Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-28
Can Nothing be Done is There no
Protection.


Pr0teeiions
Laws are enacted, 1t is commonly sup
posed, for the protection Of the weak.
the innocent and the unsuspeeting, as
well as for the punishment Of unblush-
ing guilt and deception. Yet We have
no laws 10 punish the most aggravated
aud atroeions crime in The calendar Of
deceit, degradation and guilt. Peter
Funk auctioneer who entices the unwsry
countryman into bis den and selIa him
pinch-beek watch for gold, may be ar
rested and severely fined or imprisoned,
bat there ia no law 10 reach the dark and
insinuating scoundrel who worms him
self uto the confidence OF the brightest
jewels that adorn our hresides, that be
may rob them Of that which Is more
sacred than life, and plunge them into a
degradation the depths Of whose misery
is never known to those who walk in viz
tues paths. The citizen who earelessly
leaves open bis cellar door at night
through which the hatty traveller stum-
bles, falls aud breaks Smb-is made
to pay roundly for his csre'essness, aad
taught more caution in future But the
law looks calmly and indideFenslJ upon
the construction Of traps, With all the
glitter and glare so bewildering to the
yoang and inexperienced, aud into
which they heedlessly rush, and are for
ever ruined. For such sad results there
seems to be no remedy. Our law makers
can apply a remedy for the stealing Of a
loaf Of bread. but no relief for seducsd
and ruined life
These reflections naturally arise in
passing throagh our city and beholding
the rapid growth Of gambling bells for
our sons and dens Of death for our
daughters The order Of Gen. Hurlbut,
last summer, eonscripting able-bodied
men for the defense Of Memphis, drove
into our midst a gang OF adroit, hard
ened villains, who have been plying
their devilish arts OF seduction, evei
since, with q success that may we'll fil
every persn.s heart With anxiety ant
alarm. Nor came they alone. Follow
ing in their train We have a large num-
Der Of couriesans from other cities
who--regarding this as promising
field, because, hitherto, to great ex
tent unocep&ed-have purchased prop
erty, and eth the calculating malignitI
Of spiders have spread their nsts for thu
young aud unsaspecting. Thoughtlesl
boys, unconscious that their ways taxi
hold on death, go in, become infected
and are forever ruined They here i'm
bibe the poison that renders them fs 70
any crime, led captive as they are B
the Devil, through these agents, ct hi
: will
The gang oc gamblers Of which "
speak are al oF secesh proclivities
They contributed their ingenuity /
debauch the Southern youth to the ez
tent that made them disegard law, homo
and virtue With a shrewdness whicl
occssioned many and bitter cor
plants in the rebel newspapers, the
avoided every eonseription, and whe
Gen. Hurlbut called fer their service
they fed the scene of their iniquities,
our city, 10 continue their deslructi'
and detestable doings Not con6nir
their efforts to their own particular den
they have gone out into our streets, &
iuslly wayiaid our children on their "
to school, and sought by al The arts
2, seduction which the devil, their mAste
could teach them, to lead astray o
.. .. boys and girls from the paths of '
tue. Not to the streets alone
they con6ne sheir infamous plans o
-= church fairs and exhibitions, and ev
the churches themselves, have be
made subservient TO their purpos
. They have not piled their arts in va
Some Of our purest girls hare falls
more are liable 10 the same fate
+ parent can look upon bis loved dsugh
and feel positively assured that she
in no danger. Her pathway viii be
Iol- set By snares they know not Of.
footsteps viii be dogged By the cunning
ns' those acquainted with all the foibles {
.,v weaknesses Of girlhood-who viii VIC
themselves into her confidence to 81
len an extent that the power and author
of parent may give way before the
- Huence of the seducer Their hid
places are upon our most promin
streets. Their bsgnios disgrace m
a. a square To-day your child may 8
rss den your heart By her cheerful disp
ton aud gentle manners, to-nor
in she mas be habitus of the loathsc
dsns which are 50 rapidly accunulst
A.. in cur midst This is no fancy sks
l.ss.. s,ss. Has not the reality already startled
readers, as with the blast OF truml
low @ What can be done7 Is there no
1. tsetion' Is our city TO dsgsnsrsss
The condition Of Matches and San F