The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-12-11
The SaMctity Of Home.
From the New Orleans Times.l

OAAA AHS I ANu ILACS'
While the world is debating the gull
or innocence of Henry Ward Beecher, il
might be well to ask, are the penalties
provided iii the statutes adequate for the
offence of which he is chargtdP II VIZ
accept as ii ttuiSm the principle that nc
man has Il right to. take the law into his
own hands, does it not involve a reSpOn-
sibiIity in the law for protection against
and proper punishment for II of the
most helnOuS offences known to human
lty We do not live i'll al age when the
great Mr.. COn%reve's' comedies are at
fected. GlaceltsS SONS do not la%ughingly
plunderthe patelnal Golfers, and the con-
JuSal rights OF even the dOtard are re-
sDected. Modern civilization has pro-
claimed marriage to be the very bul
Wark of society, and heads of families
in every act affecting themselves and
their n]eigilbOIs should be in the highest
degree conservative. 1t is but a selfish
theory which induces Il man to rest sat
IStled IN preserving his own home stain
less. Sympathy, that one tonch of ma
ture which makes the whole world kim"
should constitute him, were emergency
to require it., the protector of every
woman. 1t Is not Asupp0Sable case that
a pure minded lady could tver be guilty
~ '' W plIu l. tolIbSS liz
slightest familiarity. Altogether The
reverse, her instructive sense of honor,
and pride in hcr0Vn ~womanhood, would
send the reptile who dared attempt an
insult crlnGinG from before her. Thank
Heaven the Deity has implanted within
Il true WOnlAn'S breast that which will
preserve Iel inviOlate under any and all
circumstances There are, of course,
many unhappy exceptions but we spoke
OF true women. The "soiled doves" in
IA Thousand localities, RAE flowers, with
ellng i'll The hot hands of drunken licen-
tInuSneSS, are EXCEPTIONS; neglected
wives who, stung to madness by the re-
pudlAtlon OF every obligation, have
rushed TO their W ruin, are others.
The torture hiclI might induce one of
these to depart from the path of recti-
tude may be cOmprrhpndtd, bur the
ntaSllallty OF the strong nan who takes
advantage Of their weakness and great !
misfortune Is not so readily understood. |
Although sometimes tolerated, in no
country and for DO Offence is it pre-
that Il man is justified in commit |
ting murder. The law might be sOmOai-
tied as to cOnStrue an attack, however
upon a female member Off fam
lily, INTO D personal assault upon its re-
>p%onSihle mead. Such Il course might
Il speedy ]rptribution for the gull
ty, but the experiment would he Il dan
gtrouS one, and might be taken advan-
OF i'll scores OF instances. Public
sentiment is the only true dictator in
he premises. Adequate protection for
The mothers OF il future generation, is Il
question wherein the interests of ii civ
world ave involved. Whatever
De the circumstances the world has no
.l&iIt, and thinking men no desire, to
.teat the matter lightly. Offenders
'yhinst well established rules made for
lie government Of society, aud recoy-
med in every land by Divinity itself,
justly be hhjulsrd outlaws and
united EOr further communion with
helr fellows. The being who would de. j
loelately ~eDteran0ther mAu'shOuseh0ld,
nj ndtr amy DreteXt accomplish the
.uln OF the mother OF his children, j. ,
to live aud goat large. Only when t
,nbIlc opinion records its verdict and [
he proper punishment is melted out will |
cnndal0us wrongs like this be checked. :
Ample protection is guaranteed to life
nd property, and surely the law can i
'OW no longer neglect Il sentiment which a
far more valuable and more necessary il
han either. ..