Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-19
The in fuence OF, sHonaa,s in the suppressio"
of Intemperance.

The in fuence Of U'on,an in the suppression
of Mtemperance.
= The following spirited remarks on the infiu-
ence of woman in the suppression Of lntempe-
rance are fran an address recently delivered by
John Neal, before the "Porlland Society for The
pl emotion Of Temperance.
"Bu, still we are not safe II is not enough
thai our mechanics, our laborers, our strong
men, our gifted and our youth, are engaged IN
in The grea, work. On Uomen must be ,0Hh us,
or me cannot hope foprsrail-our mothers, our
wives, and our dsughters-,be other hall, and
in such matters, by f.r The most influential halt
of our whole population.
Ii is not enough that we confederate togeth-
er abroad, as men 10 discourage The use OF
strong drink, in our workshops, IN our ta"erns,
or in the highway-to make sobrie'y one OF the
qualifications of a ruler-to encourage The cul-
,ure Of the grape, or the use OF cheap and safe
wines, that would be accessible 10 The poor, and
not lead 10 desire for any thing dangerous
10 labor night and day for the overthrow of the
destroyer. II is no, enough that we do all this,
If the wives and mothers and sisters OF our
country continue to make our very home
share 10 US, every sociable coming together,
every 6re-side interview, every Joyous event, an
excuse for tampering with the shadow, or play
ing with the skirts of The enemy. As for what
we may do
Our strength away in wrestling with the air."
so long as woman persists in pouring the fiery
drug into the caudle cup OF the babe-minglIng
il with the food OF The MISUNDERSTANDING te-
yer for health, and sorrow for streng:h-coun.
terfei,ing the Stream Of pearl, and hiding the
,reachery with favor, and color, and perfume;
for al these things are 10 be done, betare the
you hful purity OF taste can BE- preserved.
What are we 10 do, when we have under ohe
prerencr another, brandy mixed with our
very foud--our saucPs-oo' jrllies-our cakes
and our pies-wiih whatever is intended 10 be
be ter and rio her than usual? What are we TO
do o. men; after we have been made 10 relish
the favor Of ardent spir', in It's way, from our
cradle TO our grave accustomed in our pap
laugh, in our very childhood TO Sit up to the
taolr md throw off a glass OF wine like man
of Portuguese wine, too, such sthe Portuguese
tn. mselves never drink; for we. like the Eng
| !ish, have il with what we call body 10 tin
other words, oyercharged with brandy-in
glas, OF our owe, too; for where is The child
without wine cup OF his own!
Let every mother beware. No human crea-
ture ever ye' loved the open, percep,iole, un-
disguishrd flavor Of rum, brandy, or gin, or
whiskey, or Portuguese wine, or tobacco. But
! re IS led 10 4 relish for Item while babe or
child; worried or shamed into liking for
them, ill he has overarmc the lcahing and
| horror, the prohibiIon and the penalty Of Him
that lov.,h his creatures, and goes down 10 the
| chambers uf dea,h-a drunkard and beast.
The women of our country--thsy who sur
qH1a k Sh BIZ y%g s%nssinssi Nth Life and
chargcable with, perhaps, chief part Of our
| present degradation, guilt, add sorrow. But
| for them we never could have been what we
area nation laboring with fiery plague, that
afflic,s every twelfth Of our cumberland in he
way Of be, oming people Of drunkards Not
| TIA, they themselves are lovers Of sGrong drink;
but they i, is, 'ha, have taught our fathers, and
ourselves, and our children TO love 1t. Are they
no, the first and the chief teachers Of mem
And yet they sing Of the red grape; they plant
the vine about every path We tread III life
among OUT very household gods--,hey offer the
wire.oup 10 all that approach them; and 'Eey
make little or no distinction, 'ghere they may,
between the temperate ard the intemperate, the
Gissolute and the virtuous.
Do they recoil a, the charge? 1t is true, ne
! ver,heles,. Were they 10 do as they ough';
were lney 10 SldDQ 1oftn In tneT purlly ana
power; we're they TO forbid the hope Of the in
temperate; were they to do no move than they
may do, without reproach; they would reform
posteri'y, without the help of man.
Would they know their whole worth ard the
whole exten, Of their glorious privilege, let
them look abroad over those, who now ly-
ing like moun,ain upon The heart OF ,hei'
proud country. But hr other day they were
good cilizens, lovers, husbands, IA hers. What
are they now! The very dreg, and refuse OF
the age: mighty men, ship wrecked by their
own folly, sef-murdsrefs, brp'es. They would
rather nave died any dea'h but few years ago,
than be what they pow are and alive. They
were not like that young man-S,op! The goh
let you aie now emp ying TO escape a laugh, to
avoid shame, is The goblet Of death-of more
than death, of perpetual shame. Have You no
mother, no wife, no sister, no beloved one to
snatch at yonr upified arm, or to cling to your
knees! Ifyou have Won are safe. They were
like that older man You see there-too confident
In heir own strength, too sure OF themselves
they parleysd with danger, they toycd with the