The C.D. Acts.

White Ribbon, Volume 3, Issue 26, 1 August 1897, Page 7

The C.D. Acts.

During the coming session no effort should be spared to secure the repeal of these infamous Acts. We are assured from time to time that we are guilty of needless alarm al out the Acts. 44 They are,” w*e are told, 44 as dead as Julius Casar." Vet every year or two stealthy attempts are made to induce our civic authorities to put them into force. Alarming reports are spread to the effect that disease is rampant, and then it is stated that nothing can be done unless compulsory measures are taken. It is therefore plainly evident that so long as these Acts are on our Statute Hooks there is a real danger that they may l>e put in operation any day. There is much need that we should profi. by the painful experience of English women and take no rest until these shameful Acts are sw’ept away. For the sake of their daughters, aye, and their sons too, for the sake of their sex, we beseech the women of our Societies to be up and doing * * * Perhaps some who are not well informed mav say. 44 If these Acts diminish the disease, ought they not to be enforced ?” To that plausible query we would say emphatically No ! To do evil that good may come is not right, and never will be. To enforce an Act that is a terror to a modest woman, but not to the shameless one, that encourages impurity with the hope of safety, that shuts the door of hop»- against the tempted and fallen, and which experience has shown to result in the maintenance of a State

harem, cannot l>e right under any conditions. Hut, fortunately, we need not dwell on this question. The laws of God are not made in a p. tchw’ork fashion. There is no conflict between the moral and physical laws. It cannot be too often repeated that the C. D. Acts do not prevent disease. The experience of the highest medical authorities in England, America, Jndia, and the continent of Europe shows that the Acts are powerless for the prevention of the terrible physical results of unchastity. Nay, more, they show that the methods of checking the disease actually result in spreading it. • • • What the *1 should be done ? This is not so easy to answer in a few lines The roots of unchastity are many, and are deeply planted. To get at thtm thoroughly it would l>e necessary to make a study of the conditions physical, social, educational, and political-of the life of the various classes of our people. In the meantime we can but scrape the surface and do what the C D. Acts fail to do, viz , deal with the physical effects of wrong doing. The hospital authorities must l»e roused to a sense of their responsibility. Our hospitals are maintained by public money for the cure of disease. If vice leads to physical suffering to the innocent as well as to the guilty, then means must be taken to mitigate, and, as far as possible, cure that suflering. Special wards must be provided to which the afflicted may voluntarily come for proper treatment. There is no recessity for compulsion. Let the means lie provided, and sufferers will not be slow to take advantage of it. Further there must be preventive work. Our children should be taught the physiolrftical conditions of their being. Society should exact the chastity from men that it exacts from women. If a healthy public

opinion on this question can be formed, the evil will l>e much diminished. The first step in tins direction is to al>olish the C.D Acts.