The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-02-12


he is right in saying the statute unde
which these men are being tried for
felony is leyeled at such literature as
tends 10 deprave or degrade the morals
or arouse in the mind Of the person read
ing II nstful and evil thoughtsi Let us
see II any Of these articles could have
that effect Take the Little Orphan
Annien article, Gentlemen, and ap.
pIehend you are a fair representation OF
the million and a half of honest, God
fearing, God-loying people who read th
article, and l want you men TO answer
on your own consciences IL by hearing
this article read, your morals have been
degraded II there is a man on this jury
whose mind lies in the direction of de-
prayity, who looks for the evil, and seeks
the vulgar in all things, IL, ! say there
is man ON this jury that after he has
read the entire story contained in Little
Orphan Annie" wherein IL is described
how this innocent nun was 20 butally
outraged, If il arouses in your mind lust.
full thoughts and desires that would tend
TO seduce your morals, answer me b.
your verdict and convict these men.
Does IL arouse in your minds the lust.
full or evil thought that would lead you
astrayi All, men, know you better
than that; you are not that kind of cit.
izens, the effect on your mind when you
read of this horrible assault is one OF
Christian sympathy for this unfortunate
girl who was so foully treated by the
person she had a right TO look TO fOI
NarnHaaNaNw 10 nana IN 10
such feelings as would tend 10 demoralizC
your character; il does not arouse in yol
feelings Of lustful desire; but it docs
arouse in your minds and hearts a feeling
of regret that such base beings as thi
priest are permitted 10 live. Il brings 10
you men the same feeling that would
cause father or husband TO shoulder his
gun and 90 out 20 seek the despoiler OF
womanhOod. Ism Z that what you are
thinking abouti Why, gentlemen | woul,
be ashamed 10 look you in the face, am
think you would be evil minded in this
matter: l would not have the courage g.
accuse you men of having aroused in
your minds, from reading this story, g
lustful desire OF a lascivious thought,
that would deprave your morals.
Now, you can 60 clear on through wit
the whole Of these articles, and when yo'
zee the object none Of them has an
effect on the mind Of a sane man, .
a lustful nature; but on the contrary
when you read what these articles te
you 10 the true condition, your mind J.
aroused with thoughts Of earnest an
sincere condemnation, and your prayers
are that these evils will be eventually
exterminated.
Now, have adopted the governments e
own definition Of the purpose Of this law
what It means-and you have here q
case clear out Of the purpose Of the Law
You can 60 article by article, and 20,
can see that the articles eomplaine,
about by the government as being IN
mailable, only carry out the objects of
this wonderful publication that was set
forth as the platform in the initial uum.
Der.
Publicity a Corrective Power
II has continually, as these articles
show, held up to the public something
the public is entitled 10 know; and whei
that is done, say the morals Of th,
country, instead Of being depraved o,
degraded, will have been uplifted in the
minds Of all sane and Christian people
Let US take a few examples: The,
comment more specifically on what We
said in Mr. Crowley's book about the
priest Thompson. They say that is o
scene and filthy; IL so the article show,
IL was taken from another newspaper o
general and daily circulation. Therei,
IL disclosed history Of the prosecution
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