Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-16
MIR. COMsTOCK,s TALK.
He Tells q Washington Audience bout
HIS tight against Impure Literature.

His Fight Against Impure Literature.
Congregational church was filled to overfowing
yesterday afternoon, the occasion being an adj
dress TO the people OF Washington by Mr.. Anthony
Comstock, the secretary OF the New York society
Tor the suppression OF Vice. The ADDRESS was
given under the auspices OF the local wcman's
CHRISTIAN temperance Union. On the platform
were Rev. Hiram Price, Representative Taylor,
Mr.. Baldwin, Rev. DR.. Hamlin, Mrs LaFetra, Mrs.
Hilton, end Mrs Bradley. DR.. Price called the
meeting to order and announced a hymn. Mrs.
Illttn read from the Scriptures, and DR.. Hamlin
onered prayer. Mr.. Elzo Youngs rendered a cor
net solo DIT. Price, In introducing the speaker.
said: "Sin is a reproach to any people In confir-
NATION OF this declaration IL is only necessary TO
iook BACK along the line OF ancient and modern
history and see the wrecks and ruins that strew
tne pathway. Al men think all men mortal but
themselves and themselves immortal The same
Is true or governments II is hard TO get people
to-day 10 acknowledge that this Government has
any faults, but luxury, vice, aud immortality will
produce the same results In this nation as in the
old ones unless We take heed OF the warnings Of
history
He then presented Mr. Comstock. Most Of those
present mad gone with the sole purpose OF OBTAIN
Ing glimpse OF this man, so much revied and dis
eussed ana talked about. 1t Is just possible that
out few OF them expected TO see such figure as
that OF the real Anthony Comstock. Rather short,
Stout and with a well-to-dO plumpness and gtrth,
be looks more Ike business man than an ag1ta-
TOR His head Is rather bald. and he wears light
kerS His whole person has look OF pleasing
roundness, and his voice Is full and rich, capable
at times or expressing great tenderness. There IL
scarcely a mark TO show the struggle in which he
has been engaged for years past. He spoke with.
out notes and seemingly without much prepare.
tion and his sentences were at times little broken,
but his manner was that of an earnest worker who
hai the conviction OF bis BELIEF and he spoke &C.
cordingiy.
Mr. coNsrocxs TALK.
Thoughts he said, "are the aliment upon
which the mind feeds; II they be pure they en-
noble the brain and being. but If they be impure
they degrade the soul. You cannot get whole
some draught from fountain whose source lies in
SeW ngU ~ Na re srSe
vendors OF corrupt pictures and books to young
people, As soon as the first case was brought into
covered that a systematic business was being car
ried on in the trarlc in obscene literature, and
that one hundred and sixtynine books OF this vile
type were being sent Into the colleges and SEMI
narles OF the country. There was no law TO reach
these evils. and the first thing done was to bring
the matter TO the attention OF Congress In Just
one year from the date OF the first case law was
passed, afterward known as the sComstock law
preventing the sending OF obscene matter through
the mails. Since that time these hands have de-
siroyed the plates for two hundred ana seven vile
books and have been the means OF the destruction
Mover 30 tons OF corrupting influences.
"The three great evils OF the day are intemper-
anee, Righteousness, and gambling, OF VIII Oh the
one have named second should be placed first as
the most deadly, the most insidious the most dan
break the strong wills OF your children. you may
discipline them into the paths OF subsection, but
what can you do IL the devil creepS into their
thoughts and heart5?"
SENDING oB~CENB LITERATURE TO CHILDREN.
he mentioned the startling extent to which the
business OF sending obscene literature to young
persons had been carried on, and spoke feenngly
OF the danger that lies In wait for youth evpn in
the temples OF learning. IL has grown into busi-
ness, he said, to collect the names and addresses
n 70 ha
publishers OF these books, so that they may send
.hem catalogues OF their nastiness Lists contain
ing $500 names have been seized and over 8, 600
letters OF warning sent to as many educational in
stltutions throughout the country.
He dwelt upon the manner In which he has
been attacked from all sides, and also upon the
various Efforts made TO obtain a repeal OF the
"ComStock law" While detailing his expert.
enees at the Capitol In 1878 in his fight for the
life OF that law he said that the occasion OF the
hearing before the committee on post-orices and
post-roads OF the opponents OF the law, the CON-
short-haired women" AT this there was very
general applause throughout the church, but
from away of In one corner came the sound OF
single
FAINT, But AUDIBLE HISS.
''The petition" he said, containing 10000
names that was in that year sent to Congress In
appeal against the law. was headed by the name
OF man whose business it is to blaspheme and
VINO goes around the country making money by
Disappearing his Maker. ] shall not pollute the
sanctuary by a mention of his name- He turned
his attention for few minutes to the publication
entitled "The Life and crimes OF Anthony Com
stock, which appeared during the liberal agita-
Ton or 1873. In this he Was painted, he said, as
the great American tnquisitor, but, unfortunately
Tor the book, 1t did not contain enough truth to be
entertained quarter OF a second. "My fight in
THIS cause, he remarked, "that have carried on
Tor sixteen years has taught me that 1t Is be- ter
To trust God than 10 put my confidence in men,
After Mr.. COmstock had finished speaking, Mrs
Nellie Bradley, Superintendent OF the department
OF the local W {. T. u, for the suppression OF i'm
pure literature and art, spoke in a very feeling
manner OF he evils assailing the youth OF the
country, and appealed for help In the fight