The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-25
DepreCates Localizing
the Curse.
CRITICIzES FATHER CARAHER
EXPLAINS HOW BROOKLYN WAS
MADE CLEAN.
His Life Shall Be Spent in an IN
compromising F1ght-Ear-
nestness of Purpose
Required.

The following letter has been received
by The Call:
October "a, 1898.
To the Editor of The Cali-Dear Sir:
VIII you kindly permit me to use the
columns of The Call to make a few COM
ments upon a communication published
in the issue of the 23d inst relative to the
work undertaken by the Society for the
suppression Of Vice, namely the closing of
the immoral resorts on Bacon place The
writer of the article protests against the
influx OF dissolute women into the North
Beach district and argues that 1t will
have blighttng effect upon the children,
VINO are very numerous in that section of
the city and would have to gaze upon
the disgusting spectacle. We are in &C
cord with this view and are pleased that
ne is striving to prevent such g degrad-
ing state of affairs, and will render him
every assistance in our power to destroy
the pest. He declares that he has called
upon the Chief of Police to assist him
but that dignitary has helped him by an
oyster dumbnesS" and mastery mac
uYity; in other words the chief has ig-
nored him, and he asks the public, par
ucularly parents, ito judge of his con-
duct and to say whether the morals of
our youth are safe in his keeping" In
our opinion they are not. We think the
sympathize with him and urge him 10 OPP
pose by every lawful means in his power
the direful effect of the Chiefs inactivity
He argues that the premises surround
Ing Pine, California and Dupont streets
have been ruined irreparably' by this
lIhInorai trafnc We acknowledge the
TACT TACT ana press It further. A thing ire
parably ruined has no longer reason to
exist. That has been our contention
from the beginning, and hence our efforts
10 supplant the ''irreparable ruin" with a
breathing spot for the people in the form
OF a park In the area inhabited by
these IaHen women the birth of a child is
something unheard Of" Why? Because
these characters are there. If they were
not there this section would undoubtedly
compare faVorably in this respect even
with North Beach. A good reason for
their removal.
The writer declares that 1t is his belief
that the evil complained OF should be i'm
pounded and compressed" Is he reported
correctly? Localize evil! Did God ever
teach US to localize crime? Did he con-
tent himself with lOcalizing the lecherY
OF Sodom and Gomorrha? Did he not
Did he not cauterize the very ground on
which the cities We're built with fire and
birthstone? Did Christ try TO localize a
kindred traffic in the temple? Did he say
10 the money-changers go here or there
behind this pillar or that door? Did he
hesitate lest the miscreants, being driven
out, would occupy some other temple?
No. Ablaze with a holy wrath he seized a
scourge and dashed them from his sight
go where they might-settle where they
would-if others let them in theirs would
be the Judgment. Was this flowing your
neigbhboT as yoQrSself.:?% Did he act to;
equity?" Does the State act with Justice
or charity when it prohibits the crime. as
it has done?
1t is wen commended that a fire is not
extinguished by spreading 1t industriously
through the town. We agree to that. Let
the fire company be called and stamp it
out, and II perchance in their efforts
stray spark be carried on the breeze to
other buildings, let our neighbors arouse
themselves and quench the spark. No one
immortality is a necessary evil. Weak as
human nature is we believe better things
of it than that-God is not God If sin Is
What would the writer have US do? Does
he expect US to tolerate the abiding
stencil of the leprosy that has crowded
to our very door? Because it has existed
there for some time does not give Il
right TO remain there. He may remove his
but as long as the law is on our side we
shall oppose this moral pestlence.
The regret has been expressed that
mas lepers who make this traffic
possible. There is a law, but our Police
Board laugh at it. An efficient Police De-
lem in a week. If our Police Department
were watchful, active and aggressive the
evil would not exist Brooklyn to-day is
perhaps the cleanest city in the Union,
City Hall thirty-eight haunts of shame
could be counted within a radius OF 300
accomplished? Public Indignation was
aroused An honest and efficient Police
Department was secured; its Chief was
fearless in the discharge of his duty.
Every week the captains reported their
respective precincts. 1t was publicly
stated that there were captains there in
power who were receiving a percentage
on every bottle Of wine sold in these sham
bles Of sin-a revenue from all the cribs
of death. These captains protested, pro-
tested loudly and madly ana long. Ihey
said the work could not be done. A po-
liceman's badge debarred him from ad-
mittance to these hell-holes. They would
not let him see the crime, therefore he
was helpless. The Chief announced break
In the doors" Other captains said, The
vice is of too long standing; we cannot
crush It," and the police Chief answered:
tons. l can find other men who can.
II a citizen pointed to a single case the
law had overlooked, Police Chief Camp
bell rallied a handful of his men around
him and swept down upon it like a whirl-
wind and so Brooklyn stands to-day In
point of morals foremost among tho
cities of the world.
If we had a Chief who desired to sub
press this evil how long could it last?
How long could iniquity defy him? II we
can arouse the law-loving citizens of this
city to action we can free ourselves from
the thralldom in which we are held. At
the door Of the Chief of Police we lay the
blame-for the law forbids the use of
houses for this immoral traffic. The |
writer in the article counsels impounding |
and COMPRISING. In spite OF divine and /
State law he may do so, but we shall |
The suggestion in an evening paper for |
conference is absurd until the law Is |
hanged. Come what may we see our
iuty stretched before us, plain and I'M
and we feel that God is with |
is in the strife, and so we shall fight this
ice with all the intensity Of our being
ght If needs be singIe-handed and alone |
fight until our hands fall lifeless by our
ides and others more worthy and more
'apable than we rise up to take our
places Yours gratefully, ~