The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-28

pire decided that the submarines had
sunk several b~attleshipA
What Is the troublef Certainly
the navy Possesses submersfble boats
that should b able to score occasion
ally in the deep . mAnouvrsA
Section 1,lAa u he Penal Law.
Section l,142 Of he Penal Law y q
Wise and b~enencent statute. provid-
ing for the punishment Of those who
cater to the wicked and sensual crea-
lures who, unwilling 10 put a decent
restraint upon their animal disposi.
lions, wish to crafty their sexual
appetites and thwart nature in her
processes Of reproduction. II provides
for the Imprisonment Of unlawful
nbortionlsts and the vendors Of de-
vices or drugs to prevent conception.
1t expresses the enlightened detesta.
ton felt by intelligent human beings
for the vile practices Of the most de-
basel members Of the race. II Is in
complete harmony with the highest
teachings Of morality, religion and
s%tatecraft.
That this essential section Of tn.
law is In the slightest danger Of W
peal no sane man believes. Were II
imperilled, that fact would denote a
state Of ~debauchery and immortality
In the community Of such distressful
significance that the contents OF the
statute books would be OF the slight.
est interest. II would indicate n pop
ular degradation so complete that no
legislative enactments could arrest
the progress Of destruction.
At the moment, however, this sec
tion has been assailed by a handful
Of persons who. to conceal their real
conscious or unconscious purposes.
pose as philanthropists and pretend
to a knowledge Of conditions superior
to that possessed by the majority Of
their fellows. Their ignorance IL dis.
played in their most formal outgiv-
ings: we observe that their zeal to
amend the laws Of the State Is not
tempered by wen the elemental
knowledge that the Penal Code OF
New York was superseded ak years
ago. They draw from conditions I'M
perfectly observed and i%naccurately
recorded conclusions grotesque in
their erroneousness. and these they
seek to support with arguments
whose falsity Is apparent to all who
will take the trouble to apply thought
to their processes,
The unhappy condition. mental and
physical, OF these persons requires no
elaborate description. Pathologists
and psychologists understand II and
It's disgusting implications. It re-
veals a repulsive. a horrible derange.
ment, from which all men and women
must yer pray TO be delivered.
This divergence from the whole
some standards Of humanity Is con-
stantly put on exhibition by its vic.
tins, They are the authors Of the
incredible ~falsehoods that becloud the
~socalled white slave crusade, with
its imaginary hosts Of kidnapped chill
dren, its impossible poison needles
and It's weposterous conspiracies.
They may be found in numbers dis
couraging, but not alarming, in places
where the discussion of social derelic-
tons holds promise that the exposi-
ton Of those subjects a decent mod
esty lnstinctively avoids in polite Az
sociations may satisfy the craving
for lubricity. They are familiar ha-
bitues of the divorce courts and the
criminal courts in which wantonness
IL to be revealed. Their weakness
and obsession Is betrayed by their
countenances, their manners, and In
their conversation and right minded
men and women shrink from their
presence.
They do, however, hold one threat
against public welfare. It Is con-
ceiyable that a weak and impression
able person, a youth uniformed as
to the origin Of their peculiar cru
SADIE, tempted by their engagement
10 make clenr the mysteries Of
Mother Nature. may be led into a
tolerance Of the abnormalities they
advocate. Because of this, II Is the
duty of parents and the guardians
OF the young, Of their spiritual pas
tors and masters, to protect their
charges from these contaminators OF
innocence and assailnnts Of virtue.
Maturity will be ~snfegnardNd against
them by good sense and the customs
Inherited from generations Of honor
able, clean and Informed men and
II has as its effective agents. n the
menace Of pollution should ever he
come alarming, the police and the
prison To restrain those from whom
II issues.