National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-24

guise for intuition, and 1t may be accepted
as certain that if the women had not felt
assured Of success they would not have
embarked in this undertaking. In many
respects their experience Is an agreeable
one, though their surroundings are the OPP
posite; because lthey are rewarded by sl
sense of self eradication which d certain
to Pillow an sfibrt to do good unto Others.
But when suocesa however Temporary,
follows their edbrts the sense Of self graft
acation becomes the perfect ecstacy Of en-
loyment and their enthusiasm is increased
ten-foh. The improprieties, If such they
may be called, of the procedure are forgot
ten. and realizizing the efficacy Orwell d.
rected moral influence, tho women arc apt
not only to justify but to exalt their acts.
Referring to the propriety Of this course,
It must be admitted that great diversity Of
opinion exists. Outside of the liquor-deal-
ers themselves and the drinkers Of liquor,
the parties directly interested a. the natural
enemies of the women, the opinion pre-
walls very generally that the crusade b IN
womanlike and improper. In truth, the
manner Of conducting 1t d condemned by
tho majority Of our people. and b only up
held by strict moralists or religionists, few
Temperance people and the hnatical teeto-
talers. The question being put to male
citizen, "How would you like to have tho
"female members of your family engaged in
"the crusader the answer almost invaria-
bly, is to the effect that "The object OF the
movement is creditable, but prefer that
"my female relatives would not join in it in
ga public manner" Here we have the
answer to the question regarding the pro-
priety of the matter in nutshell. Civil
lied and cultivated mankind objects to the
publicity which necessarily attaches itself
to womankind when engaged in such pro-
ject. There il something within the breast
of every respectable male citizen which
causes him to shudder at the thought of re-
spectacle, virtuous and Christian women
coming in contact with rudeness, profanity
and lecherous vice, which we know Illus
trate the character of many Of our drink
ing saloons. To prove this it is only neces-
sary to observe the distinction which sug
gests itself between q drug store where
liquor is sold and drinking-saloon where
liquor is drank. We instantly admit that
the former is q respectable place, where
ladies go every day without Improperly,
while the latter, be it ever so respectable
and 80 exclusively devoted TO the patronage
of the better classes of gentlemen drinkers,
is instantly condemned as an improper place
for them. If we admit this course of rea-
soning we find that, with the exception Of
the moralists and fanatics to whom we have
referred, the sexes are partially divided In
opinion on the question of propriety. But
it is unfair to assume that even majority
of the gentler sex are so directly interested
as to become integral parts of the great
"cyclone, /" as Mr.. Beecher calls it. Those
who do become active participants are no
doubt prompted by the purest motives, al
though, as we have explained, they may be
the creatures of an intuitive impulse. At
the same time those who refrain from par
ticipating may be entitled to as much credit
for sincere and earnest devotion to the cause
as those who do not
From this analysis we can argue safely
that the movement Is one of those spas
modic novelties which disturb the even
tenor of events only once in great while,
and which serve to add to the perplexfy
which battles every attempt to divine the
intricacies of human nature. Regarding
the result but one opinion can exist.
Whether Mr.. Beecher intended to do so or
not, he selected an exceedingly appropriate
word with which 10 characterize it, for q
cyclone, passing rapidly and engulfng the
less powerful objects within its range, ex-
ponds It's force, and finally subsidies into
breezes which are as gentle as the hurricane
ha. been terrible. We have had similar
experiences in purely religious matters tims
and time agaf, In this country; but aftel
accomplishing the temporary CONVERSION o
such notabilities as "s"ful Gardner" thu
muscular Cbrist;-h, or John Allen, tht
"w;ctessst ,-ail in New York, >" they hav,
released into quiet which has been only
disturbed by feeble attempts to revive or in
itiate the preceding efforts. We repeal
that while the moral sentiment of the com
munity may sympathize with the objects to
be gained, the majority of our people can
denim the manner of gaining it. BEHIND
all this, however. is the fact which none
can gainsay, that the women, in their pray.
ing expeditions, are guilty Of palpab:e vic
lation of the law. They may rely with
safety upon the forbearance of the public,
in this violation, because, as we have said,
the public sympathy is with them, and be-
cause the natural gallantry of man ex-
tends itself to protect them. But while
they are thus protected from arrest, and en-.
joy q remarkable immunity from punish,
ment, it nevertheless remains that when
they bring odium upon persons engaged in
legitimate business pursuits or interfere
with the peaceful enjoyment of property,
they render themselves liable for the dam
age that may occur as the result Of their
acts.