St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-08-15
A Great and Growing Evil.

Mr.. EditOr:-Manifestly there is al
evil in the community deeper and NOR
widespread than the best people i'm
agine. This evil is of such nature al
to he likely to be tabOoed by mos
people, for it has been thought to bt
one belonging peculiarly to the dark
aud where many would neither care
nor dare to tread.
| refer to no special cases of this
character-it is not necessary. | retel
to infanticide, with its various opera
tions and its attendant evils. There is
one aspect of this matter l wish par
ticularly to notice, and which influenced
me to take up my pen. This aspect is
the moral one, and to inquire into what
state an enterprising people will he
left, after lapse of time, where such
indulgences have been committed.
All will agree that the evil is a great
one, and delicate one to reach, most
especially so when it is let loose upon
the public. 1t is neither cured nor al
leviated by saying it has always eX-
listed, and that sometimes respectable
people are found connected with it.
The matter is not helped by loud
PassionS Of mankind. 1t is not got
over by the declaration that it will be
likely to continue forever. But it is a
fact that it exists. And it will be IN
questionable, that if philanthropists of
the race can ever he found, who can
wisely instruct men how to avoid the
shoals and quicksands of misguided
human passion, they will be deserving
the grateful thanks of Christendom.
Governments have ever foreseen this
evil, and have attempted to guard
against its disastrous results.
1t is right here we should pause
to consider. There may be quicker
methods, but am very certain there
can be no Surer ones to undermine and
destroy people, than a continuance
in this most wicked and degrading evil
1t needs no great sagacity to foresee it.
1t is plainly and painfully apparent.
History informs us what happened to
those peoples whose rulers were licen-
tious and protligate. Nero is a con-
spicuous example, who corrupted the
youth of Rome, which caused the per-
petratiOn of crime to a vast degree. and
which eliminated in fearful wars and
general social disorder. There is even
something in our day parallel to this
in principle, and if continued, it may
result disastrously. To have your house
burned, or to be slain in the street
without warning, would be an outrage
upon human rights. But argue it is
comparatively nothing to the bunting
and degradation of human sensibilities.
There can be no greater calamity to
man than dishOnOr, nor no cause for
greater pity than the degradation of
his spirit in lust.
nv" AsAA Out vi AhC way L Dt
to say that iutanticide is the legitimate
offspring of lust 2 If the act of abortion
were wholly and solely confined to the
participators, the evil would not be so
readily discerned. Unhappily this is
not the case, but it stalks abroad bv
night and by day, communicating what
ever it meets. Stories are in constant
circulation regarding it, courts are fire.
quently called upon to investigate it,
the press is burdened with its details.
and the very air seems pregnant with
its miasmitic influences. Not enly do
grown people now understand the whole
mOdHs OperdRdi of the matter, but even
the young have mole or less become
familiar with it.
SO common has this evil become, as
1t reveals itself to society in its various
forms, that it ought to be a matter of
the greatest solicitude to those who
have children, especially daughters.
perhaps it may be said that none are
absolutely proof against the seductive
wiles of human passion. So much more
cautious should then be the father and
the mother. And this caution should
be fraught with the best sense of the
head, as well as the tenderest solicitude
of the heart
The family is the first republic of
--r -.-- 90. +-