The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-05
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF LICENSING.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF LICENSING
NRw YORK, Juno 3, 1870
To TIKI EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Your issue of Saturday contains tho Grand Jury's
report which speaks very scnsibly the question OF
prostitution, and finishes by offering a resolution en-
bodying request 10 the Legislature Of tho State OF
New York, asking that body ITO adopt early as
practicable system Of laws calculated to conlnc
houses Of prostitution In the large cities OF this
within certain specified limits" ana, secondly. to
subject them at all times to The careful visilant
supervision OF the Boards OF Health and Police, Hav-
inc lived in St, Louis during the operation OF the So
called social evil ordinance" well before and
since and consequently being verscd in this matter OF
such vital importance to the moral well physical
welfare or large community ask little OF your
space to offer what may in reference thereto, fully
knowing 10 what expose myself by touching this in
delicate subject
will not now detail tho manner in which the ordi-
nance was carried out Suffice II 70 say that II was
summed mp In registration" and stated periodical
.inspcction," which proved every direc-
ton. First, 1t reduced tho number OF bawds by
frightening OFT the quasi respectable girls; second
~, II very materially reduced the viicst and most
oathsomc disease cssant; and, thirdly, only
self-supporting but furnished the Tor building
one OF the finest hospitals in the county OF ST. LOUIS
now known the .womans Hospital II received
the support OF all weimcaning public men, the tn
dorsemcnt OF all honest physicians and the coopera-
tiou It's poor unfortunate subjects who found II
protection to great extent against Injection and.
result OF their slight disbursements, clean, we'll
conducted harbor for the recovery OF health up
poruniy for reformation should they desire H. But
outstanding the great good accomplished, Il short
lived having met It's man opposition from the clergy
and the ladies OF 81 Louis, or at least those Of them
who possessed OF maudling sentmenality
which caused them 10 view the IN the light OF
degradation 10 the sex, inasmuch II exempted the
mac participants from the loathcd registration and
spection To them the benchccnt effects OF these
measures contacted IN European cities cri-
tcrion and the respected clergy appeared
lntion divine law which prohibits the liccusipg Of
sin. In substantinton OF the latter assertion can
produce several printed lectures aud by
ncnt clcrgymen Of 81. LOUIS while TO the previous
one The following letter will sample ~ null
ttude with which tho press of 81. LOUIS fairly
undated al the time.
To rux EprroR DFxocwAr;
this hour of peril to womanhcod and loved city.
lay aside and seek 60 the
from greater degradation aud our charter from
people " this terrible the social evil becmes law
Nations have their wckedncss
right license sin when God enjoins rnrit, o: fes How
dare 90 lay aside the law Of the Almighty
Women OF 1T. Louis u pandcrs 80 the appetite OF
man. should remain quie and this great crime
perp~rated and rnise voice against III MOI Lot
ourselves from the indigniy or registration In
spcction. II woman N 20 degraded. not ray
will 10 from bad worse m the poor noforsunnts snks
Where Is the justice that exposed woman
ndgnity victim she H. FREQ
hAxa Rad pubishsd In New York. called the