The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-01
Impure Life.
MASON. April 26. 1884.

come to him who is responsible for all
this WOman'S woes
Impure Life.
MASON, April 26, 1884.
To the Editor of The Statesman.
TIE STATESMAN of the 18th inst.
contained an editorial headed "Im-
pure Life" couched in language so
earnest, honest, fearless and feeling
that l feel an irresistible impulse to
respond.
The writer, beyond, doubt meant
every word he wrote, and whoever he
is, l, for one, feel proud to do him
honor as brave, true, knight of the
highest type eff chivalry in any age. Of
the CheValier Bayard class, with the
opportunity. And every true gentle
man on reading must echo every SEN
timent uttered, and subscribe to the
penalty proposed in that article as
just. But alb ! there's the rub !!
While the very nature of the crime
defies investi cation, while the
consent of the victim is essential
to the crime, and perverted
public opinion, Enthusiastically enter
tanned by woman herself in the ag-
gregate, Ito the shame OF the sex be it
said it will continue to be classed
among the milder misdemeanors, and
only the touchingly tragic cases, like
the one in point, will rouse mOmen-
tary Indignation, and cause blush to
sutfuse the notified face of s-o-c-i-
ethyl Faugh! No, sir; 1 am only
sorry that, that same society is not
ready for that extreme JUNCTION you
propose. God grant that it may be
ready soon, and the work of villain
Staying go on till this Part of the
world, at least, will be ready for the
millennium. But alas, for the Utopian
dream If you are in your teens and
destined to live twice TO the age of
Daddy Methuselah, your great grand
child at the same age will not see the
beginning of the end.
An able lecture was recently deliv-
cred at one of your churches on the
'Six Shooter" by an eloquent divine
who, though he presented nothing
new except to the minimizing few
gave aspects to the subject startlingly
novel 20 many well-meaning honest
readers. lie plainly showed that in
the present state of society (whatevel
that is) the anti-carrying and muir.
derously-using pistol statutes are
worse than useless. But his remedy
it would make me smile it 'twere not
serious subject. To apply it requires
that every pistol carrier shall volun-
tarily consign his cherished revolver
with its bibulouS concomitant to de-
cay and oblivion put the knife to the
throat of his long INDUCED propeDsi-
| ties. There must be some power, with
omniscient eyes, to find him out and
change his nature entirely and com
pei his acquieScence by moral force
for hasn't he voice anda potent one
in making the laws ?
So with the vile, cowardly seducer
While his name is legion, as far as tn
will or impulse under favoring cir
cumstances goes, nothing can affect
him but tho argumentum ad homi.
mum; and two wrongs never made
one right, nor converted sinner, and
least Of all is the example and counte-
nance of the heartless world, includ-
ing society women, likely to effect
early and confirmed repentance. My
dear sir, this hideous sin, by impulse,
takes root in the very cradle of the
human family-in virgin soil, so to
speak-and is nurtured by countless
opportunities that no foresight could
avoid. The Indifference of parents,
their ignorance or incapacity to gov
ern their children, baleful associations,
and animal ferocity furnishes
both the victim and her destroyer; and
public opinion, sooner or later, either
pardons or condones. Bah! it is sick
ening, sickening!
Now, what are you going TO do
about it? 1t is plain that We cannot
enforce the death penalty for the
crime, even though enacted, since pub
lie opinion sitting as jurors would
forget their oath when contemplating
the-to them-much more heinous
crime of murder in applying the let
ter of a statute they consider unjust
in itself, and far too severe.
Hence, but one means of lighting
this cancer ON the body of society,
which you have cursorilly suggested:
With social weapons. In this, the
ladies. especially mothers, should take
the lead; and, not only deny libertines
the society of their daughters or them
selves, but take care in their rearing
to make the denial a severe punish
ment. Will all lady mothers do it?
Fathers must do their duty in
their peculiar sphere. VIII they lay
aside thoughts of money getting,
for the sake of their sons and Gaugh-
tiers, little hour or so each day. Aud
hrothers:-will they do their part ?
Yes, with dire thoughts of revenge
and the ghost OF the word "craven'
pursuing, they are quick to seize the
shotgun or pistol too late-too late to
save their sisters honor, when time
ly hint would have saved all. Min
listers of the gospel must do their duty
too-not in hackneyed phrase, enun.-
Grating Paul's list of social sins, but
dealing mattock blows at the very
root of the matter, and take care to
enforce his precepts by example. The
teacher in his field has a more prodig-
ious work to do than all, but he should
that "the heavier the cross
the brighter the crown" w Ii he do
It. forgetting HIS { every |
pure minded min ,.a.'l within ipIthelr
1uty, and in tint. tai i cscrying
crime viii go out .. fl :-.oil.