The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1878-10-06
Bawdy Houses
Waco, TEXAS. J

city OF waco;
GENTLEMEN We respectfully beg
your candid and thoughtful attention
TO the following propositions
1. To license any measure what
ever means not only to legalize ii,
but also to shelter and protect it,
which is an unequivocal assumption
of its merit, and responsibility. This
proposition is too obvious for debate.
2. To white-wash bawdy houses,
or in any way diminish their imme-
mortal odiousness, is TO diminish in
like degree the sacredness of female
Chastity.
3. To do this latter, is the greatest
possible Outrage that can be perpc-
tratcd against humanity. Chastity
--or matriinony, which Is the same
thing In this sensc--is the genuine
essential life-blood of all human con-
ventionalitios. Without il, univer-
| sal society would hasten to instant
dissolution. No savage tribe has
ever yet maintained existence with
out 1t; indeed, nature proclaims this
great law with such imperious en-
| phasis, that even dumb brutes prac-
| tice II to most astonishing degree.
Hence, neither Waco. nor Texas, nor
the entire Republic, nor indeed has
the whole human race combined any
right to enact law though ever so
indirectly hostile to Chastity. Or,
it they have, then they have a right
to license theft, murder and all other
crimes; they have right TO defy all
law both human and divine; they
have right in one word, TO annihi-
late the entire human race; for,
Chastity being the germ and essence
of all conventionality, personiiies
not only all law, but even existence
| ITSELF
4. II has been urged, that in default
of license, bawdy houses will be sci
up in every part of town. This po-
sition, oven If true, involves the doe
trine of doing evil that good may
come, which is directly opposed TO
sound morality. But il is denied,
with sad establishment, that such
thread-bare sophistries should be
used so eilcciually for such evil re-
suits.
In every city throughout Christen-
dom-whose moral tone is no more
than simply respectable, and whose
government is conducted with only
average discreiion---bawdy houses
have always found their proper lev
| ell: viz, in ravincs. back alleys, on
river banks and otherlikc out-of-the-
way places. History offers no OK
ccption 10 this of sufficient import
aDce TO invalidate n general PROPOSE
ton. Does Waco set up to be either
wiser, or better, or worse than the
other cities of the whole world?
3. 1t is also urged, that the license
brings in a revenue TO the city.
Good Heavens! mix up dollars and
cents with the most sacred of all hui
man interests! viii we sell-npt
our birth-right iorsooih, but our very
hearts blood for mere mess of pot
tage9 But no matter. Instead OF
selecting worthless localities, the
most eligible district for residence
lots in the whole corporation, has
been victimizcd by this license oper-
alton. Leaving out the Justice,
charity and Wisdom of this selection,
will not the depreciation in value and
consequent tax of said district,
somewhat balance the license rev.
enue? Again, ii be can demonstrated
| that the patronage and consequent
dcmoralizing effects Of these houses,
have increased at least ten per cent.
per month, since in Inauguration of
the license system. AT this rate,
how long before we will be SO
utterly disgraced abroad, that all
new corners will be frightened from
settling in our midst? Moreover,
schools and rail roads are our only
means of building up city: but
will parents send their sons and
daughters 10 Waco, il they can find
any other town where common de-
cency and morals are somewhat re-
spected? Thus, even even in a dol
lar-and-cent point of view, the Ii
censc system simply means to kill
the goose for one golden egg, though
thereby FORGETTING q fortune in the
future. But let ii be repeated under
this head: II is burning shame to
mix up dollars aud cents with such
question. 4
Finally, this plea is made in behalf
of no particular street or section of
the city. Though we may deplore
the justice, charity and wisdom of
locating such lcprous plague in eny
particular yet our plea is on the
general merits of the question.
To he plain and short, we will main
tain to the bitter end. that this license
involves principle, than which, no
other is in such Jrightfal hostility
to the most sacred interest of uai-
rerSdl humanity. OF all modern
monstrosities, Woodhullisin alone
is comparable TO the said principle
but thanks to IIeaveni Woodhul'ism
has never yet been smiled upon by
any State or municipal legislation.
We will ever pray--not for speedy
action. but for those wise and delib-
crate measures, that may be likely TO
prove both healthy and permanent.
With profound respect, etc.
a