The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-04-07
REOLAIMTNG FALLEN WOMEN.

RB0LAIMING FALLEN WOMEN.
Articles have appeared in various pa
pers in this city recently touching the
above question, each suggesting some
means wherein the fallen may be re-
claimed, and each giving the writer's
own peculiar views as to the cause of
the fearful social penalties that are Wis
tied upon women transgressors. -fi
Now, it is "a Plea for the Fallen"
signed by IA Woman" in which the
writer bears with not unmerited sever
ity upon protesting Christians for their
lamentab!e lack of charity toward the
unfortunates who are without the pale
of virtue. Again, woman herself is
sharply taken to task for the social os-
tracism that has overtaken those of her
sex whose honor has fallen before the
glitter of fine apparel, or been beguiled
into forgetfulness by that subtlest and
most powerful of all tempters- deep and
abiding affection. ....- ..........
The first cites a case land we can
scarcely believe it to be exaggerated),
where woman, anxious to escape life
of sin, has knocked at doors of so-called
Christian homes, soliciting-not an
aims, but honest work to supply her
constantly recurring needs, only to be
turned away with scorn and indiffer-
ence. And this picture which the AdUo-
cate is constrained to believe true in the
main, its editor regards as proof of the
''almost impossibility of saving fallen
women" With all Difference to the
opinion of our good brother, we should
say that it shows, if it shows anything,
that the hypocritical cant misnamed
piety, which gathers its garments
closely to its side at the approach of the
fallen with that unmistakable "Stand
aside, am holier than thou" air, is as
far as possible removed from the teach
ings of the lowly Nazarene, as gentle
pity and hesven-born charity vibrated
along the words, "Neither do condemn
thee; go, and sin no more" a
Reformatory institutions for these
despised of earth are warmly and ably
advocated by the journal quoted above,
and are, perhaps, under the customs
that at present govern society, the only
refuge for them; and humanitarians
will rejoice when such a house of refuge
is esta blished within our borders. But
away back of and beyond reformation
the work must begin. 1t must begin
by establishing the equality of the sexes
financially and socially financially,
because large proportion of the women
who tread the paths of shame and deg
radiation were first forced into their
dark labyrinths by cruel want, which in
sufficient wages for honorable toll would
notsupply. Social equality, in that sin,
and not sex shall be made the basis of
social ostracism, and virtue be as essen
tial to social position in the stronger
criminal as it has ever been in the
weaker one.
That women are themselves censura-
bic in great measure for the glaring
injustice that turns an erring sister from
their doors, while he who wrought her
downfall or shares her social crime is
pleasantly entertained and invited to
call again, cannot be gainsayed, and
thus stated, is, to the last degree, repre-
hensible. But when we pause and
think for a moment of the position
women occupy in society, we are COM
pelled to retract much of our censure,
and while we deplore the necessity that
causes this apparent heartlessness, ac-
knowledge it to be necessity, still.
Suppose for an instant that woman,
pure in thought, life, and purpose,
should in all charity and kindness take
fallen sister by the hand, walk the
streets with her in quest of labor or,
because chance so willed it, interest
herself in her behalf, and in every way
treat her as an equal, socially and NOR
ally. What would be the result
Would the fallen one be lifted up, or
the other one dragged down? It is
very easy to censure women for the
heartlessness of their department. toward
the fallen of their own sex. Unfortu-
nately, it is easier to place them in the
same category with them if they seek to
give them friendly aid or countenance;
and again we repeat that, not until the
sin is regarded without reference to the
sex Of the sinner, will the question as to
how fallen women may be reclaimed
be answered.