The Progress., 1893-05-13


apace, and even in higher ratio than tho
arithmetical proportion.
1t is said by those who have studied
the situation most carefully that in tho
city of Tdris there are 100000 women
given to this evil life. There certainly
are not less than $4,000 in the city OF
New York. and the lowest estimate for
Chicago places the number at 10000,
while other cities will be found to main
tain similar proportions, some greater.
some less. II j. said and on the best au-
thority that the city of Washington. tho
C1pital of the nation, shows 4 higher
percentage IF d;sreputablc women than
any city IN America. And this is prob
lem which tua politicians who inhslit
the city should not bc slow i'll confrssiuS
and solving. It certainly rests at their
door.
Third-It CIp but threaten the lif" Of
society because Of the terrible nature OF
this cYil The dcbauchery of the body
j. something whose horrors srrp1ss be
lief save - those who come in daily con
tact with the facts in the great medical
world \ praCticing physician told mo
that large proportion of his daily prIc-
tice was given to the results of prosti;u-
tion. ard he said that every physician of
large practice could bear practically the
same testimony DR.. Curricr declares,
and bases his declaration upon the sta
tistics gathered from the outdoor poor
department for the city of New York.
that there are from 5000 to 1000 eases
of contagious disease from this cause
which are annually treated in the dis
ponsarv. He SAYS that there are aS many
more cases in private practice.
He declares that it is safe to say that
there are 10000 women in New York
city who are each day in Il condition to
propagate contagious diseases. Add to
these 10000 women 10000 men, and be
hold the army of death sowing the seeds
of a corrupt body. damning unborn gen
erations to curse the earth. Each city i'll
America will show like proportion of
disease and of consequent debauchery of
the physical life of the people. 1t is no
wonder that manhood declines, and that
the people of the cities are not able To
maintain themselves in the contest with
the Drawn and fire of the rural laborerS.
1t utterly drags down and destroys not
simply the body but the soul of the vic
tim. This sin is violation of the di-
vineSt thought given TO the human race
love. 1t is a desecratiOn, with unClean
hand. with impure purposes, of the holy
of holies of the race. The climax of
human experience is the hour of two
pure hearts discovering each other. The
supreme mystery of nature is the myS-
terry of love. The one high and holy
miracle that illumines life. that makes
poverty of riches. and sorrow "A joy, and
suffering a privilege. is this mystery of
love Prostitution is the ncgation of
this dream Of humanity. 1t Is to stab
to the heart the faith of the race. 1t
means more. In doing this. of necessity
those who thus sin must drag down in
the miro the name of home and Of moth
er and al that clusters round this holy
altar. Here rests the very foundation of
human civilization. The state is buils
upon the monogamic group Of society
man anl woman. The nation is bUilt
not upon the individual. but on this So
cial unity. All law rests, in its last
analysis. upon this foundation. All ma
tional AMI international law must b.
traced back III its origin to this primal
ordinance OF God.
The home is tho fountain of universal
blessing from whose center radiates the
divine influences that make national
life possibility. 1t is a refuge, haven.
III which man accumulates strength to
battle with the elements, to fulfill in
deed the dreams of his heart. to be a pa
triot, to be true. to be noble. 1t is tho
little kingdom of God on earth that il
the prophecy of the kingdom that il To
come and rule the earth supreme. Tho
house of prostitution is threat agains:
the very foundation of home and homc
life 1t is the denial of the right OF
motherhood and fatherhood.
The house of prostitution is the home
of the gambler. Thousands of profes-
siopal gamblers have fallen to the dis
graceful depths of being willing to b3
supported by these women. SO intimate
is the connection between the brothel
and the gambling hell that it may bg
said that they are inseparable. Every
house of prostitution is n saloon of the
lowest order. where the meanest drinks
are served mt the highest possible price
The fool who drinks is willing to ply
There are constant ard chronic viola
tions Of every excise law ever put on the
statute book. Infanticide, murder. theft
forgery and every crime on the cata
logue of criminality is laid daily at her
door When such ara thp direct oud M.
proximate results of such an evil. how IL
it possible for the Christian world, how
is it possible for the humanitarian, to re-
main silent? What are the remedies pro-
posed for this terrible evil? There are
two.
REMEDIES PROPOSED.
First-Regulation, SO called. Is this n