libertinage: and by its repressions, fashion, style, display and airiness discouraging marriage, and fostering thereby the solitary vice now desolating millions, and decimating all the fair lands I make the solemn statement and declaration that a cry fair percentage of that third class were from the dignified, wealthy, respectable, Christian, aristocratic, and even reverend stratas of society, not of this country alone, but of all civilived lands, including Cuba, Chili, Brazil, France, Spain, China. Australia, Japan and England. In fact, the demand for sex tonics and invigorants is not only simply enormous but almost universal, and all springing from violation of the Love-laws of our common human nature. Of course, such a demand for such medicines speaks in thunder tones against the causes producing it, and equally loud against the private habits of us of the world. But the facts exist; and even the dreadful syphilis in modified form rages in the blood and bones of unnumbered thou sands—not only of guilty debauchees,—who are scarce to be pitied!—but, alas, in those of innocent wives and prattling infants! What are these half murdered ones—of both the latter classes—to do? suffer and die like leprous dogs? or are they to reach forth and make desperate efforts for physical salvation? If the latter, then all legislators should at once look to the enactment of laws suppressing quackery; making syphilis a criminal offence; hanging abortionists; squelching "flash" papers, and legalizing all unions based on blind trust on one side and villainous libertinage on the other; and punishing re-unions elsewhere as it now punishes polygamy outside the favored Mormon and Perfectionist churches, institutions or bagnios, "Religious" and "Theological." Shame on the Press—the First Estate of modern nations, that it hesitates to launch its thunders at the class of wrongs just cited, and hurl them forever into hades!
"Firm in the right! the Public Press should be,
The tyrant's foe, the champion of the free!
Faithful amd constant to its sacred trust,—
Calm in its utterance, in its judgment just,
Wise in its teaching; uncorrupt and strong,
To spread the right and to denounce the wrong!
Long may it lie ere candor must confess
On Freedom's hordes, a weak and venal Press!"
