Page:Wrong and Right Methods of Dealing with Social Evil - Elizabeth Blackwell (1883).djvu/68

58 head of police is thus summarized: "Notwithstanding the frequently expressed opinion of well-meaning people, who take, as they state, a philosophical view of prostitution and brothel-keeping, and, from their mode of reasoning, arrive at the conclusion that both are necessary evils, and incapable of being either eradicated or greatly diminished, I consider myself justified in the opinion that the results indicated above, and which have been brought about by a steady and persistent application of the law by the authorities, have been of very great advantage to this community. Viewed from no higher stand-point than that of profit and loss in property, the benefits are apparent and tangible; but when the social and moral advantages are taken into account, the removal of seductive temptations from the youthful and thoughtless, and not infrequently from the intoxicated and foolish adult; the results, though they can not be expressed in figures, are far more precious. While the reduction in the number of brothels has been so considerable, and the streets have been to a great extent cleared of abandoned women who used to frequent them, I am to the present time without one single complaint from a respectable citizen that prostitution has gone into more secret or private channels, or that the repressive measures of the authorities have inflicted the slightest hardship upon any one." (7433.)