Page:Wrong and Right Methods of Dealing with Social Evil - Elizabeth Blackwell (1883).djvu/90

80 of the Department, and the obloquy cast on them for their efforts appears to me not to be entirely merited. The use of plain clothes seems proper and natural; the use of marked money is not necessarily reprehensible. The acceptance of money in consideration of a request for sexual intercourse is evidence of the character of the recipient; and if the detective or informer, after giving the money, leaves the house, its discovery in the possession of the alleged recipient might be given in proof of the charge." (These are the words of an English Cabinet Minister !) Finally: "Men carefully selected for the work should receive sufficient emolument from the funds raised under the ordinance to ensure trustworthy and competent men, who must be looked for in this country if there is any difficulty in finding them in the Colony."

That is, that a system which is proved by long experience in Hong-Kong, and in every country that has adopted it, to demoralize the agents who enforce it, can only be carried out safely by agents who are not demoralized!