Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-10-30


wise TO this course, and are, therefore, 10 be re-
garded az accompliccs in the crime. Nurses,
nidwives, and female physicians as we'll
as the mother, often have a direct connec.
I ton with this crime. The male sccomplices
are, first, the father, and then tho ouacks-
professed bortouists--dfuggists and come.
! times Though It Is believed not ofNenl regular
physicians whom be may employ to accom-.
piisn his purpose
In view Of this subject, it Is appropriate TO
inquire
WHAT oroHT TO BE DONE TO ARREST fTf
within the last ten years the attention Of the
| physicians Of our country has been extensively
turned {" this subject II their County, State,
ana National Associat:ols they have had care.
fully-prcpared statistics and reports read on
this subject. The facts thus collected and the
arguments thus arranged have been published
in the medical journals Of the coun;rr. and
earnest appeals have been made TO the profes.
sion generally 70 unite its influence 10 arrest
this evil. As a specimen Of these appeals. We
quote the following from the work recently
| published. entitled Criminal Abortion" by
| Storer & Heard, Boston:
I'VE haze seen that it il no trifiay matter.
this awful waste Of human life II ia u subject
that demands the best efforts Of the whole bro.
fession, as body, and as mrn. TIC crime 10
longer prac'iccd In secret, mus, be net ba!ciy:
and, met with unanimiiy, it vii Be met sue.
ccs,fllly. But whether these efforts we 10 be
at once decisive or not: whether the are 70
te received will tIc gratitude Of Tue commit
niiy, or its di:iavOr, i 10 concern of ours.
Oar dlty is very plain. Ii is to stand. ire
spccliye Of personal consequences, in tie
breach fast making in tie public morality, de
ccncv and conscience and to the best Of our
strength defend them.
1T might bet very likely would Ic-for
our immediate pecJniary Interest, as profeg-
si1n. to preserve silence; ior We have shown
that abortons, Of all causes, tend to break
down and ruin the health Of the community q;
large. But to harbor this thought. even fyr
moment, were disnonorable. 4 will never set
politics against ethics said Bacon. FOR true
ethics are but rs a handma,d Of divinity and
religion
We must take this decided s,and-theye is
10 cACicc-clse we are recreal. TO the nigh
trust We have assumed. aud 10 ourselves.
whether the suppression Of abortion be effect
co or no, one thing is Ccrtaiu our own hands
Viii have bcea cllansed Of this sea CT blood
We snail have declared our abhorence and
oar innocence of tie crime.
longer silence and waiting bv the profes
son would be criminal. II these wrrtched
women-these married, lawful mothers: ~ {.
these Christian m0thrrs--are thus murdcfmg
their children ly thousands, through i-nor-
ancc, they must bc taught the truth; but if, as
there is reason to believe Is too often tie case,
.hey have been influenced TO do SO 6y fashion,
eX,raya .ance Of living, or lust, no language OF
condemnation can be too strong.
Let US, then, meet the issue earnestly and
bc,dly. Silence and patient expectance have
been fairly tried. The disease il not sclflim-
tied. The evil, instead OF working It's own
cure, Las assumed a gigantic and awful
growth
| !, such al appeal is appropriate 10 the med
! zeal profession, what ought to be said 10 our
| churches and ecclesiastical bodies? Hitherto
we have been ignorant of the facts. But no
longer can we plead the excuse of ignorance
! for iracIion as guardians Of the pubic NOR
| ais, we can not longer hold our peace.
! But we are met at the outset by an appalling
sense OF TIE exceeding Gelicacy, or rather in
dei.cacy, Of the subject. 4 refined delicacy is
the outgrowth Of true virtue. Ii is also pro-
tec.ion 10 virtue. Hence, it should be cuhiva-
| tel. Eat Gciicacv is not true TO its mission,
aai torlti5 lis claim 10 be a virtue, if it covers
| lis i.co and runs away ut ST. sht or mention OF
urrAcala things. When the most indelicate
! things have become fashionable, shall any
! truiy-vlrtuoGs man or woman be frightened by
the CRY, at is indelicAte TO say any thing
against these abomiuatious: Rather should
each one say, though bushes cover my fnce,
and Oe filed with shame that such shameless
things are common, yet will I expose, de-
nOuncc and resist such practices with all the
energy ! have. The sinners shall be made
10 feel the power of a virtuous Indignation, and
the power of righteous legislation also will
not rest until our laws shall infict the same
penalty upon this crime that they do upon the
| destruction OF adult human life
But il may not he necessary to 0ssa.l this
cacv. We may prepare such discourscs as
would be suited to the male portion OF our
congregations, on the duties and responsible
| ties growing out OF mans sexual constitution,
and then invite the men 10 come together TO
hear them. There is great need Of instruction
on this subject to councract other widespread
evils, besides the one of fetcde. Then let other
! discoulsas be prepared by the help Of some
! Intelligent, virtuous woman, :uted 10 the wo-
men OF our congregations, on their duties and
responsibilities in connection with their seXua
constitutions Then let the women be called
| together, and these discourscs read to them by
a woman, if thought best, Thus full instruc
ton can be given. which could not well bt
! given in a promiscuous congregation.
Or, perhaps better sti!l, let suitable tracts bt
published and freely circulated, Thus the
proper instruction can be given, and much o
this evil prevented. For it can not be doubted
that much of this evil is attributable to ignor
ance of its true moral character. ltwas proper
that the physicians of our country should lead