New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-14
Comments bu The Tribune.


Tho soundness of principle is tested by
subiccting it TO diverse applications. Let us
thus test The Worlds doctrine:
!. Adultery, Seduction, Gambling and keeping
houses of ill-famc, are all under the ban of
our laws. 1t is notorious that thousands
habitually violate those laws, and seek to
evado their penalties by concealment or dis
stimulation. Some of them would openly defy
q virtuous public sentiment, and 1.-Two in ia
grant immortality, were there no such laws.
Hence some have argued that those laws
are mistaken and suicidal; that the COM
munity would be moro yirtuous without them.
Is that The Worlds positioni Let us under
stand.
II. Vice covers before the law that it has
determined to violate. The uncovered streets
and houses Of ancient Herculaneum and Pom
pei show that keepers OF brothels ancently
advertised their wares as openly rs keepers of
grogshops now do; and, since many could not
read, they put forth signs whereof only the
blind could mistake the purport Now, instead
of this shameless blazon, wo have secusion.
concealment deceit, hypocrisy. Does The World
deplOre the change
III. We have some hundreds Of professional
blackegs in this City, who live sumptuously
by plundering foolish greenhons, and secure
immunity from the legal punishment of their
ofienses by subscribing literally to Democratic
corruption funds and voting early and often
the Democratic ticket. Our Chief of Police
has repeatedly caught them ut it, but can
never induce q Democratic District Attorney
to have them indicted. lie knows his friends
too well. Their places are known to all who
seek or care to know them; but they do not
venture to attract customers by bands of music
and display of coin in glittering piles, rs
they formerly did in California, and still do in
Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Nevada. Geese
who ache for plucking find them here when
ever they choose; they were confronted by
them on almost every corner in San Francisco
twelve to eighteen years ago. CWhen we
visited Denver, ten years ago, two blacklegs
rented opposite corners of the public room of
the only considerable hotel, and were raking
down the simpletons' money in plain sight of
the landlord, with his every guest and vistor.)
We presume gambling still fourshes there
for the race of fools is immortal-but not
with like eGfrontery Men who want to lose
their money are accommodated; but they have
to seek out blackleg's den: he does not push
it into their very eyes. Though we know that
Gambling is not suppressed, nor likely soon
to be, we consider the change wholesome
and trust it may be permanent. What says
The WOrldP
" We have no hope that our law against
Adultery and Seduction either does OF will
suppress those crimes. We did not expect that
it would when we urged the passage of such
law. 1t does attest the public condemnation
and reprObatiOn of those ofRenses. 1t does
warn the votaries of passion and sensuality to
forbear. 1t does serve as beacon against tho
wiles and snaTes of the tempter. 1t does alarm
some who might otherwise plead with partial
truth that they did not know it was wrong to
do as they did. Though no one were ever
prosecuted under this law, while thousands
should still violate it, wo should hold that it
had done good
V. Men will drink-as they will do other
things that they should not-in spite of Proh-
bition. Worse still men will pander for gain
to others sensual depravty. No law will ut
terly prevent this. Yet it seems to us greatly
desirable that they who piH debauch them
selves should be obliged to do so willfully, de-
and of settled purpose. Men with
parched thrOats will slip down cellar and crawl
through several dark passage-ways to find
liquor but there will not nearly SO many go,
nor will these go half so often, rs though the
liquor were constantly under their eyes, and