Fergus County Democrat., 1912-07-23
THE SOCIAL EVIL.

AS old as the human race is the
social evil. Under all conditions and
in all climes it has existed. Legis-
lated against, made the object of
kingly edicts, fought against by the
moral forces of every generation since
time was an infant, it still lifts it's
hideous head to the public view and
it's miasmatic eXhalations pollute the
air of the most refined as well as the
most unregenerate of modern COM
munities.
The Hebrews contended with the
social evil for six thousand years.
They made innumerable laws for it's
suppression or regulation, but the
dawn of the Christian era found the
problem still unsolved. The cancerous
sore on the body social has been
fostering for more than eighteen cen
turies since the examples, warnings
and commands given forth by the great
Lawgiver from the hills of Palestine.
The church has tried to sere it with
the white heat OF condemnation; civic
societies have devised uncounted plans
for checking its murderous spread;
councils and congresses have made
laws and issued proclamations; sa-
wants have contributed tracts and
tones; investigators have made plain
it's myriad horrors; from millions OF
hearthstones and chapels, large and
small, prayers have been murmured
for relief from the mOnstrOus curse.
And yet it is with us, an imnipresent
problem, brazen in it's ugly nakedness,
blighting in it's effects, soul-wearying
to those who are fighting that which,
at times, seems to be ali ineradicable
instinct OF the human family
The evil is entwined in the very
fabric of our business and political
life, and through it's Shiny tentacles
draws sustenance from those of high
and low estate. Many dismiss the
subject with a shrug as necessary
others prefer to go their placid way
without striking a lance against a
monster endowed with a million lives.
1t is the greediest of all terrors, and
human bodies and human souls, in
tantly-increasing numbers, it re-
Quires to feed it's capacious NAV. 1t
seeks neither the old nor the unfit,
but the choicest flowers of youth and
beauty are gathered for the annual Of
fering on the altar of carnal sacrifice.
1t finds it's way through the strap
hinged entrance of the humble hut
and brushes aside the steel-barred
door of the proud patrician in seeking
for it's precious victims. 1t leers at
courts, bids defiance to law and yields
not one jot Of mercy to the mother,
father, husband or wife.
Tn oitu tho fiOht
against the monstrous form of social
evil has been relentlessly waged by
the powers of light and purity. Time
and again have they been driven back
by the pestilential horde, only to re.
turn to triumphant attack. The weak
have faltered and the unfit fallen, but
the battle-line of righteousness has
constantly been recruited from the re
plenished ranks of moral men and
courageous women.
All growing towns are, sooner OF
later, brought face to face with this
titanic struggle. Its course of actor
depends upon, first, the moral senti
ment of the community, and, second
the courage OF those chosen to repre-
sentative capacities. No movement
can succeed which runs counter tt
public sympathy.
The Democrat is in hearty accord
with the efforts being made in Lewis
town to correct existing abuses.
has no suggestions to offer as to th
best mode of procedure. 1t realize
the magnitude of the task, that ther
is wide diversity of opinion as t
the form of attack even among thos
who agree that the attack should b
made 1t is a subject which concern
the morals only of the town. Bus
ness considerations are not to be SCI
iously considered. That the unfortl
nate creatures who have dedicate
their lives to the lecherous work ar
entitled to sympathy is another face
of the situation which does not ref1eG
accurately. They have chosen
place themselves without the Law
moral and statutory, and, while the
are naturally the objects for commi
Grafton, they cannot expect that ju
tice shall be perverted for their ben
fit and protection.