The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-18
WHAT CAN BE DONE7


To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The city press have been for some
months past attempting to arouse the
public mind to realization of the out
RACES against humanity and morality
that are being perpetrated in the very
heart of our city, in decoying so many
young girls, wholly unsophistieated in
the ways of the world, into the dark by
ways of sin.
Appeals have been made, and repeated
again and again, to parents, guardians
and lawmakers to interpOse some means
to check the fearful tide that seems to
threaten to overwhelm in it's mad course
our whole social fabric in utter ruin;
yet apart from the organization of a
small band of women, who are working
assiduously if not wisely in that direc-
ton, nothing is being done either to
protect the uusophisticated and save
them from falling into the snares of the
tempter or to punish the lawless and
constituencies allurer.
am aware that it is an easy matter
to say what should be done and quite as
easy to resolve to do it, but we must
look the matter squarely in the face,
and not attempting too much, try to ac-
cOmplish something. First, then, let
the laws we have furnishing the keepers
of houses of prostitution be rigidly and
impartially enforced. Section 651 of
General Laws provides that any person
setting up or keeping house for pur-
poses of this sort shall be punished by
Imprisonment for from six months to
one year, or by fine from one to five
hundred dollars. And the following
section provides that common fame evil
dence shall be competent to support the
indictment. Now, allow me respect
fully to inquire of any one who is ac-
quainted with a haIf-doZen of the prin-
cipal streets of our city, How many
places do yOu know where common
fame" says houses are kept for vile pur-
| poses? ? You know that they are fixed
like fostering ulcers all along the prin-
cipal streets of our city, and that their
! painted inmates are Haunting their
shame-bought silks in the faces of the
toiling daughters of virtue on every
street corner. And now, in all earnest
ness, cannot the sworn executors of our
laws, state and municipal, find more
than one or t1UO keepers of these houses
of shame to visit punishment upon at
the next term of the Circuit Court? Or
is the state of morals so deplorably bad
that not twelve men, nor yet six, can
be found who can sit in righteous judg-
ment upon such a misdemeanor-clear
themselves of that which they are called
upon to condemn in others?
But there is work that our Legisla-
ture soon to convene should attend to,
and at once, in the interest of good NOR
ais. They should provide for the ade-
quate punishment of all who assist in
any way to entice the young of either sea
from the paths of rectitude, and hold
owners ofsproperty responsible for any
fines that may he assessed against their
tenants for violating Section 651. This
would, in my Judgment act as whole
some check upon brazen licentiousness,
which now laughs in Unsurpassed glee
over the ruins of virtue and honor at
every turn. Then may we expect these
houses of pollution that now occupy the
heart of our city to be banished from
our midst, and with their gilded furni-
ture and gaudiIy-dressed inmates stink
from sight. First, then, let US see to it
that the laws we have are not dead let
ters upon our statute books, put there
merely as a show of virtue and protec-
ton that constantly recurring events
fail to prove as existing in the hearts of
men, and let us try to influence further
legislation on the subject as indicated
above, until such time as the mothers
are empowered with political weapons
wherewith to defend their daughters
and bring to condign punishment those
who by allurement, force or fraud seek
to place them in the dread catalogue
with ''fallen women" CYNIC.
Portland, August Is, 1876.
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