The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-17
Woman's War With Whisky


Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton deliv-
cred the following vigorous address,
last week, before the Radical Club of
Philadelphia. Its characteristic breadth
of thought and force of statement enti-
tie it to the general attention of women.
This movement is now rousing much
thought among the people, finding
large space in our daily journals.
The friends Of temperance receive the
news with gladness; whisky dealers
with fear and trembling, and philoso-
pliers hesitate to express an opinion and
respond to all inquiries, "Let us wait and
watch.n
Radical Clubs, 1 suppose, are organ
lied to send forth a certain sound on all
movements and questions that from
time TO time force themselves on public
consideration. Hence it is proper to ex-
press an opinion here of the wisdom of
the present attack on King Alcohol. 1
notice it is called in all our Journals Utbe
woman's war" This settles one aues-
ton, that women will fight, choosing
their own weapons and mode of war
lare. After black men fought in the late
Rebellion the nation gave them freedom
and the ballot, because it was said that
they had earned it. If this severe con-
test with rum-sellers, by night and day,
in rain and sleet and snow, earns the
ballot for women, so far so good. / no.
tice the clergy of all orthodox denomi-
nations sustain the mOyement-actually
counteEance women in preaching, pray
ing and singing to promiscuOus as
semblies in the public streets, 'instead
Of asking questions Of their husbands
nnn irffnnnpfnrr fhaff1 q hnuaa - fhre
Obeying the injunctiOns of Paul.
If this demonstration, carried on by
leading women in the several churches,
forever settles the question of woman's
right to speak and act for the public
good, and cOmpels Brooklyn Presbyter
ries, School Boards and that ilk to re-
verse their decisions, there is anothe-
point gained.
suppose those of us here assembled
are all agreed on the general question of
intemperance, that il is a social, moral,
political calamity, sapping the very
foundations of natural virtue, strength
and prosperity. Statistics show that
most of the crime and pauperism in the
country can be traced directly to the
drom shops-for drunkenness is to-day
our great national vice. Its victims fill
our poor-houses, jails, prisons, aslyums
and hospitals. The deaf, the dumb, the
blind, the insane paupers and orphans
are all the legitimate children of alcoho
in some form. Many of the terrible ae
cidents by land and sea can be traced t.
the same cause. Its victims cove
at every hearth-stone-in our pulpits
editorial chairs, and legislative assem-
blies, shadowing all our lives.
The taxes on whisky, its sale and Ii
eense, occupy large space annually il
our statutes. But nothing effective ha
vet been accomplished for the repression
of intemperance.
If, then, women, with exhortations
psalms, prayers, faith and enthusiasm
can end all this in a grand pentecOsta
Outpouring of the spirit of God, as wei
as whisky barrels and demijohns, why
should there not be a grand national re
joicing from Maine to Texas. Thii
might be the best way yet suggested o
celebrating the Centennial, q nationa
holiday which the people of your Stat,
seem just now in danger of bearing il
responsibilities and glOries quite alone
Instead Of taxing the nation 500, 1000,
900 for demonstration in Philadelphia
would il not be better TO save SlOO, 900,
900 by a universal crusade on dram
shops, wine cellars and distilleries?
This is one view of the case, but ther
is another, and quite as important, II
summing up the principles Of just gov
eminent.
So long as the nation legalizes tn
manufacture, importation, and sale {
whisky, and licenses its agents all owe
the land TO deal il out to the people, b
what right is the war carried on and Ill
traffic made disreputable? tits not wis
to play fast and lose in this way wit
principles of equity, and confuse uI
thinking minds as TO the province
law.
If dram-selling and distilling al
crimes against the higher law, let l
saw so in our statute books, and act a.
cordingly. If the traffic promotes Il
best interests of the nation, and is
respectable a branch of business tn;
whisky dealers may be deacons and e
ders in churches, Congressman, Sta
Legislators, leaders of ton, why distuI
the dram-shOp keepers They but carr
ont the policy of Deacon Jones and Il
Hon. John Doe
This whisky war; as now waged,
mob law, nothing more or less, an
neither church influence, psalms nc
prayers can sanctify il. Though "
may wink at mob law in a good caus
We are educating the people to use it
bad one.
Here, where we have no popes
kings, no royal family or apostolic de.
censiOn, nothing in our human relation
TO call out reverence and awe, law 10 @,
people should be holy thing, and III
ballot-boX the holy of holies.
As every man and woman i'm tn
republic are soverigns in their ow
right, responsible for the laws and co,
stitutions, we should see that they Ike,
pace with the public sentiment of II
people. 1t is the right and duty of evel
woman to use her moral power in ever
way for the safety of her country al
the preservation Of Republican instit
tlons, and at every election, municip
and national, seal her power and mai