Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-03-07
THE WEEKLY INDEPENDENT
Has circ4 alton more than DOUBLE
that ofany otherpaperpublishcdin
the county.
From the Richmond Dispatch
The Whiskey ade-Intemper-
anCc.

North west against whiskey-Sa-
looms is 80 connected with social
economy, aud SO full of suggest
ions concerning public morals that
we propose to devote TO tia few
more Reflections. The vice Of in
temperance, as we have frequent
~ said is from that which women
suffer most. The Wretchednes5 to
which families are everywhere re-
duced, their want and misery, and
the neglect Of 80 many children
thai ike vagahonG lives, and be-
come thieves and murderers, all
are chiefly due ~ the incorporate
use OF aritent spirits lt is not
~ontertu Stat women >hOaid he
come de-, crate, ana IN their agony
should sort - extraordinary
MeatIa 70 ,aa asi cad - .n,. CAUSES
OF their misery; out ihe etloIts OF
the women oi Ia@ NuttinSee, are
moge retaatkaaie for Ia u zeal
thai ter helf judgement.
he manner o., the crusade in
wolves lho>e who conduct ii in
violation 81 Iau. Then ASSEM-
bling II the sttceio la large num-
ber4 hetore sdioOHs, praying aud
singing. otsstrurts tie streets, cree
ate, disturbance. and obstrucIs
access ~ lie -aloOn, which is
iicense'i ttnd ubder the protection
1i law. .,ey ret only violate law
thenl~c,At~. hui they provoke
Others - doit, fot HE assaulted per-
sons tAaz retaIj;tte with ieers and
taunts sud noi-e9 of AL sorts and
oaGd~ al nta~Ic, 20 tie great sean
dial air1 nniiOyaiice OF society.
Win to opposing parties employ
Ing their different means of an
noyancc, it would become II ques-
ton simply OF endurance, and end
IN abortion. Public opinion would
decide that the movement was
contemplate, and that it was not
deserving of sympathy Should
it, however, on the other hand be-
come popular, it will be seized
hold of by those who seek public
favor and they will deprive it of
the only thing which makes it
respectable-tile honest and sim
pie-minded desire Of the women to
defend themselves.
The end will be a reaction which
will leave the women weaker and
more helpless thaa iriOre.
But There are oiher evils inher
ent in the course of THESE poor
women, leading inevitably 10 con-
sequences worse than tire very ills
they seek 10 put iii end to.
!. The irritation of the liquor
dealers aud their fear of the injury
TO 50 lucrative AMI widespread
an interest, winch will rouse those
engaged ia tito a more determined
resistance; and in "a physical or
public warfare ot this kind their
sex IS vi erIy unequal to cope with
the whisky interest, which is "a
power ia the land.
,. 1t will produce domestic
breaches without limit; fer this
public interference, and this effort
at coercion, will destroy the love
and peace OF married life more CT
fectualiy jhan Whiskey Itself 1T
viii make men more determined
drunkards than ever.
3. This street praying, this use
0i prayer, or rather OF the formula
Ol prayer, not for solemn inVocn
ton OF the Deity, but as an often
sive mean. ofassault. impairs res
peCt tor religion, whose guise it as
sumes, brings discredit on holy
things thus perverted, and burdens
the hearts which they desire TO
melt and to influence.
4. This street-praying-t pub
licity-debases and degrades the
sex whose speciality it is to win
and 10 lead mot TO drive. Woman
as always lowered from her high
pedestal when she descends into
the public arena Of force and con-
hIr., whether rs a "boisarden or
"citoyenneN of the French revolu-
Oiution, or as ranting
lccturess, or as a blOOmcr, a strong
minded reformer, or as an oratgiX
and lobbyist for WOman's rights.
III each She is rebelling against
and "quarrelling with God because
He had not made her a man"
The moment she steps out of her
modest privacy, lays aside her
sensitive delicacy which makes
her shrink from publicity assumes
the role Of a man, and seeks tC
be q coercive reformer, she strips
herself of her native strength a.
surely as Samson did when he al
owed his locks to be shorn--she
loses the special power and intlu'
ence which her Maker endowed
her with, and is despised as a wo
man without being respected as :
man. Aughts that impairs tina
best safeguard of humanity, wo
mans influence, is an evil fai
%no.a IfcDIf