Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-08


mental principles of the christian church, as
well as of national government. This cannot
be brought about by talk, but by work. The
demands of the hour are for the sacrifice of
personal convenience, the customs of society
political interests, sectarian dis.inction-the
sacrifice of ambition, power, fame, money
everything that stands in the way of the full
expression of this principle.
From the blight and mildew of intemper-
ance, woman has ever been the greatest suf-
ferer-the hearts of one-twentieth of the
women of the land are almost broken by rum
yet we find no marked record of woman's
work. She has long been told that this is
mans work, and the only part she has in it is
to bear with patience the crushing of her
hopes, and smile when her household gods
are demolished, when the light of her life is
destroyed and despair is brooding in its place.
She did not claim woman's rights to the bal
lot but her rights to sympathse with the suf-
fering, to strengthen the weak, and lift up the
down-trodden.
Legislative enactments are called for to an
initiate the traffic, to open the prison doors
closed upon its deceased victims, to provide
hospital nurses and physicians instead of
prisons, jailors and wardens. Some may ask
the question, but what can women do without
the ballot? Do as you have always done when
you have to wait for right to prevail over
might. Do as you did in war times, on the
battle field, in the hospital, in the prison, in
the sanitary commission, in the freedmen's
bureau, in the church, in social life, in the
home. Work with heart and voice and hands.
Woman's love, purity and fidelity were the
pins that held the rum-rotten tmbers of the
republic together in the days of the rebellion.
Woman's influence in forming public opinion
is mighter far than the ballot placed in her
hands.
The prohibnory law has done something; it
has tipped over the poor old woman's lager
bier shanty and crowded the bar in the
country tavern into the back room, down
cellar, or up into the attic. But when has it
besieged bonded warehouse, freestone fronts,
or ransacked marble halls? We scarcely can
expect to see the day when there will be no
selling or drinking of ardent spirits, but the
time will come when it will be unpopular and
impolitic to practice it. Let us have total abb
stinence men for our public officers; sober
and decorous elections where refinement, Gull
ture and delicacy will gladly and safely con-
gregate to elect officers that will be an honor
instead of disgrace to the naton-make our
republic glory rather than by word among
the nations Of the earth by calling upon the
military force to secure the elective rights of
the people against fraud. We have talked to
the little sinners and let the big ones go free.
So long as it is fashionable for mothers to put
the wine cup into the hands of their sons and
to the lips of their husbands-so long as we
manufacture moderate wine-sippers at home
we shall have drunkards for the dram shops
The lecturer suggested an amendment to
the constitution so that wine -bibbers cannot
hold Office, making it impossible for the laws
of the American people to be framed and ex
ecuted by men laboring under mania, men
tai disease, that dethrones the mind corrupts
the moral sentiment, and renders the individ
ual unaccountable for his acts.
If there is man or woman in this country
unwilling to make the sacrifice required by
total abstinence, to secure the sober admins
tration of the laws of the country, they re-
gard their own self qualification above the in
terests of the nation and are unworthy Of her
honors. To forward and give force to this
work let the christian women of every COM
munty unite in organizing a national anti
wine association, canvassing every city and
town in every State with petitions for the
proposed amendment. If the christian and
conscientious women of refinement, intellect
and culture would take this stand, ten years
would not elapse before the indignation of
public opinion would be aroused to such
degree as to emancipate society from this dire
system of evil, the business of the country
from this unfair competition, and the politics
OF the nation from the overshadowing in
fuence of this evil.
The lecturer held the close attention of the
audience for nearly an hour, at the close of
which the sentiments which she had uttered
were heartily endorsed by the pastor of the
church, Rev. Mr.. Moor. The choir con-
nected with the church furnished excellent
music for the occasion.