The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-06-07

ply. The great want of America to-da,
is more home life-not that political dis
cHssion should cease, not that less interes
times, but that such discussions should b,
transferred to the home circle. Just herr
we would earnestly protest against any o.
all associations from which women are de-
barred as hopelessly evil in their tenden
cies. Whatever may be thought of move
reading in general, there is one book that
ought to be in the hands of every husband
father, son or brother in the country
Mrs. Mulock Craik's "Brave Lady"
Could we call up the toiling, drunkard
wives of America, sinking in spite of all
efforts deeper and deeper in misery, and
want, compelled to pray hopelessly fol
sympathy or realization of their efforts,
disgraced because those to whom they have
given the destiny of their lives have dis
graced themselves in one grand procession
it is hardly possible that a stupid Church
could slumber on without making some
effort to check the effect of alcohol. May
God forbid that our Christians who see no
reasons for the temperance agitation, who
"can temper themselves " may not awake
from their worse than Rip Van Wrinkle "
sleep in world where single drop of
water will be a blessing. The true christi
an tolls not far tile Church but for Aumani-
/ ty, and for that cause as much can be done
outside Of the Church as in it. Could the
women of this country be heard i'll regard
/ to their wants and wishes; could the needs
| Of many a home, even of wealth be brought
to light some of our social philosophers
would no doubt be compelled to change
many of their ideas.
| AS an advocate of the most advanced
| phase of female equality, we do not wish
| to be understood as striking at the home
| life, but rs aiming to make home what it
should be, the centre of culture and of
purity. We would if possible give the
wife moro intelligence, more interest in the
world of action; make her the equal of
the husband both mentally and legally.
Make him able to find in her society all
reasonable tastes gratitied. There are those
who seem to think it mark of manliness
to speak slightingly of women-there is
no surer mark of superfciality if nothing
worse. The Elizabeth Frey's and Flor
ence Nightingales can be found in almost
every social circle; all that is needed is
the same demand to secure the same sacri-
flee. There is the same capacity for hero
ic effort now as in the past; all that is
needed is the opportunity. While we do
no see any reason to tack International
ism, communism, and spiritualism on the
suffrage movement, we do not see or think
we see that temperance and greater privil-
eyes for women are connected almost in
separately. Men are the drunkards, wo-
men are the victims, their influence is usual
ly for good, let us then extend it. She has
the education of the children to a great
extent in her own hands, let her see that
their education is of the right sort. Many
of the worlds best and greatest men have
owed their success to mothers teaching;
cannot that of the father in the future be
added to the mothers? l feel sometimes
,c'en see the host Of boys groning up in
ignorance, idleness and seriousness as though
1 ,could like to read lesson to about a
million Of fathers all ocer our country.
In America all questions come at last to
the ballot-box. We have seen the fact
demonstrated that at present it is nearly
impossible to secure the enforcement of
prohibition. We would add then to the
voting population an element we can trust.
American women can be trusted to give
their influence to any reform to the i'm.
portance Of which they can be aroused, and
they certainly are aware of the Importance
of the temperance movement. No one
with particle of republican ideas can
contest the abstract right of every citizen
to share of political power. Whatever
may be our ideas of erpendieney we have
no question as to right. Ours is govern.
ment by consent of the governed. Do the
real majority want system of license
laws; really aggravating the disease they
are designed to cure? To us the "Local
Option" project looks like hopeless one:
our hope is to add to the voting population
an element which is only interested in the
prohibition of the alcoholic traffic.
The temperance banner bears side by
side with prohibition the motto of equal
rights. However hopeless our cause may
now look, great victories are net won in a
day. The advocates of temperance must
be content to labor and to wait, as the ad-
vocates of many another reform have toiled
on through long weary years of ridicule,
abuse and failure before them. Few and
without influence were the first who fol-
lowed the lead of Luther yet those few
standing" to use his own words, "like
a poor mushroom of yesterday without in
fuence or position, at last turned the
world upside down." Wesley was at first
sustained by but handful-to-d day millions
are proud to be considered his followers
Wilberforee began the fight against human
bondage almost alone, but his ideas have
struck the chains from millions Of slaves,
until To-Day Out TWO nOnlually OnrlStl2n
States tolerate the system; and tho good
sense of both is heartily opposed to it.
Davy Crockett's idea is a good one for the
temperance reform: "be sure you are
right and then go ahead" Be sure that
your cause is the cause of right and all the
devil that were hurled from heaven cannot
prevent its certain success at last.
One set of toilers may die, but others
will arise TO take their places; no Faithful
ever yet fell at the stake without Hopeful
starting from his ashes; and even the Faith
fuls are more powerful in death than in
life. The good that men and women do
lives after them, the evil is usually buried
in their graves in spite of Shakespeare's
dictum. All Gods workmen are immortal
until their work is done, and though the
work men fall the work goes on. The hope
of the temperance cause is in constant con-
slant agitation, constant hamnering at
the public conscience. LaDs are useless
unless sustained by public opinion, zoe must