Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-20
The Great Temperance Movement.
BY DIR. ga HOLLAND.

For years and years aud weary, sltier-
ing years, multiplied into decades have the
women of America waited to see that traffic
destroyed which annually sends sixty tlou-
sand Of their sons, brothers fathers and
husbands into the drunkard's grave. they
have been impoverished, disgraced, tortured
in mind and body, beaten, murdered. Under
the impulse Of maddening liquors, the lands
that were pledged before heaven to provide
for and protect them, have withdrawn from
them the means of life, or smitten them 10
the dust. Sons whom they have rursed
upon their bosoms with tcnderest lore and
countless prayers, have grown into beasts,
Of whom they were afraid, or have sunk
into helpless and pitiful slavery. The, have
been compelled to cover their eyes with
shame in the presence Of fathers whom it
would have been bliss for them TO hold in
honor. They have been compel ed to bear
children to men whose habits had untitled
them for parentage children not ouiy
tainted by disease, but endowed with de.
based appettes. They have seen them.
selves and their precious families thrust
into social degradation, and cut fl forever
from all desirable life, by the gice Of the
men they loved What the women of this
country have suffered from drunkenness, no
mind, however sympathetic, car measure,
and no pen, however graphic, cat describe.
1t has been the unfathomable Hack gulf
into which infatuated multitude of men
hava throrr~t, tha,r 4l.,~
and their industry, and out Of which have
come ony,-in fire and stencil, -dishonor,
disease, crime, misery, despair and death.
1t is the abomination of abominitious, the
curse Of curses, the hell Of bells
For weary, despairing years, they have
waited to see the reform that should protect
them from further harm. They have listened
to lectures, they have Signed pledges, they
have encouraged temperance societies, they
have asked for and secured legislation, and
all to no practical good end. The poll.
ticians have played them false the officers
Of the law are unlaithful; the go-ernment
revenue thrives on the thriftiness Of their
curse mutitudes Of the clergy are not
only apathetic in their pulpits, but self
indulgent in their social habits newspa.
pers do not help, but rather hinder them ;
the liquor interest, armed with te money
that should have bought them prosperity,
organizes against them; fashion opposes
them amilion fierce appetites are arrayed
against them, and losing all faitl in men,
what can they do? There is but )ne thing
for them to do. There is but one direction
in which they can look, and that is up.
ward The women's Temperance move
ment, begun and carried on by prayer, is as
natural in its birth and growth as the oak
that springs from the acorn. flood and
the God-like element in women cannot help,
there is no help. If the pulpit, the press,
the politicians, the reformers, the law, can.
not bring reform, who is left to do it but
God and the women We bow to this
movement with reverence. We do not
stop to question methods; we do not pause
to query about permanent results. We
simply say to the glorious women engaged
in this marvellous crusade; " Mag God help
and prosper you, and gire ygl tie desire Of
your hearts IN The fruH Of your laJors."
Il Scri6aerS Monthly,