The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-12-16
AN APPEAL FoR TEmPERANcE.
To the Women of Ohio.

&o"tS Vc"seHV " OneNs
At the meeting ofthe Woman's State Tem
perance Society, held ut Dayton, septembe
III, 1853 the undersigned were appointed I
committee to prepare an Appeal fof thu
more extended and effective cooperation o
\ women in the Temperance cause. j-.t
Hitherto the work Of regenerating and ele
vating public sentiment has beensupposed tc
come within the legitimate sphere Of mar
only, be cause he only possessed the -equist.
physical and intellectual strength and genius
But the unsuccessful attempts, at an immen.
sc cost of fortune and of faith, TO institute 9
remedy for moral evil, with only tone Of the
two elements that combine to produce the VI.
tai force Of every living thing, has developed
the necessity of recognition Of woman's
original capacity, equalright and correspon-
ding duty to exert her efforts too, in the strug-
gle for better and purer humanity.
/ In no department Of social ard moral effort
has this been more conspicuous than in the
Temperance movement, where, it is allowed
by all, even the most conservative, that our
sex have work to perform, and that our mis-
| sion at this important crisis is one Of great
magnitude. Facts connected with the mo-
vement from the days of Washingtonianism
down to the present time, show that from
| causes evident TO close observers, the people
have gradually lost confidence in individual
moral action, as a measure adapted 10 secure
the desired reform, or to destroy drunkenness,
and now demand in its stead, a prohibito ry
law. as the only cure--the last resort.
From this enterprise, we, as woman, hav-
ling no legal political rights available in this
warfare, seem to be excluded We have no
legal Recognition as citizens, nor as voters,
and hence cannot do the legitimate work of
such. Nevertheless the most important part
of the work is left upon our hands.
1t is easily demonstrated that laws in ad-
vance of the peoples approval will not be
obeyed, and that their tendency is to beget a
contempt for all law.
We are doubtless safe in saying that not
half of the people of Ohio have the ne
cessary internal preparation for such & law as
the Maine Law; and it Is our appropriate
business to plant deep in the hearts of the
people, such principles as will form true
basis for an all-powerful prohibtory law.
Our relative work in this enterprise seems
to be, therefore, "to breathe underneath the
ribs of Death, living SOUL" for such in oil
cases, is moral agitation to legislative acts.
BY appeals to reason and to conscience we
are to convince not only the brother, the son,
the husband and the father, but also the rum
seller and drnker, the voter and the legisla-
tor, that the cardinal principle of Temperance
is, Total abstinence from all that can intoricaie;
that without this, there is no sure foundation,
no practical philosophy. ....
Wiilany woman say, have no influence
l am not able to use arguments with the other
sex! You would not reason thus, if yot saw
your brother or son in fit Of partial insanity,
making preparation to destroy his own life.
You would then have arguments enough, and
power enough to use them, as long as there
was hope in their efficacy, and should this fail
you would not hesitate to use stratagem or
even force to thwart his purposes; nay, you
would not hesitate to Gallon any passer-by
to assist you if necessary in removing beyond
his reach, the means of sef-destruction
Then hesitate not to take the same energetic
| course IN reference to that which destroys
both soul and body.
Let no time be lost Keep bright the fires
on your own bearthstones. See that your
children and youth have roper and healthlul
mental excitement and amusement. that shall
develope the higher and purer element OF
their natures and thus close every avenue to
animal dissipation. Cultivate their tastes
and prepare their hearts to choose the lecture
room, the musical concert, and the religious
meeting before the vile haunts of gaming and
drunkenness. rsa 3g ..
Circulate tracts denouncing the Liquor
Traffic, portraying its fearful results and in
sistng upon high toned moral action and a
prohibitory law. Aim to enlist the energies
ofall your female friends in this good work,
and be yourselves consistent: attend no par
ties where wine is offered the guests. nor
suffer any to do it, over whom you have a
rightful authority, or can exert an influence.
Associate freely with none who manufacture,
buy, sell or use alcoholic and Intoxicating
liquors. trade with no merchants who deal in
the article, exert your influence to prevent
the use of adulterated wines in the Sacrament
of the Lords Snpper, and in all cases, as far
as possible, let precept and example 60 hand
in hand. Let all feel at liberty to complain
of the disproportionate sufferings of our sex
from curse in which we are comparatively
free from the guilt, and to insist upon red ress
by a prohibitory law, which we are bound
to create in the hearts ofthe people. ta.
Finally, as you regard your high destiny, as
you love your husband and son, asyour SYM
4 pathy is moved for that beggared, outcast wife
| and mother, in all her wrecked inglol ious
lloyeliness. as you pity her suffering children
driven oot TO shiverin the wntry blasts, and
subsst upon the worlds cold charities, as you
weep over the once bright gem of your own
| freside, now estranged in vilest degradation
lrenziedly imploring pardon Of God and man
or in the WRITINGS e. contortions of delirun
tremens, dodgibg the ehaftsof demons who
have come 70 torment him before the time
manhood gone, genius gone, hope, tina, lin
gers longest, gone!! Asyou regard all these
nay more, as you regard humanity and God
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