New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-01

winch all men are DOun0 10 IesPec', anu
these rights swell into equities when they
are confronted with persecution that is
equally amenable to public apprehension.
What provision of the law entities the
police to raid upon these unfortunates In
the interest of parties that are
equally guilty with themselves? Do
we arrest thieves at the suit of their con-
federates Do we enforce agreements
made between burglars? If we do not,
then why do we interfere to protect the
patron of a bagnio from the perils of his
pleasure? If men will trade with
Lais, which is against the law, let
him be his own insurer. If he will
gamble, which is a breach of morals, of
good sense, of the local ordinances and
of all reason, let him pay for his mani
fold d~isobedience.
Jeroboam comes to town and playful!y
engages in sightseeing where the tools
are all edged. If he gets cut, being fully
warned of his danger, why should the
whole community interest itself to protect
his lawlessness at the expense of other
law-breakers? If he insists on handling
prickly pears let him suffer from the
prickles. 1t is as much an offense to
patronize these establishments as it is to
keep them, and the public has as little in
terest in seeing the imposition of the
visitor redressed as it has in enforcing
payment out of him according to his en-
gagements. If the wages of sin can not
be collected, then let sin be at least pro-
tected from the partner in its commission.
Perhaps such an abstention by the law
would produce more respect for its ar
ticles.
Men rent these places and suffer losses.
They were warned aforetime of their dan
ger, but taking their fortunes in their
hands, they wantonly risked the chances.
Legally and morally they are the guiltiest
of the two, for their lawlessness was ag-
g~ressive in seeking out vice. If they had
conducted themselves properly, and as
sociated virtuously, their mishaps would
have been avoided, for neither the gam
bier nor the wanton invade mems homes.
They are sought after, enjoyed, and then
betrayed by Jeroboam who is guiltier
than they. And yet the police always
raid upon the least offensive, and capture
with them those who are perhaps not even
erring, except in being On an excursion of
curiosity. The officers do this illegally,
and they thus offend both the spirit of
Justice and the letter of the Law.
What comes of it at last? The COM
plainant does not push the prosecution.
He is ashamed to appear, and simply en-
ploys the police to scare the winner out
of his gains. 1t is a mere distortion of
the law for the oppression of n class of
offenders to the benefit of another class.
And this distortion cultivates lawlessness,
for the man who sees how the machinery
of society can be abused for his ben
eft in one instance, uses his knowl-
| tuRt " DlSdSA Ii lOSuAdlIOdS W .LAc
community in other instances.
Is it not time, then, to reform this entire
proceeding? Let the complainant be ar
rested in COMMON with the object of his
complaint, and let both parties be tried
for a violation of the morals and the ordi-
nances of society. And especially let the
witness be forced to prosecute. This
would stop the evil, either by lettering
complaints or by Furnishing the guilty,
and either consummation would be pre-
ferrable to the present system, which
only debauches the police into instru-
ments to be used for the benefit of the
worst offenders against their weaker
partners!