MORALS OF PUBLIC MEN.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6491, 13 July 1886, Page 3

MORALS OF PUBLIC MEN.

A WOMEN'S PROTEST. r~BO_ OtTB CORB-BPONDSNT.] [By T—t—obafb FBOM thb B_tjf»_ ADELAIDE, July 3. The following petition was on Friday forwarded to the Premier, signed by 794 women of Adelaide to the Hon. J. W. Downes, Q.C., Premier and AttorneyGeneral of the province of South Australia :—" Sir,—We the undersigned members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Adelaide and other women of Adelaide and its vicinity, respeotfully call your attention to what we regard as a serious injury to public morality. It has become ■ notorious through the public Press of the colony, that Mr Charles Cameron Kingston, who is a member of the House of Assembly, is the co-respondent in a recent divorce, case in the Supreme Court, in which a verdict was given for the plaintiff. By the i decision of the Court tbe said Mr Kingi ston was in effect found guilty of adqltp3ry*--and as against the charge he > ofl-rid no defence, it-may be assumed that his guilt is admitted by himself. We feel that such offenceß against pnblic morals are in the highest degree prejudicial to the-est intertßts of the community, and Bhould be visited by the most severe reprobation. We consider that while such conduct ss that rate—red to is utterly reprehensible in any case, that it is intolerable for anyone who is guilty of it to hold suoh a publio and important position as that of a member of the Legislature. We, therefore, believe that the said Mr Kingston should be as morally disqualified from holding bis present position as a member of tha House of Assembly, and respectfully request you, as Premier of the colony, to use your influence to procure either his voluntary resignation of his seat or bis expulsion therefrom."