Page:Randolph, Paschal Beverly; Eulis! the history of love.djvu/140

Rh but I hailed that woman and every one else's declaration of belief and confidence in sanctified monogamic marriage; and their denunciation of unbridled license. A few days before I went to that convention I had heard of, and read, the unqualifiedly infamous and infernal recital of "A Personal Experience;" and I went there expressly to measure swords with the thing in human shape who published it; but the coward and braggart dared not show his polluted front; for Mr. Moses Hull was not there to defend his peculiar views and practice.

My command of language is limited; nor could I find words bitter enough to express my opinion of him, who gloried in profaning the very holiest shrine at which Manhood worships and renders grateful homage—that of the family; and I then, and now, would justify the wronged husband who should kill him. My intentions became known by the injudicious gabble of a confidant; and others came and persuaded me to bottle my lightning against him for the time being, lest it kindle a fire not easily extinguished.

On the same day I learned that the foes of Free discussion were preparing a coup against the female leader. She was a woman; I a man; the duty was plain: I would have a hand in the battle, and stand up for fair play until there was good skating upon ice five feet thick on the lurid lakes of Gehenna! I took my stand, and committing the author of "A Personal Experience" to the care of God and his own conscience, fairly and deftly threw that bone of contention entirely outside of the rather warm arena; but in doing so purposely allowed myself to be misunderstood by many people in the conclave, and throughout the nation. I sought in my speeches to make two points only; they were these: 1st, the individual nature of the human soul; its actual life, its personal responsibility and destiny; and, 2d, I declared my belief, and here repeat it,—that a female adulteress or harlot is no worse than a male libertine or voluptuary; that neither is beyond the range of pardon; and that I could, and do, alike pity her who "falls" from force of circumstances, poverty, presents, opportunity, importunity, and organization; and him who, distracted and rendered passion-mad by a