The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-28
NO AGE OF CONSENT.


In each case the temptation appears 10
have been held out that they might rely
upon such protection. support and social
status as marriage could afford them In
each case that promise was left unfua-
asIed and the injury suffered seemed to
them TO call for more severe punishment
Tran a civil action would AFFORD. or THAI u
was snficsed under such circumstances
as insured the mans immunity under the
law.
The fact that mans perHdy Is as old ~
man should no. be . bar TO the creation
| OF pursr public sentiment Too often In
the legislature and in other forums IL the
| uncomfortable subject dismissed with the
| excuse that neither lapse OF time. the
growth Of civilization or the spread OF
| church influence seems % stop the ero-
sion OF the ceaseless tides OF human de-
| sire, and that statutes are impotent
No such preeext Is urged against pen
| atty for murder. though Gains crime Is
not a recent one; nor against indemnity
| for breach OF faith by man 20 man. al
though cupidity and selhshness are equal
| IN antiquity with the artinces of the be-
| trayer.
The offense f. one agains. which no
home Is entirely invulnerable. one 10
which innocence is the readiest prey and
| which leaves scar on the soul OF
woman that ever after appeals mutely
10 the eventual compensation afforded by
ultimate justice. II the newspapers daily
!
not sufficient 20 arouse society TO the
need of action. the agitation now going
/ on In some OF tho states for legislative
alteration OF the age OF consent will
| bring the subject prominently before all
! who feel sense Of responsibility. 1t
seems to be comparatively small matter
at what year that age is fixed. Nature
has, IL IS true. indicated what. If any.
shall be the minimum; but the truer
| moral doctrine would seem 90 be that
neither age nor sex shall justify DISC
bedience of that divine law which was
Numbered forth from the heaven-crowned
| heights of Mount Sinai. Against that
stern command no tempted consent can
prevail; 10 its Observance all that is
! purest and sweetest. least human and
least earthly. most noble and most wocn-
anly, is directed.
Frail mankind has sought 10 elude the
| strict terseness OF an unconditional de-
cree by subterfuges and palliations. 1t
has sought to shift the blame from sex
TO sex: but sex finds no refuge In the
decalogue. The cunning. cupidity and
frailty OF exceptional women has neces-
Stated laws for the protection OF less
| culpable exceptional men. and so long
as those laws did not offer conformation
they were wise. Woman as a temptress can
be fully as adept as man. and In the
civil administration OF affairs this must
be guarded against. But that the law
should fix a date from which time an
ofrenss may be condoned by the part
ner's consent is barbarous. Age. no less
than physical condition and attendant
circumstances should. OF course. be taken
into consideration In determining wheth-
er civil compensation for a wrong is due.
but neither should serve as a loophole
OF escape from all punishment Consent
should be an aggravation OF the offense
against society. whether that consent he
the ,empter's or the tempted's. The
greatest difficulty in framing laws for
the protection or woman Is the liability
to run TO theoretical extremes. one ex-
treme leads 10 laxity. the other to
mawkish sentlmentalism which assumes
that all women alike are dispassionate.
honest truthful and ehasts. The sad fact
is that while some few women may be
warm blooded. as II is euphemistlcally
called very far more are animated by
vanity and spite. for the qualification OF
which they VIII not stop at unchastity or
falsehood. II. happily. all women were
as good as We ideallze them, statutory
provisions could be easily framed for
their protection. hut the conscientious
iaw-maker must provide arsins, the most
extreme exceptions The boundaries of
pure and honorable life mus, not. there
fore. be found In codes and statutes. bat
IN the batter instincts Of human nature
that Instinct which despises the be,rayer
OF another. man or woman: which ostra-
cises him who takes advantage OF con-
naence reposed IN him by another's
] AAN~ NhFa VI " re HAt4 tfS@ttAH as u NERlA
to society the abandonment OF g mother
or child.
| Mere commerce IN convenience the
mutual understanding by which. without
ties OF affection. relations are sustained
fer which no excuse exists except ex-
rcdlency. need not b. considered IN THIS
connection. u Is only her whose trust
Is betrayed fer whom there should Re
stimulated iivelier sympathy. and for
him who tempts. entlces. dishonors and
betrsys. upon whom society should de-
naand-it not In Pity. A. least IN SELF pro-
tectioa-a eondign ani restrictive punish
ment
There need - N;tls fear az vomAn's
wties IN such a social condition. Men
wAo woul4 not scruple 20 shield them
selves behind plea % female aIiurement
81 IL would save them responsibility would
rnd sufficient couraE. to resis; II sue
cumelnx Insured them punishment alike
with ,hs ter1rt-css.
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THE ALASKA BOUNDARY.