| Citation |
IG.783.121
25 Oct 1783:22 (104)
Messieurs Printers, I have been afflicted to hear that the
Theatre in this city, is to be prepared for a company of
comedians. I conceive it to be unwise to grant them a
permission to act. I conceive that they will occasion much
mischief. A theatre is a temptation to be idle and
extravagant. Many who cannot afford to go thither, will
frequent it to the injury of themselves and of their
families. It is attended with the most pernicious
consequences. The principles of mankind are often corrupted
by the pieces which are exhibited in a playhouse, which
frequently attempt to ridicule virtue, and which paint vice
in a splendid and alluring garb. It will make some,
bankrupts, and some robbers. It will change many from being
good members of society, to be the pests of it. We have a
act in this state, called "an act for the suppression of
vice and immorality, " which lays a penalty upon a theatre.
In the 14th section of this act we read "and be it further
enacted by the authority aforesaid, that every person or
persons whatsoever, that shall, from and after the
publication of this act, erect, build, or cause to be
erected or built any playhouse, theatre, stage, or scaffold,
for acting, shewing, or exhibiting any tragedy, comedy,
tragic-comedy, farce, interlude, or other play, or any part
of a play whatever, or that shall act, shew, or exhibit
them, or any of them, or be in any ways concerned therein,
or in selling any tickets for that purpose in any city,
town, or place in this common-wealth, and be thereof legally
convicted in any court or quarter sessions in this common-
wealth, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred
pounds." Is it not absurd to make a law and to give a
permission to break it? Is it not inconsistent to tell
mankind to be virtuous and to encourage them to be vicious?
As for my part, if I were no admirer of the pure doctrines
of Christianity which are utterly averse to such
licentiousness, I would as a politician only, who had the
welfare and independency of my country at heart, enter my
protest against this theatre; for I conceive it to be
necessary in a republic that the manners of the people
should be virtuous, and I conceive that theatrical
representations, have a tendency to corrupt them. I could
wish therefore (and my wish springs from no partial motives,
but from a generous indignation against vice and folly, )
rather than to hear that a play was acted in Philadelphia,
that our theatre was levelled to the ground, or wrapt in
flames.
[signed] Cato.
P. S. It is an insult to the genius of our government, it
militates in the most direct and positive manner, against
our professions to the world, to suffer theatrical
exhibitions. "We will discountenance (say the
representatives of America) every species of extravagancy
and dissipation, especially all horse-racing, and all kinds
of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibition of shews, plays, and
other expensive diversions and entertainments.
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