The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-23

h.rse,f If her native strength as surely 90
80. Aid when he allowed his locks 70 oe
s,ar $50, she ,oses The special power and IN q.
s...a.o which her Maker endowed her WITH,
and ia despised as woman without being
rssnected as man. Aught that impars that
best safeguard of humanity, woman's sntu-
eace, is an evil far greater than intcmper-
ance itself. Of all these women who are
thus parading their persons and their deyo-
tons on the highways, we doubt il one
tenth are of those whom we could accept
as models of the tender, modest, and genue
wife, who would make her home a'neaVen,
and who is the real sufferer. The impress
sion made on us il, that these "crusaders
are of the stamp who at home do not lure
men from the bottle.
S. This attempt at coercion, as do all such
attempts of every sort, weakens the cause of
temperance, and tends by reaction to give
greater strength and obstinacy to the habit Of
indulgence, adding to it the habit of deceit,
of private drinking, &c. 1t has become an
adage that Temperance advocates are the most
iptemperate of men," that is, incorporate
in language and action and schemes: they too
often degenerate into selfseekers, striving for
cheap renown by excess and intolerance
they bring odum on the cause and disgust
for its advocates, until even those not adj
dicted to the vice lose sight Of its deformity
in the greater responsiveness Of the opponents
of it.
Most men refuse to have even plum-pud.
ding crammed down their Threats.
1t appears to us that the great mistake of
the reformers on any subject of'morats is
that they seek to reform men from 'otthout
instead of from ,oithin-to force them into
goodness by external pressure, By legisla-
ton, &c. Now, no legislation can make
man good. 1t may curb and restrain the
practice of the forbidden thing; and in this
result, even, it fails unless the legislation be
but the expression Of the general sense
of the community, as is the case in
theft, murder, perjury, &c. But these re-
formers seem to think that it is only needful
| to pass laU to put an end to anything
which that law shall prohibit. Save in abso-
lutte governments, any law is in great mea-
| sure nullity which is not the expression Oh
public sentiment. ss.
The use and sale of alcoholic drinks are
among those things which cannot be eXtIr-
pated by mere legislation. The use of alco-
holic stimulants seems to be Inherent in the
human family. No portion Of the human
race, we believe, has yet been discovered
who did not have and use alcohol in some
form or other. The use of it is as universal
as is that of narcotics or of animal food.
Alcohol is recognized by every law-mak-
ing power in the civilized world as an arti-
Gle of commerce, manufacture, and trade; and
while it is regulated it is not only permitted
but it is protected by every government, no
matter how enlightened, civilized, or chriS.
tianized; and it is utterly useless now to
try to drive it out Of existence by external
coercion in any form.
We have written this much not from any
desire to apologize for or to advocate intem-
perance, or even to defend the use Of ardent
spirits by any one to excess. Il it were pos
sible, society would be happy in combining
its uses to medicinal purposes, under the
advice aud written prescriptions Of response
bic physicians; but that is not possible as
society is now constituted-We must place
our hope in public opinion and the conyen-
tional rules of social intercourse. Immense
good may be done by restricting the use Of
liquor at parties and dinners. The rules OF
hospitality may lie greatly improved in this
way to the iuestimable advantage Of hosts
and guests. That the entire disuse Of stimu-
lants in social Intercourse is within the range
of probability we have pretty clearly de.
clared our unbelef in the beginning Of this
article; aud we believe more good may be
accomplished by promoting its prudent use
than by attempting to prevent its use alto
gether We do not, nevertheless, ignore the
evils of intemperapce.
While we with our heart of hearts SYM
pathize with the mothers, sisters, wives,
and all women in the agonies Inflicted on
them by this great enemy of man and NO.
man, we endeayor to present practical, not
a sentimental, view of the evil and its con-
sequences, immediate and remote, in this
crusade, and TO warn the sex against them.
But is there no help? 1s woman poWeriess
We answer, "No." We soy that the remedy
il in her hands-that she can do much to
cure the evil. How? By making any and
every use of alcohol in excess, and It's attend
ant designations, disreputable, disgraceful,
and therefore hateful, in like manner as lying,
| stealing, assassination, &c. Let her feel it
and treat il as crtme--let her bear herself
toward those who are in this way guilty as
she would toward crtminalS-lct her ex-
| hibit toward such but half the merciless
bearing, the relentless severity, that she
shows to sister who, however unfortunate,
betrayed and penitent, has made single de.
parture from chastity, and woman will have
seldom to complain of the evils of iutem-
perance. She will in happy degree
diminish the vice, to her great glory
and the ineXpressible JOY of society.
Let her discountenance it herself by dis
use of it as well as discountenance its i'm
proper use by everybody; let her make no
reproaches save those of silence to those to
whom she is bound by domestic ties; but let
her teach her children the lesson of hatred
to alcohol and to sin when she teaches them
their prayers; let her refuse to give her con.
fidence and friendship and, so far as she has
the liberty, let her not grant the privilege
of association TO those w no indulge in excess |;