The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-09-14
4itIlntond Dispattlr,
IA, 1871.
THE CIRCULATION OF THE DISPATCH
IS LARGER THAN THE CONFINED CIR
CULATtoN OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF THE CITY.
FROM WAsuINGrON.
rur SOCIAL EVIL IN WASHINGTON.

WASHISGT0N, sept. lU-Onc CT Tue III 81
results that grew out Of the new potllical
lite which followed the inauguration oil the
District government was 81 disposition to
mcddlc with social questions difficult OF
solution, and with which the wiseSt OF
statesmen have heretofore felt themselves
incompetent to 2rapple successfully. Fore
most Of these was the open existence oil an
evil which all have dcplored. but none pre-
ycntcd--a remnant Of the normal condition
ut' woman in barbaric ages, which Chris
tian'riyilization has so far failed even 10
drive from the public sight. "
1t vas 1T first proposed i'll the Legislative
Assembly to change the tacit surSeillanco
Of the evil BY the police into an active
supervisory duty in the enforcement OF
sanitary regulations upon certain establish
mcnts to be formally licensed by the au-
thnritics. ibis system Is established 10y the
English contagious diseases act for all ter
ritory in that kingdom within ten miles OF
barracks, camps. &c, and has lately been
adopted at st. Louis and proposed at Cln-
cinnati. The system hid its origin and has
foand its chief development IN france.
Police returns show that It's result has been
10 steadily decrease the number OF such cs-
| tabiiShments, but accurate observers TESTIFY
| that it has led only to greater conccalment,
! but far wider diffusion Of the evil sought to
counted, but the young hawks that fllt
| from tree to tree defy enumeration.
Attention thus awakened, the public
mind has uuickencG under the impulse OF Il
move! tonic in decent society, but the inter-
est is either made to pandcr to gross appe-
titrS, wasted in pucrlc sentiment. or Its
yiyor turned ASIDE in utopian schemes for
rclormltion, fostcred by that excellent but
erin. class that would give scdhtlve to
every pam, regardless OF the fatal Stupor
which it sometimes induces. a house has
| been established rs q temporary refuge OF
| women who desire to abandon evil courses,
which seems to be chiefly valued now by its
promoters rs IN opportunity OF sensational
! journalism. and winch relies on prccariouS
| supuics tor present subsistence, ana Is pro-
| yitIcd with 10 means OF permanent support.
I his. after all, will be the main difficulty in
the way. The inmates of such "a kUmc can
never expect to marry, and 1t Is feared THAT
its plan, Offering only isolation and labor 10
women whose life has been one OF lndO-
lencc and constant society, and giving no
moral basis for the reformation, will fail III
| its object.
| Advantage has been taken Of the feeling
of commi>eralion excited i'll the coinmu-
nity towards the men who lave fallen into
| evil courses to SOW fares amid the good
grain. Ideas are advanced which bear
| covert the worst doctrines OF free love and
| communism. 1t is constantly urged that
women should be treated as men arc; that
the men who frequent and the wotuen who
keep such establishments should stand on
the same level. This doctrine finds gen.
erul concurrence, and Judge Ollu on Thurs
day compcllcd q loose girl to reveal the
namc Of her paramour but the doctrine
Is made TO mean by many Of its advocates
that. us the men do not lose caste In society
by want Of chastity, woman should he put
in the same position, and lapse from Vlr-
| tue no more deprive woman OF social po-
! sitjon than il does u man. This would De
lcyellinr up with vengeance. 1t is, we
| fear. that some such idea undcrlies the new
social movement that dctcTs most OF our
| benevolent aud useful citizens from con-
| ncction with It.
There can be no doubt that reform of
this character must begin from within !;
not he founded on the mere disgust of the
wanton with her condition, but on the de-
| sire kindlcd in the heart for better life,
such desire as can be awakened only by
| the still small voice within-Which will
! need all the aids that religion affords to sue
cor and sustain t-a deS're strong enough
| to enable the woman to lead Il much harder
| life physically, in order that she may live q
! better one morally such . life rs shall look
! for no ease on this side Of the grave. Here
will be the great difficulty.
In this case, rs in many Others, "an
ounce Of prevention is worth 4 pound OF
cure" TO this especially it would be well
| if the district attorney and police would
direct their awakened Zeal.-H., !n Ball.
| more Sun.