National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-04
A Plea for the Fallen.

! A Plea for the Fallen.
| Hitjiea for The Republican.
Go into any of our great cities and walk
up and down the streets, looking upon either side,
and you will see gaudy attire and fash manner
which mark the wanton. Visit the places of vice
and wretchedness which abound and you will
find somebody's sisters, daughters. Yiyes-yea, and
mothers, too-rolling, in the gilded coach of sin,
! on toward the palace of destruction. Death, as
| footmar, stands behind ready to open the door
when the short, unsatisfactory journey shall have
| been ended; and then, at last weary, stricken
| heart ceases its throbbing, and the grave closes
over life which might have been made beautiful
and lovable had there been more of forgiveness,
of sympathy and of Christian charity in its sur
| roundings. If there is one class above another
deserving commiseration it is that made UP of
these social lepers-these sisters, daughters, wives
and mothers Of somebody.
ONCE THEY WERE PURE
and fspotleSs reputation, some of them, perhaps
the pets Of society Doubtless all were once loved
by kindred hearts, but alas! as in the case of our
first parents so it proved with them; the tempter
entered into the Eden their lives and they fell,
never to rise again. They fell, and with the mark
| of sin upon their foreheads-of a sin for which
the social world knows no atOnement-were driven
| forth frome homes and friends to wander I'D and
finding it not objects Of pity, yet seoffed at and
spitupon by even the beggars met upon the streets
they walk with aching hearts and weary feet.
Furnishing, not only for kindness, but oftentimes
for food, they look into the future with heavy,
hopeless eyes, to see not one single ray of hope or
SYMPATHY FOB THEM.
1t may have been the cravings of hunger that
first led them aside from the path of virtue; but
society the well fed portion OF it at least, makes
no allowance for this weakness Of the flesh that
prompts people to sin rather than die of starva-
ton in land of plenty. Surely-surely these
pariahs of our social system, whatever the of
their falling, are made to do bitter penance for
their violation Of the Divine and moral law; and,
although they repent in sack-cloth and ashes, yet
there is no release from the bondage in which one
false step places them In all the world there are
few who will say to them, like One of old, Go
and sin no more :" but there are mnltitudes ready
to least the first stone" For them there is no re-
mission of sin. The stain is upon them.
THEY ARE AoCURsT,
and the Christian matron and viTtuous Christian
maid, as they pass one of these their poor fallen
sisters, draw their garments more closely about
them lest her touch prove communicating to their
purity. Little care they that beneath the gaudy
dress or faded froek there throbs a human heart
yearning for sympathy, for one kind word even
little care they, for they are pure; they never
sinned; they have no need for Saviour Let the
Master Judge! Thus it is with the victim and the
victor over her rides in his coach, msyhap and
joyously mingles in the society where Christian
men and women meet as the peer in social po-
sition of the best of them. The matron who so
scornfully passes his victim the street invites
him to her home;
THE MAIDEN PERMITS HIS COMPANY
and attentions, while her parents good, churchly
paoTfa fhe world c-OnS) anDrovo hnr oOIlrSo
and all of them well know his history. We fire.
quently hear it suggested of such one, Oh he
was only sowing his wild oats" But stop, friends,
and think of it. Sowing his wild oats?" What,
then, shall the harvest be when the souls of his
victims rise up in judgment against him? That
the evil alluded 10 is widespread all viii admit.
That its growth should be checked, if not alto
gether eradicatcd, none will deny; but how may
this desirable object be accomplished? We have
societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals
and children; we have societies for the prevention
of vice; but they either have application to, or
else fall short of what is needed so far as regards
the class under consideration. Why not organize
an association having for its object the incubation
Of the commonest principles of humanity
OF EyEN-HASDED JUSTICE
to woman as well as man-of Christian charity?
1.-THE recognized leaders of society in its different
grades would so band themselves together and
would treat with but Onehalf the contempt and
loathing they lavish upon their poor wrecked sis
ters those who sought and wrought their ruin
if they would but give such to understand that So
cietys doors would be closed against them as well
as their victims, they would bring to bear most
powerful engine TO aid in suppressing the great
evil preying upon our race and sapping the very
foundations of our boosted civilization. Men love
themselves too well to choose TO be poorly thought
Of Gail it self respect or what you win; there is
feeling in each mans nature which causes him to
dread social oSracsm-to fear the loss of the good
opinion and regard of the circle in which he
moves, more Than loss of fortune, and some even
fear it more than they do death itself.
THEN LET THE SOCIAL LAWS
be reconstructed upon the basis Of morality, and
apply the gauge of virtue to both man and woman
Wherever vice appears let it be diseountenanced
promptly, positively, persistently. Be just to ALL
bat at the same time be mercifnl, charitable, and
forsiv;ng Remember that while some are strong
and CAPABLE of successfully resisting temptation,
there are yet many others who are weak, and who
of necessity must yield to the allurements of vice.
Admonisi tiie errins by rrecspt and example, and
encourage the fallen ones vino would again pick
I'D the thread of pure life by kindly acts, sympa
thizing words and f5rgetfiuess of their past Then
we shall have more truer, manlicr men and fewer
degraded unwomsnIy women, and the world in
which we live and move will be the better for it.