The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-28
An Infamous Meeting.

An Infamous Meeting.
| The presence of n multitude OF men ut
the Cooper Institute on Thursday evening
to glorify PARKHURsT and his vilo proceed
ings was o disgrace 10 manhood.
1t was a shame to womanhood that with
them were many women who joined In the
laudation OF man who tempted fallen
md outcast women TO u shameful display
| OF themselves to him. in order that he
might further betray these wretched VIC
tins Of the lust of lewd and periidious men.
II was an outrage against the mercy and
purity Of Christianity that many profess
sional ministers OF the Gospel were on the
| platform or in the body OF the hall. and that
| not one Of them raised his voice in protest.
hut all joined in lauding and applauding
| this vioator OF the spirit. preccpt. and
example OF the Saviour OF the Magdalcn.
1t was scene over which angels
might weep. and from which all Just and
reasonable men and women should turn
| with disgust and Indignation. Yet by such
means and agencies as PARKHuRsT's. and
| with such man az leader, this Cooper
Institute meeting talks OF reforming society!
| 1t would reform society by Transforming it
the principle which is the salt that saves it
from corruption.
The bittercst punishment administered
by society, the surest, the most unvarying.
and tho most persistent. Is inflicted on
women who have departed from chastity
The men who are partners in their guilt
escape unscathed. We do not doubt that
hundreds Of such men held thier heads high
at the Cooper Institute on Thursday even
ing. But the women are put under the henv-
lest social cllastisemcnt. and none escape.
Murder and oil other crimes against the law
of the State may go unpublished. but the
Magdalen is spurned and trampled on with
out exception. She becomes a pariah, the
member OF tho class the most defence
less and the most outraged OF any in the
Christian world. She Is at the mercy OF
ruffians and even the men who have made
her an outcast. and consort with her in her
degradation. join in covering her with re-
proach and driving her to desperation.
OF oil human beings she Is the most pitt
able, and yet she Is the worst chastised
OF all offenders against human or Divine
laws. Meantime the men OF whose lust
she is the victim. and to whose lust she
ministers in her enforced degradation.
may go to PARKHURST's meetings and
shout themselves hoarse in applauding his
courageous and self-sacrifcing stand" in
tempting and betraying her. already SO
sorely tempted and so UNANIMOUSLY betrayed:
and women. to whose honor she is sacri-
feed so mercilessly. unite with them in
browning him as n hero!
1t is to the credit of the spirit of justice
1nhi or In Ia, hot ~,
tian civilization. this inequality in the treat
ment Of Righteousness in men and women
has prevented the civil authorities from
homndng the Magdalen TO the absolute
extreme OF barbarous cruelty. Her existence
as necessary result OF masculine depravity
is tolerated. She is not stoned while her
betrayer is loaded with honors. Decent
mon will not stand by and see the weak
victims Of men subjected to such outrage
She is punished enough already. they say.
and. alas! she suffers the penalty OF her
own sin and that Of the greater sin OF men.
Accordingly. the laws OF tho State di-
rectcd against these outcasts, intended for
their regulation rather than their destruc-
ton. are enforced in all the cities OF the
world with some degree OF considerable
and reasonable latitude. The police by
their conduct express a humane public
sentiment. Men will not torture women
whom men have led astray and subjected
to social punishment in itself SO terrible
They know that the trouble is incurable SO
long as masculine depravity continues.
This righteous. merciiul, just. and sensi-
bic Interpretation Of legal duty. PARK
HURST and his allies dcnOunce as" COM
plicity with cvildOcrs" Complicty with
evidocrs Who are tho evildoers Are
they the poor Magdalcns alone? Are they
not also PARNHrRsr and many Of his udu-
lators? Are they not tho great host Of evil
doing men?
Such meeting should make the blood OF
every just and truo man boil with indigna-
ton. 1t was an Infamous. unholy meeting.