New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-06
CRTSHING TIE CRNS4DERS.

I'm some parts of the country the WomanS
Temperance Movement still moves, although
without much of its pristine vehemence ana
velocity. Singuarly enough, it exhibits the
most spasmodc energy in California, while at
the other end of the Union, in Michigan, the
Lady Warriors are said to have encountered
an almost fatal foe in the Republican parry.
We are told by the Rev. Mr.. Whlttemorc' VINO
must speak the truth, of course, since ne Is a
clergyman, that the newspapers OF the party
aforesaid have "ail at once turned the cola
shoulder to the Crusaders" We do not know
why this should be. The aforesaid party GER
tainly was not organized to promote dram
drinking. There is nothing IN its various plat
forms. State and National, which asserts the
inalienable right of swigging lager. But Ihe
ADRIAN Press lets into the secret.
eve can tell" it says, "why these
"newspapers have done "a MIR. White
"more says 1t is because lack Chandler
land Gov. Bagley willed it, Nobody can
possibly understand the evils of intemperance
more thoroughly than Mr. Chandler and II
he had pleased he might have given authorl-
tatve information to Gov. Bagley on the
subject. And yet the Governor, prompted,
doubtless. by Mr. Chandler, has been twice
d" to Adrian, and there used his best efforts
/" to stop the crusade; and every particle or
" life that was in the temperance movement
I" WAS at once kicked ont of it," The leading
ladies' suffered themselves to be influenced in
a way which fills us with unmtigated grief
and profound Encouragement. The wives OF
all the Republican politicians heretofore
conspicuous i'm the enterprise became sud-
denly as silent as tho tomb. and no
more sang songs and prayed prayers at the
yawning doors of the "pestiferOus shebangs."
To use the coarse but effective language OF
the Adrian newspaper, the thing was
"squelched." Once more the toddy-stick re-
sounded in the festive saloons, and the
Teutonic beverage once more foamed high IN
the tall beakers. "What was done here" says
tbe Adrian journal, was done all over the
d" State" Because .whyf because lack
Chandler and Gov Bagley had willed it"
We are disappointed to hear such things OF
" tbe wives of the prominent Republican poll
" t;cians.r All! ladies, this will never do. 1t
has been predicted that the Michigan women.
sooner perhaps than those of any other State,
r;,, no elevated to tho delightful dignity OF
tbe suffrage. Are they, then, after becoming
free and enlightened voters, to be nothing
hotter than the personal property OF MT.
chandler and Gov. Bagley1 If these great
mon can control their singing and their pray
inc NOW. what surety have we that the dear
ladies' will take any better care OF their
,,o,osY WHY. we have thought the average
Crusader to be infinitely more consclen-
tious, vastly more in earnest, ihexpreSSiDiy
,,,oro enthusiastic than the average voter.
70
those ladies who have devoted themselves 10
the extirpation of q frightful social EVIL wouid
not make such bad voters after ALL We be-
o,n 70 be in q little hurry to see the great
exneriment tried in Michigan. And now we
are told that even there "the prominent Re-
"publican politicians" say to their wives
"Singw and they sing; Stop singing" and
they stop "Prayw and they go to their
knees; Stop praying" and their suppllcatlons
cease. Ii is a pretty state OF things indeed
when Mr.. Chandler can veto the praying II
the State of Michigan. We really hope that
there is some mistake about it. But the
"saloons are again open and unmolested.'
| Perhaps Gov. Bagley can explain.
We have been waiting patiently to see how
soon and how thoroughly the Republican poll
ticians would appropriate the new Temperance
Movement to their own uses and purposes
In certain States they will probably find il
profitable to encourage the excitement. In
Michigan it appears to be thought the best
policy to abate it altogether. Meanwhile the
moral responsibilities the case remain I'M
changed. incompetence, the mother of crime
and of misery, is no less uncomfortable to-day
than yesterday. Strong drink still kills, de-
grades, and ruins. The crusade is squelched.'
The demoraiinng traffic goes on. Mr.. Chandler
has kicked every particle Of life" Qyt of