In common with other vices the so-called "social evil" is as old as mankind, and it will probably remain as long as vice and sin are found in the human heart. Its complete eradication will, perhaps, never be accomplished solely through the process of law, yet it seems to me that the law and its administrators should not lessen their efforts to destroy this evil.
In Norway, and in Switzerland, are the conditions most favorable to virtue and independence, the absence of extreme wealth and poverty. Both countries are comparatively isolated from the rest of the world. In Switzerland, as well as Norway, there is an absence of large masses pent up together in cities, the population being distributed in small numbers about the country. Sir John Bowring, sent from England to investigate Swiss society, found that "a drunkard is seldom seen, and illegitimate children are rare." As a people these Swiss are a testimonial to the doctrine of equal distribution of wealth and temperate habits as preventive of immorality.
America Follows Old Lines.
The history of the United States is the history of all countries as regards prostitution. The population is made up of all nations, civilized and semi-civilized. In the majority of cases poverty is the greatest incentive to prostitution. Permanent prostitution has a numerical relation to the means of occupation.
At the present time in all parts of the United States the lower strata of men and women are deprived of the results of their labor except in quantities barely sufficient to retain life in their bodies. They are huddled together indiscriminately as to sex, in close, crowded quarters, so that the ordinary delicacies of life cannot be practiced even if there should be a desire.
The chiefest and often the only form of pleasure within their reach is that given by nature for the purest and best use in life, but which comes to be the veriest debauchery. Children and youth growing up among adults, depraved because no ray of light was shed to show the way for moral and physical uplifting, must naturally imbibe the miasma of social impurity. From the very cradle through life their influence is to further degrade themselves.
On the other hand are the extreme rich, who, not being compelled to labor for sustenance, spend their time and money in selfish enjoyment. In contrast with the extreme poor, they have every possibility to cultivate the good in themselves, but will not, and it grows pale and sickly among the rank weeds of their selfishness.
Chiefly, among self-gratifications, are social evil habits, especially on part of the men of wealth. Their manner of life, the food they eat, creates a fictitious force which must expend itself. They may have a chivalrous regard for the women of their class, but consider all women below them to be legitimate prey.