The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-25
A CLERGYNIAN,s PROTEST,

The Record Union the other day COM
mented with some severity upon the
methods and mistakes of the profess
sional reformer, and on another date
ings and other hysterical movements in
San Francisco in the matter of the
cases of the men charged with infamous
crimes in their treatment of female chill
dren. We took occasion then to say
that these spasmodic shoutings and
roarings, while expressive of natural
Indignation, do not advance the cause
Of justice, and that packing courtrooms
with women in these cases, under the
plea of giving moral support to the law
and its officers, savors more Of intimi-
dation, and will really result in kind
PENDANTS.
1t was pointed out that the organized
and quietly and effectively working So
cieties for the protection of children are
more potent for good, and deserve the
material support of all the people, but
that they really receive very little more
than moral support, which does not pay
office rent, Secretaries, detectives, for
transcripts of documents or expenses of
securing witnesses and housing the I'M
fortunates the societies snatch from the
jaws of vice.
a distinguished clergyman of San
Francisco, Rev. DR.. Horatio Stebbins.
has expressed himself with such dig
nifty, force and eloquence upon subject
intimately related to it, that we esteem
it privilege to quote and give still
wider publicity to his protest. DR.. Steb-
bins, in a letter to a San Francisco
paper yesterday, said:
My attention was called to notice on
Tuesday morning that a mass meeting
would be held on Friday evening, the I'd
inst, to consider the fragrant crime too
base to mention that has been committed,
the supposed perpetrators OF which are
now in the hands of the police. Among
others my name was given as of one who
would address the meeting. In a former
notice, | believe, it was understood that
none but women would be present In the
Call of Tuesday morning it is announced
that both sexes will be represented in
the audience and on the platform"
With sincere respect for all good citi-
Zens and for their honorable and upright
intentions, propriety and becoming regard
for the committee who have invited me to
be present allow, and maybe require, that
/ s"Ould give some reason for my dissent.
In such meeting, for such cause, lit
tic or nothing can be done to increase
the force of public or private morals or for
the detection and punishment of crime.
SeTnbly concerning so brutal q crime?
Can anything be done, save to give noto-
riety to human degradation and wicked
ness, such as should be concealed from
every man, woman and child? Can it help
the police or excite their vigilance? The
commonly a still hunt" and the less
noise the betteri Besides the very i'm
ortant fact that there are many things
suspicious, guesses and gypsy tricks of
which the public knows nothing.
The insinuation that such degradation
| is the outcome of the common school,
deserves no attention, and to give il at
1enttOn only gives 1t an Importance which
Otherwise it would not have. One of the
nlcst sorrowful things Of society is the
number Of those who have no home or
roIc Of that care, authority and obedi-
cnre that makes home citadel Of pro-
lection and peace In this sorrowful fact
old wickedness and young sins hold their
carnival. PROGRESSES play their deVilish
Of he'll But home life, security and man
neTs are not established by public discus
sion of the details of revolving crime
HORATIO STEBBINS.