The Van Buren press., 1874-03-10
Women's War Against Saloons.

tlsOubnoul Tue So""''
word of cheer and encouragement, but
many criticising in the harshest terms
and applying the most disgraceful cpl
tset. to those engaged in it. There can
bs no question rs to the privilege OF
newspaper to express its sentiments upon
any subject of public character yet
do think this privilege is not unfreqnent-
IL used very indiscreetly, to say the least
it. 1t seems to me that the mission
proper Of journal is high and noble
one. 1t should be the object OF news
naner. to use its best endeavors to Gle
yate mankind in the scale OF useful
ness and happiness, but it is to be feared
this object is not always kept in view
There is a vein of seliishnes in human
nature that warps mans better judgment
and influences his actions more or less
have observed that the most Journals,
are very prompt to discourage and throw
every obstacle possible in the way OF ali
movements made to abate the immense
whiskey evil. All plans are quickly
judged mpracticabe and unwise, and the
planers called enthusiasts, fanatics and
fools Yet. they fail to point out bet
ter plan or advance an idea to help the
cause of temperance. Now. it cannot he
possible that any one who has reached
the wears Of discretion, much less an edl.
tor. has failed to observe what terrible
havoc the Demon Alcohol, is playing
daily, in every part Of our fair land
He carries desolation and ruin wherever
he goes God alone can number his vic
tins and He alone can trace his blood
stained path Men Of the highest type
and Of great wealth, are reduced to pov
ertv and converted into incarnate fiends,
who ill drunkard grave and go down
to drunkard's hell, leaving families,
once happy, destitute, paupers, and mis-
erable. This is no eXaggcratioa-the
tale is not half told Though editors
look on these things with stolid indilfer
ence, not even so much as warning men
when the most terrible examples are oc-
curing almost daily. Why, is this so !?
1t is well known that the liquor traffic is
profitable business, and am constrain.
ed to conclude. that the patronage Of
those engaged in it. is very forcible ar
gumcnt to journals. that the traffic should
not be interrupted or diminished. The
mode Of warfare gotten up by the women
of Ohio, is novel and extraordinary. And
has swept like Il tornado over some per.
tions of Ohio, Indiana, New York, Ken
tucky and other States, causing conster-
nation and bewildcrment in its march.
The movement was suggested by DR..
Dio Lewis, of Boston, an eminent lite
rary man. He was at Ilillsboro, Ohio.
on lccturng tour, during the holidays
lntcmperance was so prevalent that he
determined to make an effort to lessen it
He delivered a temperance lecture al
though out of his usual line Of subjects
An immense throng attended, He de-
scribed the evils of fintemperancc in q mas.
terly manner, and adduccd arguments
overwhelming against the use or traffic
in intoxicating liquors And he told them
that his father was at one time an exces
sive drinkcr; that his mother, having ex-
hausted almost every means to reclaim
and save him from drunkard's grave,
beng christian conceived the idea. in
her last extremity, of trusting in the
efficacy Of prayer to God for help. And
on proposing that the ladies' go to the
saloons to sing praises to God and ask
Him to touch and tender tho sa
saloon Kees era hearts, that they might
he induced to abandon he bus':'ss' the
proposition was agreed to. Anu Cod
heard and answered their petitions and
every whiskey shop was closed in the
town in which they lived and although
thirty nine years had elapsed since, not
single saloon had been established n
Fredonis, New York The good women
Of HIillsboro and other towns nesr, re
solved to try the plan, feeling confident
their prayers would be answered Many
saloons were closed and the " wickedest
man" in Ohio, it is said. has been cap.
turcd Much good has been accomplish.
ed wherever this mode of warfare has
been waged, the traffic lessened and
friends gained But editors and whiskey
men scout the idea of PRAYER meetings
being held in saloons. call it pcrverson
Of religion, and talk nippanIlv about
what they conceive true christianity Ia
be, ana predict that no lasting good will
come oft. as they do of all Temperance
movements. Those engaged in it ex.
pec,cd all this opposition, and conse-
quontly are not discouraged or dauntcd
when it comes. are determined to do their
duty as best they can, having the assur
ance that whatsoever they ask in Christ's
name, il will be given them God speed
them. Now. when newspaper editors
do something to decrease this great evil
as well as all evils then ttey do q duty
they owe to themselves, their fellow man