The record-union., 1895-11-09
nurse and others described it as nositiyely

ner SOUL. For the tneOlOglaus
taught that from the moment of ANNA
ton the foetus became an immortal being
doomed for Adams sin, if it persisted un-
born and unbaptized, to be ''cast into the
abyss OF hell" BY the legislation oil
modern times, however, lit is treated as
q distinct being from the moment OF con-
ception," and 10 destroy it at any period
is d II act of murder.
The destruction of children after birth,
which we term infanticide, has been, per-
haps, more widespread custom than the
other. Exposition was the habitual
practice OF poor parents, especially III the
case OF female infants, and whenever
| those OF either sex were weak or de-
formed. Nor was this considered in
consistent with humanity. Men like
Chremes in one of Terrence's plays, could
enJoin their wives to kill their offspring
II they happened 10 be girls, and yet
boast nagniloquently. ii am a man, and
deem nothing belonging 10 humanity be-
meath my notice." No doubt the Roman
gods"-to whom the practice was COM
mon-applauded vehemently. But we
must otjudge of these times by modern
notions, for, excepting Germany chiefly,
Europe was oVerrun with infantiGide,
just as China and other Asiatic nations
are to-day. One of our missionaries to
the Celestial Empire relates that he saw
not long ago this notice set up by the
owner of a pool there: Ladies' are re-
quested not to drown their female infants
in this pond" The policy Of the Greeks
was to restrain population; that OF repub-
lican Rome TO encourage it. But the en-
pire, with its sensuality and its
extremes of wealth and poverty, made
infanticide common, and laws were
made TO provide against it. Exposure,
however, WAS not condemned, and
children thus abandoned became the
absolute property, without power OF
redemption, of those who found them.
Their masters generally made profit OF
the females when grown by compelling
them to an infamous life, so that fathers
preferred their daughters to be killed
rather than exposed. Exposure. how
ever, was considered venal otfense,
practiced, as Lecky says, ION gigantic
scale and with absolute impunity," and
formed a considerable source OF pecu-
mary speculation TO the collectors OF
foundlings. Subsequently but tardily
and with much caution, the church pro-
vided for many of these little outcasts.
Tradition says that Pope Innocent III.
had been shock ed ct hearing that infants
had been drawn in the nets OF fishermen
from the Tiber. A somewhat similar
story is told of Gregory the Great when
be enforced his decretals on celibacy
upon the clergy. Happening to draw his
infants were found in them-'the off,
spring OF ecclesiastics, destroyed TO avoid
| detection" But there is no doubt that a
good monk. Guy de Montpelier, was the
first author of foupdling hospitals. and,
although designed for legitimate chill
dren, they eventually became devoted to
the illegitimate.
We are confronted with an almost in
soluble problem-the conf1ict between
physical and moral needs on the one
hand, and social requirements and laws
on the other. Concupiscence is strongest
| when reason and self-control are imma-
ture, and is greater than the welfare Of
man requires. Men, therefore, have
formed two codes OF morality-one for
themselves, in which great lsxity is per-
mitted; the other for women, in which no
deviation is allowed except under pain of
utter degradation. The taste of wine by
q Roman matron was at one time counted
next to adultery. By the same arbitrary
rule the indulgence of a natural instinct
by an unmarried womanis a crime never
| to be forgiven. We admit no extenu-
| ating circumstances no margin for
| frailty, for inexperience, or youthful pas
sion, or the intcxication of a sincere and
unselfish love. We have only one reply:
| Anathema! And hosts of infanticides
are the result.
Besides this, to quote Mr.. Leoky's
eloquent words, "There has arisen in So
ciety figure which is certainly the mos t
! mournful, and in some respects the most
awful, upon which the eye Of the moral
ist can dwell. That unhappy being,
whose very name is very shame to
speak, who counterfeits with a cold heart
! the transports Of affection, and submits
| herself az the passive instrument of lust.
On that one degraded and io-
noble form are concentrated the passions
| Id hA "a b.
shame. She remains. while creeds and
civilizations rise and fall the eternal
| priestess of humanity, blasted for the
| sins OF the people. II the terri
| BILE censure which English public opin-
| ion passes upon every instance of female
frailty in some degree diminishes their
| mum Der, it does not prevent them from
| being extremely numerous, and 1t i'm
measurably aggravateg the suffering they
produce. Acts which in other European
| countries would excite only slig bit and
transient emotion, spread in england over
wide circle all the bitterness OF un-
mitigated anguish. y lnfanticide
| is greatly multiplied, and vast proper
ton of those whose reputation and lives
have been blasted by one momentary
sin are hurled into the abyss of habitual
prostitution-a condition which, owing
to the sentence of public opinion and the
neglect of legislators, is in no other Euro
pean country so hopelessly vicious or SO
irrevocable."
In Spain, where the standard of female
chastity is low. infantIcide is almost un
known. We do not advocate imitation of
Spanish habits. On the contrary we
would see our own raised. One thing is
certain; either the standard for men must
be lifted, or that for women lowered. 1t
is for the men to say which The issue
lies with them. But these terrible
crimes which disgrace our country can
not be permitted to 60 on forever.