, 1872-11-04
ARREST OF THE WOODHULL.

G. Clafin. There is no other country in the
world where these two furies would have been
permitted to outrage the community SO long.
The immediate occasion Of their arrest VAS tho
revival Of publication with which their names
have been associated, and which, it VAS hoped
and believed, had disappeared forever. Their
weekly journal was, for come time, the recep-
tacle for all the moral filth that could find
expression nowhere else. It WAS simultaneously
the advocate OF Woman's Suffrage and the organ
Of the Free Lovers. It was known, where
known at all, as the refuge Of all vagaries,
financial, political and social, which we're too wild
or too vile for expression elsewhere It failed,
however, to become self supporting, and was sus-
pended. Within the past week or two, its pub
lcation has been resumed, evidently upon the
assumption that it had been too conservative
before, and that additional immoraity WAS all
that was necessary to render it profitable. With
out giving any notion Of it's contents, it need
only be said that the first paper OF this new is-
sue contained ibels Of the boldest character, and
degree OF depravity in thought and expression
TINT had never before been reached in 1itera-
ture. It's appearance and circulation gave the
proper authorities an opportunity to arrest its
authors and publishers upon tho charge Of
sending obscene publications through the mails.
So far, so good. The penalty for the act thus
charged is q fine Of $500, and imprisonment for
one year. Both the evidence Of obscenity and
that OF circulation through tho mails are per-
fectly plain, and it only remains to enforce the
statute in this case to set an example that is
sorely needed in the country.
The story Of the Woodruff Clafin family is
familiar al nauseam. There is no good purpose
to subserve by going over it again, but there is
one feature which should be remembered 10 coll
nection With it. These women could never have
reached their pinnacle OF nastiness and effrontey
had it not been for the encouragement and sup-
port which they have received from people who
claim to be respectable. They inaugurated their
notoriety as brokers', which they never would
have been able to do il somebody had not fur
nished them means to begin business. Then
the newspaper was started, and maintained for
some time, all OF which required more money.
Politics was not ignored, and prominent Grant
politician from Massachusetts gave these rising
harpies helping hand. Some Of the leaders Of
the Female Suffrage movement adopted them,
and it WAS Mrs Woodruff who was chosen to
present their cause to Congress through
an absurd construction Of the Fourteenth
Amendment. They found 3 biographer in man
who had good position in society and literature,
and who further aided their wretchod ambition
by introducing Mrs. Woodruff to New York au-
dience. In fact, during the entire career Of
these two women, openly violating the laws Of
the country IS well as every principle OF moral
ity and public safety, people have been found
who were willing or weak enough to contribute
in money and influence to their maintenance.
The time and occasion have nov come to put
them down, and, with their virtual suppression,
give rebuke to those who are equally guilty in
sustaining them, and who cannot be reached by
law. The full penalty Of the statute ought to be
enforced. The guilt OF the two women, and
their known associates, deserves it. 11o1e than
this the good Of society demands it. After
they have served out their punishment for Tio-
lating the law against circulating obscene pub
lications through the mails, justice might be se-
cured in their case through the individual prose-
cution by those whom they have so grossly SIAN
dered.