Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-21
THE DISGUSTING QUESTION AGAIN

An esteemed correspondent suggests that
our position regarding the proposed licens-
ing of houses for purposes Of prostitution
is that of the minority in communities of
most cities. We are not aware that this is
true nor that any test has ever been made
to determine it. But it makes no sort of
difference whatever to US. The question Of
The right never concerns the popularity OF
measure, nor whether it is supported or
opposed by saints or sinners. If we are in
the minority-which We by no means con-
cede, since wehave a better opinion of our
fellows-then it is a glorious thing to be
classed with the remnant. Any one
can Join in the popular claque, but some
moral courage is required to stana aside
with the weaker. If, as our correspondent
asserts. the popular sentiment is in favor of
licensing prostitutiOn-and the full mean
ing and purport of license should be real
lied by the reader-how is it that ma
jority Of the people, represented by their
legislators enacted law directly opposed
to and forbidding license? But says our
correspondent, the license ordinance is
intended to regulate the evil If so, why
was it necessary to put the word " license "
into the proposal at all? Why not pro-
coed to regulate without giving license to
do? 1t is not necessary, in order to exer-
else police surveillance, or to establish in
spection, that a revenue be derived from
the crime sought TO be held by the throat
because the law sunable to kill it outright.
We insist that the rerergie and the regula-
ron propositions are distinct. Our CORE
spondent goes further saying The ordi-
nance is for the protection of youths. Mar
RED men are entitled to none, adults de-
serve none, but the young boys-and few
know to what extent they are cOntami-
nated-are wards of government, and
should be shielded as far as pos
sible, from physical corruption by
the interposition of legal barriers, etc
To which We reply that we fail to see, nor
does our correspondent show how the pay
ment of license will do this Indeed, even
if license is not given, inspection and regu-
lation will not, in our opinion, have the
desired effect If they in any degree lessen
the risk of physical pollution of youths,
the result is more than counterbalanced by
the enlargement Of the invitation to youths
to assume risks. Nevertheless, to inspec-
ton and regulation the objections have not
been raised that are advanced against
license. The whole subject is disgustingly
offensive. and we treat of it under self-pro-
test but it is a duty to the public to expose
the fallacies of the affirmative of the license
question. and we shall not hesitate to do
so. The insinuation in which one CORE
spondent INDUCES that the opposition to
the license ordinance is promoted chiefly
by church people, and that ministers
ana churches are moved in their Opposi-
ton by a religious sentimentality, while
they themselves wink at violations of other
laws has nothing to do with the question
further than to exhibit the iittlencss of the
author Of such an argument in favor OF
licensing prostitution. We are not aware
that the religious people are the chief
promoters Of the opposition, since we are
not in their councils Their opinions have
no more weight with US than those of any
other good citizens on question OF
municipal policy, and have no more to do
with the matter than those of non-religion-
lists. But we venture to suggest to the
carping critic of motives, that religionist
would be worthy even his contempt, if pro-
Tossing the creed of Christian faith he gave
it the lie by consenting to license that
which both in morals and law is crime.
This question is not to be settled by the
consideration of who favor this or oppose