The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-05
THE SOCIAL EVIL.
PROTEST PROM AN ENGLISH COMMITTEE
AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE


GRAND Jury.
To TuK EDITOR rnK HxRALD:--
Our attention has been directed to . prcsentment
this day by the Grand Jury TO the Court Of Gen.
cral Sessions tho city county Of New York,
the egalzation OF prostitution and embodyng reso
luton urging the Legislature The adoption Of
system OF laws having that object in view We are
Engishmen spending short time in this country
deputaton from the 'Brtish Continental and General
Federation for The Abolition OF Government Regulation
OF Prostitution"
Strenuous efforts Icing madc in England and on
the continent OF Europe mutually in Italy and Swtzer
land, to get rid OF system which Is essentially
moral in principle, and which has been found in
practice TO be fightfuIly corruptng its effects all
classes Of the community, and an utter failure from
medical point Of view. Our errand here is 70 enlist the
sympathy and cooperation OF American upholders OF
pubic morality In international federation, and to
caution them against the introduction into this now
world Of system which Europe refusing to endure
any longer.
The Grand Jury's proposal is for the Legislature 70
take action In order TO that the women victims
Of prohigate men shall be conveniently domicicd
kept honest by the police and healthy by the doctors
Whether these arrangements are for the benefit OF
these prostitute women the jury does not
say presumably for the former. because similar plans
in Europe always tho interest Of the male trans
grcssors and because learn that the women
OF this State engaged in other traffic have been the
objects of similar special solcltudo the part Of
grand jury
The proposal in the presentment is backed up by
series assumptions unsupported by any evidence.
and which to us who have pretty thoroughly invest-
gated this question, absolutely astounding in their
audacty.
Fyrst-lt Is assumed that by legulizng and licensing
you can control and crcumscrbe prostitution The
experience of Europe routes such an assumption In
those districts England where the regulation system
has been tried candcstne prostitution is on the in
crease, and battles the vigilance OF the police In
France, after eighteen years. trial. II ID confessed by
Dr. Jcanncl In his recent work prostitution. page
BAL that tho majority OF the women remain unregis
tered by the police. NJ Lecour. the at the head OF
sc spccla police OF Paris says that candcstne pros
titution increases continually, land the difficulties
countercd by the police are insuperable. The evil
DO overcome by moral not by legislative means.
In Berlin ind other cities In Germany according to
evidence produced BY Dr. Simon, Medical Advisor to
the Privy Council OF Great Britain and Ireland, tho
candcstine vastly outnuinber the controlled and
space only prevents US from multiplying tnesc
authorities which venture to think upset the Grand
Jury's first assumption.
Then it is further assumed that the licensing
tioning Of houses OF ll-fame would render them less
evil their influence the police and youth Of your
cities On this point allow US 10 quote parts OF proc
lamaon OF the municipal authorizes OF Zurich, Swift
zcrland, who June, 1874, abolished the tolerated
brothes Ia that town.
liberation gives rise to fatal confusion Of dcas men
pre,ec,cd as thing and ihe young thus lose ali
lilo ideas Of good conduct which have been incncntcd TO
s and wgi i The sss hs
saas they display
regulated PROSTITUTION The police ~ placed in aIse
toward prostitution by showing itself frankly hostile Il
al forms TO admit any SORT q wth trade
and make war upon Others i 70 enter upon the
iruitless of good result.
Would that every member OF the Grand Jury and Of
your State Legislature would acquant himself with
whole of that proclamation. The next assumption
the startling that 'the spread Of disease would be
thereby almost II not entirely stopped" Let quote
from the best authorities again. remembering always
part Of the doctor in this horrible business Is
pcrpetratc at frequent intervals indecent surgi
cal outrage the poor women in the hopc thereby"
to use the Grand Jurys word 10 male
drss from the diseases resulting from their vco Leon
sThe means employed against syphilis IN Paris amount
to nothing" ''fhe inspections DO not sunce AS It's,
syphilis IS increasing IN Paris, because :, q, the
Acton an English medical admrer Of this system. IL
obliged TO admit, "The best regulations. notwthstand
ing all assertions to tho contrary, cannot guarantee
freedom from disease" Professor Andrews, OF Chi
cago says:-"i have been compelled to laugh at
frequent instances where young Americans have,
with infinite guliiby, cohabted with loose In
Paris because they supposed they were safe there but
utterly astounded aiterward to find they had con-
tracted disease"
in report on this subject there that after spending
spnunds i for nc, copsrauasiop'" After all there
are nowhere any substantial signs Of Improvement.
In England medical association has been formed for
the purpose OF securing the expulsion from
statute book OF this hateful legislation, and its men,
bcrs constantly increasing IN number
Two years ago III Philadelphia more than fifty phys
Clans including many OF the very highest standing
signed successful protest against the passing Of such
d Law by the Legislature OF Pennsylvania In which they
say would be "a concession to evil for which there
no excuse, system TO which France gave birth in Its
worst days OF misrule We do protest against any
assertion o; tho false and demoralizng claim that
this most destructive OF vices and crimes is n
cessity.' The Grand Jury makes light OF the moral
objection to the license system, but venture be-
eve Will not be without influence with the citizens
especially with the virtuous women OF your State, and,
with your pcrmlsson we will address further letter
TO you that branch OF the subject.
We remain yours respectfully, ls * *
JAMES r GLADSTONE,
HENRY j. WILSON.
Aston House. New YORK. June l, 1875