Daily Republican., 1882-06-24
Profanity.

Profanity.
One of the increasing and crying
evils of the times is that of profanity,
and viewed by the estimate placed
upon it by our torefathers, it was so re-
pugnant even in the early history Of
the nation that severe legal enactments
were passed against it, and these laws
which imposed fine of fifty cents for
every profane word uttered were often
enforced. There is not a more disgust
ing thing than the habit of profanity
which seems to have fastened itself
upon the community like huge incu-
bus of vice not easily to be shaken of.
1t i, with feelings of pent up disgust
and shame that we must admit that
the most of people swear. 1t has be-
come so general that it is not confined
to any sex, age, nationality or station
in life, and the deepest confession of
modification is that large numbers OF
protesting christiaGs utter carelessly,
regularly, naturally and supremely
profanely the most horrid and disgust
ing oaths. Scarcely has the babe learned
to lisp, in numerous instances, than a
profane expression becomes its most fa-
miliar word and would you believe it?
yes, it is true, that we have heard par
ents teach their precious little darling
children to utter profane oaths. Is it
mot SO that the large majority of boys
swear? And great numbers of girls,
" no should be training for ornaments
to society, swear too. Indeed SO general
has the habit become that but few ap-
parently seem to be exempt. If pro
family was on,y the sudden outburst of
extreme anger, it might be an unjusti-
fable palliation of the evil, yes, more
than an evil-a crime against society,
against the laws, and above all against
God, who is just and jealous God and
who las said in his Holy edict: "Thou
shalt not take the name of tie Lord thy
God in vain, for the Lord will not hold
him guiltless who taketh his name in
vain" What good does it do to swear
at every thing? 1t only irritates the
person to whom the oaths are addressed,
and debases still more the character of
the swearer. Theevi] effect does not stop
with the swearer and the person sworn
at. 1t is like the poison of the Upas
tree, W hich creates dearth all around it;
profanity has demoralizing effect,
even upon those who are compelled to
listen to it because they cannot remove
themselves from where the oaths are
uttered. 1t is true that there are stat.
utes upon the law books which prohibit
swearing, but they remain there as a
dead letter, as if they were some pre-
cious sacred relic of the past not to lie
tampered with, and even not to be seen
nor read, if we are. to Judge from the
profanity of the times. Who would
ever think of enforcing the law against
profanity? So far as the magistrates
of our city are concerned, we believe
they are men not generally given to
profanity, but as gsneral rule magis-
trates are profane and constables who
serve writs are the profanest of the pro.
fame. The enforcement of the law left
to law breakers would then be the veri-
est farce. What then is the remedy
against profanity? Beilg question
of morals it clearly belongs to the teach
or of morals, and if that teacher be
guilty of profane habits, then indeed Is
the fountain of morals grossly corrupt.
Children should be taught by their par.
ents to abhor profanity as they would
abhor stealing, but where parents are
guilty, the child has poor example. If
there is such thing as an evil over
leaping its bounds and reacting against
lJSoll3 buo ONA VI pAo'oAAVy Asso oatS'J
reached the farthest verge Of the preci-
pice, and if the plunge into the dark
abyss beyond would put an end to the
disgusting profanity of the age all good
people would say, amen. We did not
intend to moralize at 30 great a length
on this subject, but somehow the pro-
family is so great and there remains SC
much that could be said in condemna.
tiOn of it that short article falls short
of doing the subject justice, and even
long one fails to set it before the people
ia the abhorrent light in which /,
should appear, but should this article
be read by some one unfortunately ad'
dicted to the vice of profanity, and
should that one in viewing the question
in its proper light, resolve to swear nc
more, we shall have no apology to Offer
fer q lengthy article.
THE ARMY worm seems to have
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