Read the excerpt from chapter 2 of wheels of change .

smith blamed the bicycle for the downfall of women's health, morals, and religious devotion. her accusations brought a swift and impassioned response. the reverend dr. a. stewart walsh, a respected clergyman in new york city and a cyclist himself, wrote a letter to the editor of the brooklyn eagle declaring, "i have associated with thousands of riders . . and i have not seen among them . . anything that could begin to approach the outrageous and scandalous indecency of the resolutions of the alleged rescue league."

the underlined portion of the excerpt is best characterized as a