"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace."
"But evil is wrought by want of thought
As well as by want of heart."
The following extract from the report of the Grand Jury of this city,
given publicity December 5, 1889, is self-explanatory:--
"Some of the dives and variety theaters are the nurseries of vice and
crime, where drunkenness is encouraged, our youth demoralized, the
unwary roped in and robbed, and crimes committed which the authorities
are unable to prevent or discover. There is, of course, a broad
distinction to be noted between those places of public resort where the
demand for distilled, fermented, and malt liquors is supplied in a
legitimate manner, and the entertainment provided, if any, is not of an
objectionable character, and those places where salacious performances
are presented as an attraction, and lewd women, under the guise of
waitresses to serve liquors, pursue a shameful vocation. These evils may
be partly remedied if respectable citizens will refuse to rent their
property for such uses, and also refuse to assist in obtaining licenses
whereby such headquarters for drunkenness, lewdness, and crime are in a
measure entrenched behind existing general laws.
"The so-called 'social evil' is aggressive on our thoroughfares, and
should be restrained by the authorities within narrower limits."
But we add our interpretation and our suggestions for these twin evils
which stalk up and down the earth and apparently defy control.
The _minister_ treats lightly upon the liquor traffic, in many instances
because certain of his church members either sell it at wholesale,
retail, or furnish the barley, corn, grapes, hops, or rent to the man
who does. The _editors_ of all newspapers of general circulation must
treat the subject likewise, for fear of his advertising patrons. His
readers are never taken into account, for the simple reason that
circulation alone does not pay newspapers issued daily, and very few
that are issued weekly. It will be seen by the above report that the
grand jurymen too have _vital_ interests at stake. In order to keep
their respective businesses from being boycotted by their
fellow-merchants, they handle the subject with soft gloves, as if it
were eggs, and the "social evil" by this same jury is done up in
_nineteen_ words. But they have indicated a great deal in those few
words, namely, that such an evil _does exist_--something the different
_church_ organizations have _refused_ to acknowledge.
High license, with personal responsibility for results, under a
sufficient bond, will in time remedy the liquor traffic.
The _social evil_ should be licensed, and under the perfect control of
the police--and not the police under its control, as seems to be the
case in this city. Are they not under pay to look the other way? Its
boundaries should be exact, isolated, and under the direct supervision
of the health department. Is there any justice in demanding a license
of a milliner, or on any other mercantile pursuit that a female may see
fit to adopt, while 5,000 of these questionable women go untaxed,
because you do not _dare_ to acknowledge that their calling _exists?_ To
ask the question is to answer it--No!! Let no one think that in any way
whatever we would seem to unduly countenance, or in the least encourage,
this evil. But we do believe in recognizing absolute facts. They cannot
be overlooked. It is surprising that, amidst all this widespread
discussion of intemperance, no more has been said on this _social
problem_. As long as men are mortal, this condition of relations will
exist--it has existed through all time--but it is possible to limit it,
to heavily license it, and keep it within proper bounds.
Then by all means should churches and various kinds of societies exert
their influence to the legal recognition of the true status, and benefit
the general condition of mankind. Boards of supervisors, aldermen, etc.,
are clothed with power to accomplish the ends suggested, if they are
only backed by public sentiment.
If the _Catholic Church_ organization alone will inaugurate a general
agitation over the country, as they have already indicated and begun in
their convention at Baltimore, on the liquor traffic, they will either
break it up or put it under control; for 60% of this business is carried
on by their following.
Public _urinals_ are greater necessities than public fountains in cities
and large towns. The alarming increase of _diabetes_ and kidney troubles
in cities during the last few years, while remaining normal, or actually
decreasing in the rural districts, has led to the belief that the
prolonged detention of the urine is the principal, and, in most cases,
the only cause of this terrible malady. The foregoing facts
recapitulated exhibit a few of the ills of mankind that are in the power
of municipal officials to alleviate. The duties of the general
government cover all of the above, and include the _prevention_ of all
_criminals_ and _paupers_ of every nation from _landing_ on our shores;
the compulsory education of all citizens old and young--as it is cheaper
to educate than to punish criminals; to furnish employment upon all
useful and needed public works for the worthy, willing poor, and cause
to be distributed with equity to the deserving, all the earnings of the
criminal institutions of the country, over and above their actual
expenses.
It will not be out of place to complete this chapter with a few words on
the necessity of giving man and beast _one day_ in seven to _rest_.
_Sunday_ seems to be the preferable one, but to compel the observance of
one particular day in each week for all classes and sects would be
tyrannical. The majority of religious societies employ Sunday for
worship and rest, but, throwing aside the moral and religious bearing,
every human being would be healthier, happier, and live longer, if he
rested one day in the week. We all live too fast. Though we enjoy
laziness at times, yet we are too anxious to get riches or fame earlier
than we ought or can. A man may work so mightily that he will be very
wealthy at 40 instead of 50, but he will die at 70 instead of 80. Better
prolong life by reserving forces for the future.