A SOCIAL SORE: THE USE OF THE LASH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 11 January 1912, Page 7

A SOCIAL SORE: THE USE OF THE LASH.

To the Editor. Sir,—Some time ago your paper contained a short but forcible editorial headed "Hush!" which spoke out concerning the evil spirit of uneleanness, which eats into the people as a foul cancer, yet which they think to stifle by merely hiding it, the better ones refusing to use their eyes and ears, much less their tongues, on the subject. The Judges are the only ones who make a stand. Several in New Zealand, and notably the Cnief Justice of Australia, do their duty to the utmost wherever possible. But they can only do so when the crime is absolutely proved to have been committed successfully. As these assaults never are attempted except where the female, whether child or adult, is apparently remote from protection, or witness, something more is required. The public conscience is apparently asleep or stupefied by the current atmosphere of universal toleration. Sin, indeed, is a word expunged from the sexual novels on which our reading public is so abundantly and cheaply fed; it is laughed at in the atheistic and semi-atheistic literature which masquerade in the cast-off garments of a demi-science. The Ten Commandments have been expunged from our school books for thirty years, and the Holy Scriptures are unknown to our children, except in comparatively few homes and by the scraps picked up in ah occasional .hour of Sunday School or Church. Ido hot under-value these five barley loaves and two small fishes—the Lord can make a little go a long way—yet this does not excuse our neglect. What are they among so many? The past week, however, supplies a short paragraph which gives an opportunity for pointing out that there is a remedy too little used. A man assaulted a girl, who resisted and screamed so loudly that he feared succor and made off. Afterwards he attempted to assault two Maori women, who were asleep, but one of them had a knife and a stick, and gave him a beating. He was known, summoned at Hamilton—and fined! Xo gaol—because he was not successful ! Apparently there was no ques-, tion of the facts. We all agree that, in view of the great and growing crime of perjury, the .law must protect, men from malicious accusations. But when the case, is clear—only a fine! We know that prevention is better than cure. A good Hogging at the hands of the law would do much to minimise such attempts. Xot the disgrace of it—such are beneath disgrace and cannot feel it. But they have hides, and their flesh can feel, and should be made to feel and carry the marks. When I was a child there was an epidemic of garrotting.. I remember that in Liverpool those who lived in the outskirts going . home .in the dusk or dark—in winter night closes in about 4.30 or 5 p.m.—were seized from behind by lurkers in dark corners and left half —sometimes wholly—strangled. . The thieves were seldom caught. It was a reign of terror,. until the, magistrate, finding prison useless .as a deterrent, lor the. garotter.B had ten, to one in their favor as ito escape, prescribed the cat-6f-nine,-tails, with ..such good .effect that the : mer.e .dread.of being caught once an a-while was quite enoughfo.r the.brutes; and the practice, was soon whipped out. Why cannot a similar reward be served out to these among us? Gaol, with hard labor, as at present for the completed act; fine, if you will go no further, for the attempted one., But ,to both, without fear or favor, the cat with every tail she has. It is far worse than killing the body and stealing the purse. ■; The''."-eyi]'they do '■ wh'ik successful is past all reparation. What can parents feel like who read of the outrages committed on helpless little children? \ Apparently their indignation is of the most hazy order, or they would demand justice, A growing crime demands that,the law shall grow in proportion. It may stimulate SQme,i&luggish consciences,, tq learn; that, in Canada.this crime ranks,,and justly,.so, murder, piracy and armed resistance ,to the King's authority, and its penalty, is death, For. pldef;girls and women wjio find themselves in lonely and-,;,s,udden danger, I can only .say, imitate girl and the Maori woman to the ; b.est j.of your ability, with any. weappn, that is,'to hand. ■;. beforedishonor',' is the ereed our women should suck in.from childhood., ,:But, if .possible, let-it be the death of the assailant—he is.a wolf's head and an outlaw.,., If I were not an person w,puld sign iny naine. Thefactsate npt Significant. ■They speak for themselves.—l agi^fite.l