Prostitution : considered in its moral, social, and sanitary aspects, in London and other large cities and garrison towns : with proposals for the control and prevention of its attendant evils / by William Acton.

  • Acton, William, 1813-1875.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Prostitution : considered in its moral, social, and sanitary aspects, in London and other large cities and garrison towns : with proposals for the control and prevention of its attendant evils / by William Acton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    thousands of wretched creatures no choice is open save between starva- tion and sin, may we not justly say that there is something utterly wrong in the system that permits such things to be. If the traffic in human flesh and female honour is not repressed by the arm of the law, may we not justly accuse the law of falling far short of its duty 1 And if all this he true, is there not abundant cause of prostitution that is capable of removal? Is it too much to say that by amending the bastardy laws, by improving the dwellings of the poor and keeping the young from haunts of vice, by encouraging and promoting emigra- tion, and resolutely putting down so far as possible the great body of night house keepers and brothel keepers throughout the countiy, the number of prostitutes will be greatly decreased ? Prostitution we can- not prevent, but we can mitigate the misery entailed by it, and can do much, if we will, to prevent women becoming prostitutes. The evil can not be done away, but it may be lessened, and that to a very great extent. We cannot do all we wish: is that a reason for doing no- thing ? Let us do what we can. The mischief that must always exist will have more or less intensity according as we regulate it, or leave it to itself. The women will become more or less depraved, according as good and healing influences are brought to bear upon, or withheld from them. The numbers who resort to a shameful trade will lessen or increase according as the causes of prostitution are removed or neglected. The neutral position has been fairly tried, but the nation is certainly not improving. Let us assume a position at once more manly and more humane. The evils to be overcome are too intense for individual effort to cope with, but the good which scattered philanthropists, earnest and self-clevoted though they be, cannot achieve, is not beyond attainment if wise, discriminating and concentrated power is enlisted in the cause. While men stood with folded arms aghast at the evil which appeared of too long standing, and too stupendous for human power to cope with, the filth of the Augaean stables continued to accumulate, but when resolute will, high intelligence, and manly courage took the task in hand, and let loose upon the filthy stalls the cleansing waters, the mischief was removed. Laugh not, neutral reader, at the old classic tale, “ mutato nomine clc tefabula narratnr.” THE END. BILLING, PRINTER, GUILDFORD.