Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-12-29
THE BENEFITS OF PURITY.

There are a few men and women in the
United States, that they are few more's the
pity, who are d~evoting their energies for the
promotion of purer lives. Manythoughtless
persons look upon them as impracticable
cranks; but if we are not to suffer a serious
deterioration of national strength, more
attention must be paid to the matters
which they have the courage to discuss
and to the reforms which they advocate.
There is something appalling in the contem-
plation of the number of children that come
into the world, diseased in mind and body,
doomed to lives of distress and vice
from whom as they grow older a noxious ex-
halation emanates that is poison to every
community with which they come in contact.
What can be expected of a community where
criminals are born, brought into wretched
lives without any fault of their own.
When such things happen all over the land,
who will say that there is no work for purity
associations to accomplished and who will
charge that those who engage in it, because
their number is not large are only impracti-
cable cranks? The purpose Of such people
is far reaching in its scope. 1t involves the
conceptions of the old Spartans, but with
higher ideals, who gave so much attention to
peopling their country with strong men and
women. Their objects embraced only the
physical, while those of our reformers en-
braces.both the physical and the spiritual.
There can be no doubt that with proper at
tentlon to such matters the men and women
of the future may be made stronger, men
tally and morally AS well as physically. They
proceed upon the theory that blemishes of
birth are voidable, and that purity is the av-
enue that leads to u more perfect human
life than exists under present conditions.
There.are no weak points in nature laws
they are both i~nfexible and infallible. When
they are violated there is no pardoning power
that can come in between the transgressor
and the penalty. Every infringement involves
certain %retribution. Like begets like, and
that which a man sows he shall also reap.
This law is perfectly understood, universally
conceded and practiced by mankind, except
in matters pertaining to the human race. In
his relation to domestic animals, mar ac.
knowledges its force, respects and acts upor
it; in relation to himself he ignores and dis,
regards it. The result is visible everywhere
the future will reveal in this fair land a ma,
ton Of weaklings with a more than fair shar,
of hopeless criminals. 1t is a matter worthy
of the gravest consideration of scientists anC
statesmen.
1t is not necessary to go into details her,
nthe suggestion Of remedies. Heroic treat
ment would be more than justified; but tn,
first thing to be accomplished is to arous,
the people, especially the leaders of thought
to the existence of the evil. When that il
done it will be easier to consider ~effectiv,
remedies. 1t must be recognized MS a fac
that the race is being steadily debaseC
before remedies can be successfully applied
But there is no controversy and can be none
about impurity being the mother of physica
degradation and odious vice. When men anC
women learn to live chaste lives, and do 81
live, then will we have a model nation, re
markable for the strength and morality o
its people,-KnoXville Journal.