Page:Quackery Unmasked.djvu/262

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258
QUACKERY UNMASKED.

Here is an opportunity for woman to exert her influence in defence of her own honor—'tis in her power to stay the tide of infidelity, to chasten the sentiments and reform the manners of the public. If she will, she can do it — her arm is stronger than the Press, and her power, once exerted in behalf of virtue, is paramount to all human laws. With her own hand she can wipe the stain from her country's escutcheon, and show the world that American females will not tolerate the least approach to profanity.

It is not supposed that the publishers of newspapers are worse than other men. As a class, they are intelligent, and high-minded, and we think there are many among them who would willingly reject all such advertisements if the practice could become universal. This evil has made its encroachments insidiously, and advertisements and publications which are now regarded with indifference, would a century ago have been deemed obscene publications, and subjected their authors to severe penalties.