alone in a higher development of
mans moral nature-in the practice by him of those
self-imposed restraints of the passions which, while
they mortify the body, elevate the better part of him
in the sacrifice Of his desires when the welfare of
otharS demands the