The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-03-12
the CRUSADERS.

In the Temperance agitation TIE TIMES is
"a advocate Of moral suasiOn. We lave al
ways proclaimed against prohibitory liquor
laws and held s.eadfastly to an honest con-
viction that they we're the allies Of intemp-
srance, opening the way in this country 10
unlicensed and uL restrained traffic in whis-
kv. We have ustained our declarations in
this respect By presenting to our readers
proof in the shape of statistics almost with
out limit, together with careful and compre-
hensive opinions from the leading reformers
of the day. The war on whisky selling now
conducted by the women il an acknowledg.
ment of the utter worthlessness Of prohibito-
~ liquor laws, and confession that rene
dies other than legislative enactment must
be adopted to bani.h the social curse, known
- intoxication.
In speaking freely on the ''wonen's war"
We do not presume beyond cur rights, be-
cause the war has enlisted public attention,
and therefore demanded newspaper criticism.
The women, or vast msjorily Of them at
least, We think are earnest in their efforts 10
suppress intemperance, and if they fail to
close single saloon in Lesvenworth, they
will certainly succeed in arousing the public
mind TO the danger that coEfronts society.
The success Of the movement cannot be
estimated in day or a month. The shafts
which the women are directing against in
temperance will lodge in the minds OF men,
and through individual resolves to abstain
from reckless use of intoxicating liquor will
the force of the crusade be measured,
There is enc great vital point however
that the ladies should comprehend, to wit:
that the closing Of saloons will not destroy the
power of intemperance. 1t is an open ques-
ton with US whether it will impair it. If
seventy of the one hundred and forty saloons
Of Leavenvorth we're cloaed tomorrow, We
doubt If the quantity of liquor sold would be
much reduced in the future. TIE seventy
saloons remaining open would supply the
demand for beverages. If one hall the sa-
loon customers however were persuaded to
forego their customary drains, il is absolute
y certain that the quantity Of liquor cold
would be reduced one half. Therefore we
say the ladies make mistake in addressing
their persuasive speeches to the sellers, in
stead Of the consumers Of liquor. The sa-
looms will vanish soon enough when the cus-
TONERS depart. They will continue to exit
90 long as men are willing to exchange
money for whisky.
Moreover We express the candid opinion
here that exhilera.ing and, stimulating bev-
erages will never be abolished, for while
many thousands of women pray openly and
necessarily that they shall be, counter petit
tions ascend inwardly from many thousands
of men praying that they shall not Re. The
multitudes of men and women in this world
who prefer glass Of wine or beer to cup of
tea or coffee, and have sense enough to stop
drinking when they get enough, will not con-
sent to forego their isvorite beverages, because
others make glutton. or beasts of themselves.
Germans take their wives and daughters
to the gardens and drink beer and wine with
the freedom that American ladies and gen.
tlemen 60 to ''socials," pic-nics and church
festivals and drink lemonade. Fortunately
for the cause Of temperance. they can drink
temperately, even If our native born Ameri-
can occasionally manages to visit them and
get blind drunk on the SINE liquor. The
adopted citizen will not surrender the hevsr-
age which he prizes above all others, simply
because the American youth has not learned
how to use it. II the ladies direct their
efforts to suppress iEto1ication, We can see
how they can accomplish much good for hui
manity. II they intend to wage war on wine
and beer, as we'll as alcoholic liquors, they
will encounter opposition from thousands OF
the most temperate men in every city.