Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-05-08
The Great Temperance Movement.

For years and years, and weary suffering
wears. multiplied into decades, have the
women of America waited to see that traffic
DESTROYED which annually sends sixty thou
sand Of their sons. brothers, fathers and nus
bands into the irunkard's grave. They have
been impoverished, dlsgraced, tortured IN
mind and body. beaten, murdered. Under
the impulse OF maddening liquors, the hands
that were pledged before heaven to provide
for. and protect them. have withdrawn from
them the means Of life, or smitten them in
the dust. Sons whom they have nursed
upon their bosoms with tenderest love and
countless PRAYERS, have grown into beasts,
of whom they were afraid, or have sunk
into helpless and pititul slavery. They
have been compelled TO cover their eyes
with shame in the presence Of father
whom IL would have been bliss for them T.
hold in honor They have been compelled
to bear children 10 men whose habits had
untitled them tor parentage - children
not only tainted by disease. but endowed
with debased appetites. They have seen
themselves and their precious families
thrust into social degradation. and cut of
forever from all social life by the vice OF the
men they loved What the women Of this
country have suffered from drunkenness, no
mind, however sympathetic, can measure,
and no pen. however graphic. can describe.
Ii has been the uniath1mabie black gull
into which infatuated multitudes OF men
have thrown their fortunes, their health
and their industry, and out of which have
come only IN fire and stench-dish0n0r,
disease. crime, misery, despair and death
Ii Is the ab0mlnatiOn OF denominations, the
curse of curses. the hell Of hells
For weary, despalring years they waited
B. q -ss.
from further harm They have listened 10
lectures, they have encouraged temperance
societies. they have asked Tor and secured
legislation. and all u no practical good
end The politicians have played them
ial-e-the officers OF the law are uniaIthfui-
the government revenue thriyes On the thrIi-
tines Of their curse muititudes Ofthe clergy
are not only apathetIc IN their pulplts. but
self ln1ulgent ia their social hahIl--new--
papers do not help, but rather hinder them
the liquor interest. armed with the money
that should have bought them prosperity,
organizes against tnem-iashI0n opposes
them million fierce appetItos are arrayed
against tncm-and losing o.. faith II
men.-what can they do There e.
tnt one thing for them 10 do. There is but
one direction DO which they can look ami
that is upward The woman r temperance
movement. begun and carried on bv prayer,
j. " natural 10 IT'S birth and growth a. the
OAK tuai springs from the acorn IL GJt
and the god-like element 10 the women can
not help, there Is no help. II tie pulpit.
the pres, the politicians, the relorLer,,
the law. cannot bring reform, who Is LETT o.
d. il but GOD and the women We bow 20
this movement with reverence. We do not
stop % question methods. We DO ~; pause
o. query about permanent results. W
simply say 10 the glorious women engaged
ID This marvellous crusade May God help
and prosper YOU and give Won the desire Of
Your hearts 10 the fruit OF your .aburs
10 becomes men % be either humbiy
helpful W dumb We who have dallled
win this question we whl have dispas-
sionately drawn the line between temper
ance and total abstinence We who have
dep.0red drunkenness with wine
glasses IN our hands. We who have con
scented O. involve q great moral reform
IN politics We who have been politically
afraid of the power % the bruta. element
associated with the liquor traffic We who
have split hairs 10 our discussions Of pub
lie policy We VINO have given social sane
IIou 70 habits that 10 great cities have made
drunkards gt even the women themselves,
and led their sons and ours INTO q dl--1-
Lutte life we who have shown either our
uuwlLInEness or our impotence To save the
country from the guilt that yawns before
Il, can only step aside with shame-iaced
humility while the great crusade goes on.
or heartily give 10 It our approval and our
aid.
This i- meta crusade Of professional acita-
tors. cam0rIng for an abstrac, right, but
an enterprise of suffering, pure and devoted
women, laborinE Tor the overthrow of
concrete wrong. Ii is no pleasant holiday
business Ia which these women are engaged,
but one vt seli-denyin- hardship. pregnant
in every part with sense OF duty. Ii Is
the offspring of q grand religious impulse
which give g. our time Its one superb
touch OF heroism and redeems ID from it.
political debascment and the degradation OF
Its matorialism. Ii is a shame o. manhood
that Is necessary il = glory q woman
hood that 70 is impossible.
II the experience of the last century has
demonstrated anything. il Is that total
abstinence is only ground on which any
well-wIsher OF society can stand. Inc
liquor traffic has been bo.stered up for years
and Is strong to-day simply through Inhu-
ence which is deemed respectable. 1t must
be made infamous by the combination OF all
the respectable elements against II. Unjust
cease to be respectable to drink at a. Ii
must cease 10 be respectable TO rent build
Ing in which liquors are sold. There Is no
practicable middle ground. 50 long as men
drink temporarily. men viii drink intern
peTateiy, whether il ought 10 be 50 or not
and IL is with reference TO the Development
of healthy public opinion on this subject,
that we particularly rejoice in the woman :
crusade. Our own vision Is 50 blinded and F.
perverted that we can only see the deiorm
ity Of the monster which Expresses u /
through woman IS eyes. uplitted IN prayer, /
fearful In shame and suffering. or bright /.
in triumph as the sir0ngholds OF her life I
long enemy fall before her -&crlbncr s for /
MAY
The ADIRONDACK SURVEY The report on /