248 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



' ' We have been the victims of conventional coward- 

 ice too long. Let us signalize the second century of 

 temperance reform by a fearless avowal of our pur- 

 pose to take up the work of promoting social purity 

 by the inculcation of right principles, and the serious 

 demand for more equitable laws." 



Causes of the Social Evil.— We have seen how 

 universal is the social evil, that it is a vice almost as 

 old as man himself, which shows how deeply rooted in 

 his perverted nature it has become. The inquiry arises, 

 Wliat are the causes of so monstrous a vice, so gross 

 an outrage upon nature's laws, so withering a blight 

 upon the race? A vice that has become so great an 

 evil, even in these enlightened times, as to defy the 

 most skilful legislation, which openly displays its gaudy 

 filthiness and mocks at virtue with a lecherous stare, 

 must have its origin in causes too powerful to be ig- 

 nored. 



Man's Lewdness. — It cannot be denied that men 

 are in the greatest degree responsible for the social 

 evil. The general principle holds true here as else- 

 where, that the supply is regulated by the demand. If 

 the patrons of prostitution should withdraw their sup- 

 port by a sudden acquisition of virtue, how soon would 

 this vilest of traffics cease! The inmates of brothels 

 would themselves become continent, if not virtuous, 

 as the result of such a spasm of chastity in men. 



Again, the ranks of fallen women, which are rap- 

 idly thinned by loathsome diseases and horrid deaths, 

 are largely recruited from that class of unfortunates 

 for whose fall faithless lovers or cunning, heartless 

 libertines are chiefly responsible. The weak girl who, 

 through too much trust, has been deceived and robbed 

 of her dearest treasure, is disowned by relatives, 



