The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-12-15

THE village council intermitted
their regular proceedings, Tuesday
evening, to listen to committee
representing the best citizens Of
our community. 1t was the Office
of this committee to call the atten-
tion OF the Mayor and council to
the viciousness, moral looseness
and lawlessness which prevails in
certain quarters of our town. Prof.
Rayman introduced the subject in
a strong, earnest plea, for the Sc
curing of a wholesome, moral at.
mosphere for the school children;
and his special effort was directed
against the evil known as the "ci-
garette picture" It appears by his
statement, that these immoral pic
lures are In general circulation
among the children, and the influ-
ence on the minds Of the young is
most certainly awful in its tenden-
cy toward impurity. The fact that
these pictures are 80 easily procura-
BILE, and that, too, in violation Of
statute providing severe penalty,
not only calls attention to disre-
gard of one law, but laxness of
enforcement that must not be long
er unnoticed.
We as a community cannot af-
ford to have the minds of our chill
dren poisoned by insinuated vice,
whether 1t come from lewd pic
lures foisted upon them by unprin-
cipled dealers or through vile lam
guage overheard in the public
places of our town.
Lasciviousness in all it's forms
and manifestations must be done
away with for good, whether it be
conduct, conversation or contem-
plation. Those who are soon to be
the strength of society must be per-
mitted to grow up in an atmos-
phere of social purity; and we who
now hold authority must see that
vice and vicfousness be dethroned
from public tolerance; and we must
give our aid and sympathies to all
things making toward nobility of
manhood. If there be no way of
effectively enforcing penalties now
provided for, then it is the duty of
the council and the business Of the
citizens to see that steps are taken
which shall lead to their effective
ness. If there be laws which can
not be enforced they should give
place to practical laws. There is
no reason why the vicious and the
lawless should enjoy any immuni-
ties from penalties for outraged
law, not enjoyed by the better citi-
zens.
We hear good deal of mouth.
ing, nowadays, about "personal
liberty" and "sumptuary laws" and
other clap-trap of the same nature
But we claim the privilege of hav.
ing the use of the streets and pub.
lie places for ourselves and our
children and our wives, withou,
having profanity and drunkenness
and crime againt the laws of botf
God and man, assailing our ears, OF
disgusting our sight, or poisoning
the very atmosphere we breathe
That is the personal liberty we ad
vocate and will have. Whenever
any one places himself In condi'
ton unworthy that becoming man
hood, and obtrudes himself upor
the sight or society of the good, HI
oversteps the limits of his persona
liberty and assumes unlawful Ii
'cense. Whoever 80 acts as to con
taminate the social atmosphere t.
the detriment of his fellow exceed
the bounds of independence; ant
whoever permits the vicious to al
their vice and clamor for theil
"rights as men" SO to do, not only
falls in taking advantage of his
privileges as free man, but sup
ports vice by default.
It would seem from the report o
Rev. Winter that 1t is imperative
upon the council to place an arc
light near the north end of Mul
berry Street, and we urge this &C
ton.
We are glad to know that atten
tion was given to this committee b.
the council, and that several mem
bers placed themselves on record al
infsvor Of whatever shsll make foI
the morality and social purity O
our community; and that a resolu
t1On Of thanka tn the committae