Page:Wrong and Right Methods of Dealing with Social Evil - Elizabeth Blackwell (1883).djvu/36

26 criticism, and strong enough to resist social reform. Thus we find all officials engaged in administering the system, from the highest Judge, or Minister of State, to the humblest policeman, are henceforth interested in supporting and defending the system against all criticisms or radical change.

The support given on the continent to the organization of debauchery, by the highest Ministers of State, is thus incidentally noted by Mr. Snagge. "M. Bara, the Minister of Justice, a very distinguished statesman and accomplished Minister, desired me to understand that certain institutions existed in their country, licensing prostitution, for instance, which could not be interfered with." (140.)

"The administration of brothels is a very expensive machinery (there are clerks, medical officers, hospitals, dispensaries, and an extensive special police), the municipality derive a profit from the houses," and "the women pay a fee for their registration." (128-143.)

Again, it is stated, "The municipal authority, the Commissaire de Police, even the medical officers, are very lax indeed in the view they take morally of the whole subject; they think it a wholesome and proper institution." "I found out as the result of these trials, that the police functionaries became so accustomed to this system, that they were color-blind to its abuses. Precautions against abuse have no