The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-01
LETTER FROM MRS. LoUGHARY.


To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The great and growing evil of intem-
perance is so rapidly increasing in It's
tendencies and fearful effects as to be
alarming to all peaceable and law-abid-
ing citizens. Such is the demoraliza-
ton and corruption in our small towns
and villages, where we have not the i'm
mediate protection from municipal laws,
as to be truly appalling.
Our once quiet villages are resonant
with vile blasphemies, quarreIs, and
blows, and even human blood is made
to flow at midday. The nights are
made hideous with the most revolving
and sickeuing deeds, as the result of the
drinking saloons that are protected by
law while engaged in their deadly work.
Parents are reluctant, and mahy posi-
lively refuse to send their children to
the towns and villages for the benefits
of the schools and colleges, because of
the poisonous influences of a society
contaminated with drunkenness; all
and halls of benevolent and reform So
cieties, the efforts of which to reform
drunkenness have been futile. Appeals
have from time to time been sent up to
our law makers for prohibitory laws for
our protection. Suffering humanity
cries aloud for help, but from whence
must this help come?
In the proceedings of the late Grand
Lodge of:the 1. o. G. T., notice that
committee was appointed to secure pc
titioners for the approaching Legisla-
ture, asking the right for women to vote
on the license question, which seems to
be step in the right direction. 1t is
apparent to all temperance workers that
legal enactments for the suppression of
| this evil is the only hope. This, with
any satisfactory results, can not be ex-
pected with the present number of legal
voters who are true temperance men.
Thousands of women all over the land
are pleading for legal power to help in
this hour of peril.
Men and women are anxiously wait
ing to sign petition to bring it about.
Twenty-Five thousand names could be
secured with a little effort. Such list
of names of the very best citizens of the
State surely could not be ignored by
that honorable body. Suffragists every
where will be too glad to help, as it
would, if granted, be our "entering
wedge" for universal suffrage. 'Tis
said that true reforms never retrograde,
but it does seem that the temperance
reform is brought to a standstill, because
of the prejudices that are in the way of
woman's needed power. How many
thousands of helpless and hapless men
must go down to untimely drunkards'
graves before mems prejudices will
soften? how many more homes made
desolate? how many heartaches and
untold SORROWS and sufferings before
men will accept as an only alternative
woman's aid?
1t very much lessons my faith in any
mans temperance principles who will
refuse to accept woman's aid while a
whole nation is threatened with destruc-
ton.
General Custer, with his little hand
ful of men, surrounded by 1000 Sioux,
was in no more imminent danger than
we. Their fate was immediate, but
noue the more sure. When will men
learn wisdom? The prophet Isaiah
says, "The OK knoweth his masters
crib, and the master his owner, but nly
people doth not consider"
H. A. LOUGHARY.
Amity, August q, 1876.