THE
BREVIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
FOURTEENTH VOLUME.
INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
Support of Friendless Women.---Debate in Continuation.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, February 12, 1873.[CONTINUED FROM TOP OF PAGE 157.]
When Mr. Thompson's bill [S. 94,] providing that in cities having incorporated homes for friendless women, all fines collected on account of and for the breach of any ordinance for the suppression of vice, shall be paid to the trustees of such homes for the maintenance and support was read the third time -
Mr. THOMPSON said: These homes for friendless women, established in several of our cities by the Christian benevolence of generous citizens, are worthy of the intelligent consideration of this venerable Senate. The object appeals to the kindest feelings of every Senator. We all understand how frail and helpless are females, when by necessity, perhaps from the death of legal protectors, they are driven from home to meet the temptations, the hardships, the toils and the pinching poverty of our exacting world. They come from all parts of the country up to the cities, innocent as angels, without experience, seldom educated, and knock at every door for employment. How their shrinking natures sink into despondency when they discover how few, very few of the pursuits of life are open to their sex and that public opinion, like a sword of wrath is guarding every avenue to the more manly callings from their touch.
And now, deprived of home, parents, friends, and even public prejudice turned against them, they ask, yea, often beg, to become the hired servants, and to perform all the most menial duties of housekeeping. This is often denied them in heartless language. Thus repelled, as may be from every door, aching disappointment drives them in the way of temptation and presents them with crime as the only door open by which they may escape harsh treatment of soulless employes. The mind frienzied into desperation, often gives way to temptation for the sake of promised relief. They find the seducer on their track - a character who revels in the downfall of angels, and only lives to blacken and scathe with his polution heavens most precious gift to the human race - beautiful woman! He is full of promises; with flattery to caress and with money to relieve, they become his dupes, and after he has accomplished his infernal purposes, he turns his back upon his imploring victims and rejoices in the overthrow of all that is lovely in female innocence and virtue; and society finds more objects on which to lavish its scorn, its dread, its fearful opposition. On our highways they stand, broken hearted, beseeching for mercy. Their language, as has been thrown into old poetry, by some one, and it is also their prayer, is as follows :
- "O where shall I go or what shall I do, I have no one to tell me what course to pursue,
- I am weary and foot sore, hungry and weak,
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- I know not what shelter this night I may seek.
- Oh! Friend of all friends, who rules earth and sea,
- Look down with thy pittying eyes upon me,
- I will wander alone till thy messenger comes
- To take me to father and mother at home."
Mr. President: Would that some of the bright minds around me had relieved me of the task of supporting this bill: - some one of these distinguished lawyers, who, while their comprehensive minds would be able to present the merits of the bill, could hold the sorrowful emotions of the heart still while the tongue would relate the sad, sad story of the downfall of lovely woman. They have been abandoned by faithless husbands or perhaps, their own beautiful, happy homes have been turned into very hells by the demon of intemperance; or perhaps deserted by lover and friend, they fill up the ranks of despised and rejected women; of all classes the most hopeless, and the least likely to return to the pursuits of industry or the more sober walks of life without assistance.
What but the tongue of an angel could enumerate the manifold sources from which spring the downfall of woman ? And I have thought that nothing but the power of deity could turn the attention of legislators to hear her agonizing appeals for mercy, and with the power of the State grant relief to this long despised class of females, by affordting a home where her weary, sorrowing body may find rest until loving hands shall bind up her wounds, and the gospel of the Son of God shall renew the heart and restore the mind.
The gay dashing prodigal may take up his wealth and journey into a far country and there, or at home, may spend his patrimony in riotous living. He may sink down through the haunts of vice until swine shall be his companions and husks his living. But then, covered with rags and dripping with the slime of iniquity he may return to home, and to friends, hear the plaudits of welcome, receive the best robe, grace the head of the feast, and lead out the dance, under the sound of the tymbal and harp. But poor, friendless, and fallen woman has no home or friends to receive her. And though repentence may flow in streams down her once lovely face, no feast of love will ever be prepared for her. No forgiveness will ever welcome her to the best robe, the music hall or the dance. But frowns and jeers and burning contempt will ever drive her from the haunts of society, back to the houses of crime and of death; will remove all hope from her vision, cause her youthful sun to set before it is noon, and her to sink into the grave under the funeral dirge of her own lamentation, under clouds of gloom and dispair, that nothing but eternity's sun may disperse.
With her voice of woe coming up from our cities and sounding in our ears for help and not knowing what is in reserve for our children, or our children's children, and anxious to imitate Him who gave His life for our race, as much for the thief upon the cross as for George Washington, as much for Mary Magdelene, once the companion of devils, as for Queen Victoria. Will not this Senate this day unanimously vote the passage of this bill that offers a moiety of aid for homes for poor, helpless, homeless, friendless, outcast women? And if heaven is peace and good will towards fallen humanity, as revalation declares and the good believe, will not such an act by such an enlightened body as this serve to brighten and increase its joys?
The bill then passed the Senate by yeas 43, nays 0.
