The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-21
rha wnman,s Whisky Crusade.

No one can doubt the entire sincerity
and perfect purity of motive which inspire
the women of Ohio in their curious cru
SADIE against the retail yenders of ardent
spirits. Many of them have probably
felt the pernicious influence of intoxicat
ing liquors in their own houses, and In the
immediate circle of friends and relatives
and those who have been spared this bit
ter personal experience are deeply i'm
pressed with the trouble and disgrace
brought upon the community at large
through the same channel. 1t is not
strange, then, that the sufferers them
selves and their sympathizers should rise
as by common impulse, and endeavor to
carry the Notifications Of the common en-
envy, as it were, by storm. Indeed it
is as significant as surprising to see such
movement originate in such quarter, and
be pushed forward with so much system
and so much enthusiasm. Nothing short
of a very powerful motive could draw
these female apostles from the calm rou-
tine of domestic duties and pleasures, and
and send them forth regardless Of wind or
weather into the public streets, and amid
scenes and associations so contrary to fem
mime instincts and education. They do not
go as Amazons expecting to achieve sue
cess through violentmeans; butrelying upon
the moral strength of their sexs weak
ness, they use no weapons but argument
and entreaty, interspersed with prayers
and hymns. We do not wonder that as
tonishing results have thus far crowned
their labors, for the fercest prOmptings of
unnatural thirst will scarcely drive a de
voice of Bacchus through crowd of pray
ing, weeping and singing women nor will
FIn
thy lucre enable the average bar
keeper to resist the assaults of an
artillary of mingled tears and smiles.
But an fundamentally for good must
have something else to recommend it be-
sides more novelty and the flush of tran
sient victory; and these we regret to say,
are all the strong points which an Impair
tial eye can discover in the Ohio whiskey
war: Examining the matter in the light
of clear, hard cOmmon-sense it is easy to
see that the women have commenced fight
ing at the wrong end Of the line, They
might, with much more propriety have
brought their forces to bear upon the
wholesale dealers and distillers-the foun-
tains from whence the retailers draw per-
petual supplies. They might, with the
greatest propriety, have passed over distil-
lers wholesale and retail dealers, and laid
the axe at the root of the tree-the con-
sumers. These honest, well-meaning la
dies have mistaken an effect for a cause.
They think there would be no drinking il
there were no bar rooms-forgetting the
fact that there could be no bar-rooms if the
drinking population did not call into ex.
istence and sustain them. If every place
where liquor is made and sold was closed
to-day, and every drop of stimulating fluid
now on hand destroyed, twenty-four hours
would not elapse before the business would
begin again. Why? Simply because there
are people who!will use alcoholic beverages,
regardless of cost or the difficulty of OBJ
tanning them; and, as in everything else
the demand creates the supply. This is
the reason for the universal failure of so
called temperance legislation. If law was
passed by Congress making indulgence il
ardent spirits a capital crime, we question
whether it would lessen the consumption Of
the article throughout the Union 25 pei
cent. The law making powers might al
we'll illuminate edicts against the tides of
ocean as to legislate against human appe
tites, These appetites can be controlled
but they cannot be. annihilated and un
less annihilated it is the height of folly t.
attempt the prohibition of their gratifica
ton.
The women of Ohio are therefore vast
ing their time and zeal in ill-directed effort
They cannot stand guard over the saloons
forever, and whenever they Withdraw, the
saloons will reopen and the bibulOus frater-
nifty reassemble. The only possible way by
which they can accomplish their praise
worthy purpose is by appealing directly tC
this bibulous fraternity. Convince drunk
ards and semi drunkards that they are
running body and soul by too deep pota
tiOns; convince all classes that liquor, like
everything else, is given us to be used, not
abused convince the young especially that
habits of excessive indulgence are absolute
ly fatal to their prospects in life, and to al
which makes life worth living for-and they
there will be no need of throwing Gordon
of petticOats around the shrines of thu
rosy god Mankind never can, by fair
means or foul, be brought into the tota
abstinence society-they can be taught
temperance and if the women of our sis
ter State are as wise as they are Jealous
they will abandon what must be in the enc
at best but Quixotic campaign, and con
fine themselves to sensible work for a prac
teal and practicable object At present
they are battling with wind mills, with an
absolute certainty of ultimate defeat. st
Louis Rep.