I think that the most infernal thing the sun shines on in America is
the way woman is treated after she has been ruined by a man, often
under fair promises of marriage. Some one said that when the prodigal
son came home he had the best robe and the fatted calf, but what does
the prodigal daughter get? Although she may have been more sinned
against than sinning, she is cast out and ostracized by society. She
is condemned to an almost hopeless life of degradation and shame,
sinking step by step into a loathsome grave, unless she hurries her
doom by suicide. But the wretch who has ruined her in body and soul,
holds his head as high as ever, and society attaches no stain to him.
If he had failed to pay his gambling debts or was detected cheating at
cards, he would promptly be dropped by society; but he may boast of
his impure life, and his companions will think nothing of it. Parents
who would not allow their daughters to become acquainted with a man
who is rude in manners, sometimes do not hesitate to accept the
society of men who are known to be impure.
Talk about stealing--a man who steals the virtue of a woman is the
meanest thief that ever was on the face of the earth! One who goes
into your house and steals your money is a prince compared with a vile
libertine who takes the virtue of your sister, or steals the affection
of your wife, and robs you of her; no sneakthief that ever walked the
earth is so mean as he. How men pass laws to protect their property,
but when that which is far nearer and dearer to them than money is
taken, it is made light of! If a man should push a young lady into the
river and she should be drowned, the law would lay hold of him, and he
would be tried for murder and hung. But if he wins her affection and
ruins her, and then casts her off, isn't he worse, than a murderer?
There are some sins that are worse than murder, and that is one of
them. If some one should treat your wife or sister so, you would want
to shoot him as you would a dog. Why do you not respect all women as
you do your mother and sister? "What law of justice forgives the
obscene bird of prey, while it kicks out of its path the soiled and
bleeding dove?"