The Labor enquirer., 1883-01-27
A Social Evil.

A Social Evil.
DENVER, January %,
| TO the Editor of The Labor Enquirer.
l have to trouble you occasionally, for l
cannot remain silent and see the fearful and
mblushing increase of iniquity among the
present generation. Imust confess my brain
reels under the pressure, and my heart trenl-
bles at the thought of proposing or looking
for a remedy to combat with any good effect,
the present condition of affairs. | know, Mr..
Editor, that you have been enlisted to bring
about a better condition of affairs, for you
have asked the cooperation of all honest and
sincere men to come to your assistance; and
on this assurance l venture to trespass on
vOur time and space to give my views to the
readers of The LABOR ENQUIRER.
Denver is becoming sink of iniquity. The
demOralizing state of people who live in cities
lies at the root of all evil-the sale of land
this sale, or barter, of Gods given right to all
men born, makes farming improbable to the
honest workman. and he flies to the city. to
make bad worse. He rents shed in an alley.
The fetid atmosphere he inhales creates a
strong desire for intOXication and depriyes
him of sufficient energy to make an honest
living and degradeS the honest WOrkman's
home. He did not create this evil and is
powerless to remedy it. Yet such state is
dangerous and dishonOrable to rich and poor,
great and small, Of both sexes. What is to
be dOne?. That is the question to grapple
with. Our city has a fair name, but foul
core. Our legislators; our mayor and city
council are responsible before God and their
constituents in proportion to their power to
remove them. Prostitution amongst children
Of - years of age in our city is a shame and
foul blot on Christianity. We have large
police force Which'we have to support and
the only thing there is about them to be adj
mired is the two splendid and shining rows
of buttons displayed on their long-tailed coats
whilst parading the city; and you can see the
chief by his trappings as far as French
general under Louis the XVI. But they are
pOwerIeSs to cope with the evil mentioned,
at least they say so; and / don't know
whether policeman ever told a lie or not
The poor don't amount to anything anyhow,
and the rich are feared. So tits. Legislators.
are more concerned to make thepoor subjects
and slaves, instead of good moral citizens
Therefore, it is between the two extremes of
poverty and wealth the devil reaps his richest
harvest: and between the two extremes lies
the greatness Of Iife-and that is to be master
of ourselves. | believe the height of
human wisdom is to bring our tempers down
b tn
within under the might of the great storm
without. l believe this is the calling Provi-
dence intended for the happiness of His
creatures: for every honest man must confess,
if happiness is to be found on earth it is
amongst the latter class. l confess was
more moved to see children of IL or 16 years
of age sit at the window and beckon to men
passing by to come in, than atanything in nv
life, and this | saw in Denver. To see Gods
most glorious and best creatures to whom He
has granted so many advantages even by
creation above the rest of the work of His
hands on earth, vested with reasonable soul.
and to see that soul adorned with faculties
and capacities adapted both to honor cher. or
his) Maker and to be honored by Him in re-
turn, sunk and degenerated to a degree SO
very shocking to decency and virtue; to pros
trate themselves SO publicly before the peo
pie, without a. blush of shame or remorse of
conscience in the least. This cannot be the
effects of invincible ignorance; or is It
wrought up into hellish devotion by the devil
himself, who, envying his Creator the hom-
age and alteration of his creatures, had de-
luded them into such sordid and british ways
of gaining bare living? One would think
it would shake nature itself to reflect that our
legislators, or, more to the point in question.
our city council, never made an effort, to INV
personal knowledge, to prevent or abate this
hellish, filthy practice that is overrunning our
city and endangering the future morals of OIL +
children, and no doubt curse from God on
our future happiness. 1 am grieyed at the
thoughts of this evil coming into our midst.
but much more so the reflection of its shame
full and public practice among us. But what
signifies all the reflections and astonishment
OF thoughts of this age Of ambition, vanity
pride and, | must add, sloth and ignorance2
Money is the best of all, and it will be nv
next consideration. VINDIcATOR.
l. i