Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-15
From the Boston Temperance Visitor.
Woman's Aid.

WVuAhA . A4Us 1
1t is a most gratifying fact,-one cal
culated to warm the heart and nerve the
arm of every true reformer,-that's the ex-
ample of woman, her voice, her sy~mpathies,
her prayers and her labors are on the side
of humanity, and of every effort to remove
the curses that aflict it. And why should
it not be so? Why should woman be In
different? With her, reform is a person
al matter. 1t comes home to her personal
condition. 1t makes or unmakes her. 1t
s~catters her pathway through life with ro-
ses, or neglected, fills it with thorns.
The social position of woman is such
that she has to look or reform as her
guardian angel. Is she a wife? Then her
husband must be presereedto her as a hus-
band should be, uncontanimated by any of
the foul taints Of vice of any kind. 1t is
not always within the power of a wife to
keep the pledged one true to her,-stroDg-
or influences than even woman's affection
may draw him away. A rum saloon, OF
the gaudy destinations of vicious resorts
may neutralize the woman's appeals, the
the wife's tears and entreaties. Then
comes in the protective agency of reform,
and destroys the tempter that has ruthless
ly invaded the family precincts and robbed
them Of a husband. The spirit of reform
says to the broken hearted wife, be of good
cheer, your enemy that is stealing away
from you a husband, shall be destroyed,
and your presence hal have a chance to
hold that which has been given into your
own keeping. So with the mother. A
son may be kept within the bounds of pa
rental authority and discipline and safety
by the power of reform, in destroying tha
which tends to draw away the child from
the mother, and make him hayward ant
lead him on to ruin.
We say, then, that reform comes to VIC
man, however she may be situated, as
protector and a friend. She is very bin
TO her own welfare if she does not thusha
it.
This particularly is true of the Tempe
ance reform. How has the monster inten
perance blighted woman's home, invade
her peace and comfort, and turned h
cup of life into one of bitterness and suffe
ing. The wrecks which he has made.
domestic comfort are sad to behold.
We never hear the remark made tn
woman has no right to interfere in tempe
ance matters, without feeling that he wi
makes it does not understand the impo
: of his remark. No right! when her who
) happiness, yea, very being is involved
} the suppression of the sale and use of rul
$ No right! when rum makes her a sla'
Q destroys her womanhood, and casts her I
: on rack and torture worse than the
QUESTION ever established. Has she
right to break away from this fright
l. bondage, imposed by the Internal rum pc
r, er?
J. We not only despise the judgment Il
h can thus deny woman's right to interf
D. in temperance matters, but we think lii
,e of the heart that cannot feel to rejo
IF when woman acts on the defensive, 6
ID uses her right to protect herself.
The heart must be perfectly adamant
10 that can witness a development Of woms
e. Joy and gladness when she is made
know that her home is safe from the
ii destroyer, and not also rejoice. Whe
10 woman, who perchance has suffered fl
1T the torments of the rum fend, feels sec
he from his ravages, and knows that her |
r. band and son are safe, she manifest
Id sense Of gratitude and JOY that none
n fail of approaching who are capable of
IN Outstanding what JOY is. One of the n
d. cheering reflections growing out of
le, great temperance reform is, that we
n laboring, not merely for individual refe
elf but for the peace of homes, the happi,
m and Joy of woman. How many bitter t
IN of woman have been dried up and
70, many desolate homes have been made
,e- Ply by our cause.
NO Let woman work then in the caus
I'm Let us have her influence in the tenn
De- ance meeting, in the Division, room, il
yer social relations which she may fill, in
lrs individual capacity. Let the voice OF
ant man be heard all over the land. Lee
ha temperance reformers hear it in ton
we encouragement, let the rum power he
ant in tones of vengeance and Of wrath.
Ss' awhile woman's heart is bleeding,
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