The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-02-01
Tie PEOPLES FORUM.
The Serpent in the Birds Nest.


low the children through ignorance to
be ensnared. They are responsible, by
omission of duty for many early vices.
Let them also keep a strict watch over
servants VINO in a little lille may undo
the work of years by teaching them
the habits that will destroy them ply
sically. morally and eternally. Teach
them the evil If the vice; its fearful
consequences and the necessity Of self
control.
There is but one thing for those who
are addicted to the vice to do. By the
power of will and the grace of God con-
quer yourself, subdue lust, control pas
sion and though it costs struggles IN
told, do it. fight it out until you can as
a pure and Christ consecrated man
take to yourself pure ard true wo-
man in the most sacred, ennobling and
under relationship and in conscious rec
titude and manliness discharge the God
given rights and duties OF the divinely
Instituted relation given of God to man
for his happiness and welfare of the
race. Watch the habits Of youth. This
vice leads to solitude. 1t prefers dark
ness. You can suspect those who long
remain in solitude without good reason.
Better tell pure minded children of
the evil and warn them against it, than
through false modesty or mistaken
notions of delicacy fail to give the re-
quisite information. Keep the mind
pre- and the thoughts on pleasant sub
jects. It is detestable to see the IN
blushing effrontery with which some
people bite vulgar stories in the pre-
sence of youth. Men at the noon hour
gdp down their lunch and spend the
rest Of their time in telling obscene
stories which boys drink in with delight.
The man that shows obscenic pictures
such as are brought out by holding up
before light, or is concealed in watch
charms is impure in thought and act
and an unfit companion for any pure
minded youth or man.
May l refer to another crime, which
is not uncommon among married people,
crime that according to good author
ity is on the increase. 1t is nothing
short of child murder. 1t is considered
disgraceful now adays to have a large
family. Some have one or two children
and some none, it being reported that
they are too smart. They are versed
in the prevention methods. l am not
referring to those from whom God has
withheld the desire of their hearts and
who are compelled to go childless all
their days. This thing is body de-
stroying. soul damning sin. Even if it
is practiced in fashionable society. A
sin against which we must cry aloud
and spare not. This will provoke op-
position but unless we do our duty peo-
pie will perish in SIN and their blood
will be required at our hand.
The judgments of just God will fall
upon the men who ruin women and de-
fraud them of everything that is pure
and true.
But it must be said that in this social
evil women are more to blame as a rule
than men, and they unblushingly resort
to devices to thwart nature through
fear of pain and suffering or that they
may be untrammelled in the selfish
qualifications Of the flesh in accord
with the custom of society or in obedi-
ence to the dictates Of a Goddess fashion.
A prominent woman speaking of this
subject said, 81 do not doubt that the
use of such an implement, Ito destroy
the unborn infant) is sin, but 1t seems
to me to be less heinous offense than
bearing children under certain circum-
stances. She seems to forget that
our Christian religion teaches that one
sin must never be avoided by commit
ing another. Child murder is practiced,
not by the unmarried only, but by
wives of respectable homes, professed
Christian matrons, church members
who walk in the best society and men
connive at, assist and encourage it.
Better die in the pangs of child birth
with clear conscience, than resort to
such practices. It's crime hoary with
age and even the influences of Christi
anity have not been able to Danish it.
1t sprang from Paganism and in pro-
portion as Christianity is weakened or
destroyed, this evil reappears and ex-
tends. Roman women had no scruples
in committing the crime till a severe
penalty was attached by the law.
Plato & Aristotle advocated it to pre-
vent excessive population. The ques-
ton may arse, when does life in
embryo exist"
Those wishing to avail themselves of
remedies for prevention, do not find 1t
hard to persuade themselves that there
is no life hence no crime. They will ad-
NIT that there may be some sin, though
it is not very great. It's a good deal
better to do that than bear children
under unfavorable circumstances. If