The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-12

The hearts of the friends of NOR
atty are flied with concern at the
food of vile prints, which are hourly
issuing from eastern presses, and in
undating the country, to the cor
ruption of morals everywhere. We
can at present go nowhere but our
eyes are offended by the estentatious
display of periodical papers profusely
illustrated with every possible repre-
sentation of moral turpitude. To
render the horrible, sickening and
disgusting delineations of human
crime and human misery as attrac-
tive as possible to inconsiderate peo-
pie, and to make them irresistible to
prurient curiosity, the best talent
of the country is employed. Men,
who, no doubt, in the social circle.
are paragons of propriety, and who
would quickly resent the impeach-
ment that they are prostituting their
abilities to the service of the Devil.
are engaged IN this detestable bust.
ness of pandering to and fostering a
taste whose legitimate consequences
viii inevitably be a wide spread de-
moralization. All such persons are
public criminals, and merit the same
punishment which our criminal courts
award to persons who, not having the
fear of the law in view, prey upon hu-
man life or private property. It is no
Justification to those who are employ
ed in this nefarious vocation to say
that they but reproduce what has act
ually happened in real life; for
's Vice is monster OF such hideous mein.
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Butseen too Off, familiar with its face,
We hrst endure, then pity, then embrace"
THE DUTY OF THE PRESS. GENERALLY.
IN THE PEMIsEs.
We are of the class who uucom-
promisingly advocate the entire liberty
of the press, when it is confined within
its proper province; but when, instead
of subscribing the interests of virtue,
it gives aid and encouragement to
vice, it ceases to be a public benefac-
tor, and becomes emphatically pub
lie nuisance. Society acknowledges
with gratitude the obligations under
which it rests to the public press,
since the discovery of the art pre-
servative of all arts; and could wish
that its bloOdless laurels, gained in
its contests with intolerance, tyranny
bigotry, and ignorance, should pre-
serve their purity and freshness I'M
sullied by the communicating blight of
an association with the adversaries of
virtuous principles and correct taste.
The press, in all enlightened and
free countries, has aptly been desig-
mated, In consideration of its vast
influence over public taste, public
morals, and public liberty, the third
estate. Its power for good or evil
is prodigious; and to its credit be it
said, il has seldom been found array
ed in all its might and majesty on the
side of the infidel, the prchigate, or
the oppressor. Will it now sacrifice
that influence by remissness, while
the enemies of public order and de-
cency are daringly aiming at
the destruction of both? Will
it not, rather, by boldly attacking
this fragrant attempt of bad men
to vitiate the minds of the masses,
and crushing it, vindicate its WE'LL
earned aud proud distinction Of the
bulwark of virtue? Let all good
men In the ranks of the editorial
profession, inaugurate a crusade
against those engaged in the traffic of
obscene literature, and our word for it,
the unprincipled men who originate
it, and those who vend it, will be
compelled to relinquish their wicked
trade, or practice it only in secret.
THE DUTY OF THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES
IN THE PREMISES. &
Laws are made to restrain the law
less, and Criminal Courts are insti-
tuted to try, and penalties are imposed
on the guilty for violating those laws
The morals of a community are no
less entitled to protection, than are
life and property, as the security of
these latter depend upon the purity
aud soundness of the former. This
being so, the said authorities in no
wise transcend their legitimate func-
tions, when they take cognizance of
whatever threatens or strives at the |
deprivation or destruction of public
morals. Obscene literature, gambling
hells, houses of ill-fame, etc. etc,
do this; therefore the civil authori-
ties are in the line of their DUTY when
they endeavor to suppress them. 1t
is the duty also of every good citizen |
to aid the authorities in accomplish |
ing this good work, and he who per-
forms this perfunctorily, or neglects |
it entirely, violates an important
moral obligation, forfeits the esteem
of the community in his integrity,
sets bad example, and duplicates
himself with the aggressors of public
decorum. Therefore, let them whom
1t concerns take warning.
LII IISTR ATEn nRScENIrY rcnrcIAr1-y