The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-12
ARE MOTHERS TO BLAME 2

TIE nrst issue, and have written consid-
erably on the subject of "woman's
rights" for other papers, I don't know
that l have written any on the subject
for the NEW NORTHWEST. But having
read letter in the issue of March sth,
under the title of 'The Three Classes.u
wherein the writer undertakes to show
that the principal blame for intemper-
auce is with the parents Of boys, and es-
pecially with the mother; and having
read so many such lessons to weary and
overburdened mothers in other journals
Of the day, thought would venture a
few lines on the subject, in viudieation
Of the mothers.
Now, in this case the writer does not
PIT the case strongly, but brings it out
10 the inference. She gives two cases,
and shows that by good example and
teaching one boy grew to be sober and
respectable, and the other, by neglect
and the example of drinking at home,
became dissipated. Now, as general
rules these may do, but as specific they
won't, as we have abundant proof; and
yet there are thousands of careful, low
ing, and prayerful mothers who blame
themselves for the dissipation of their
disobedient sons, because they have
been taught from the pulpit and from
the press that the mother had the train
ing Of the boy, and if they became dis
sipated, the mother was to blame.
How absurd, how unjust, how cruel
The Spiritual Guide says, "Pray for
your sons; pray earnestly, and the Lord
will keep them sober" ," and the Temper
dace Guide says, "Train them by pre-
eept and example, aud they will keep
sober" The distressed mother says, II
have tried to do all this, but perhaps
did not try hard enough, or my boys
would have done better"
I have just been reading a lecture to
mothers in the american Home, which
brought me TO their defense. The writer
says, "Intemperate sons are the off
springs of either weak or neglectful
mothers; for in the earlier stages of
their lives they were completely under
their influence" etc.
Again, chad mothers trained their
sons Alright, they would not now be
! standing at the doors Of the halls Of leg
; isIatiOn, knocking for admission, ETC."
z Now just think of it, The mothers Of
! men to blame for their vices-drinking,
Z chewing tobacco, gambling, and de-
J bauchery. Preposterous in the extreme!
9 II is the same old story-'the woman
. you gavest me, etc" But what most
: hinders justice in these cases is, that o
- many women believe these absurd al
legations, so often made by the men,
that they are emboldened to repeat
, them. Now let me give a case to show
? our mothers where and how their boys
are trained, and in which training the
character is formed, in four cases out Of
five. For many years lived near the
city of Salem, a city noted for its intel
ligence and sobriety, aud having some
business with Judge - at one time, I
sent one of my little boys to him with a
message, ami when he had returned I
asked him why he stayed so long. He
said, "the Judge was not at his Office,
} and had to look good while before 1
, found him, and when I did find him,
he was at game Of cards in one Of the
fashionable saloons. "And," continued
the boy, "you have always told me that
it was not proper place for respectable
people, and if he is not respectable L
. would like to know who isup
E Now right here the boy took "new
3 departure" for he saw other notables
= there besides the Judge, and he came
3 to the conclusion that his parents were
e mistaken about it being improper to be
! about saloons. He saw these dignita-
I ries there, and they certainly would not
y be there If it was not fit place to be,
y 50 the mothers teaching and the fathers
example all went to aught. Now that
4, boy continued in the belief that il was
a highly respectable and very pleasant
h to visit orderly saloons and have a So
!, cial glass, a social cigar, aud a social
> game with such social company, and
e his two grown brothers share this belief,
e yet they never saw liquor or tobacco
= used at home, aud this is only one case
q in hundred that might name. None
+ Of these boys get drunk, but they are
.e liable to at some time if they continue
J. to visit saloons; aud if they do, who is
to blame? Their mother? think not.
IS Just think Of the situation of four-fifths
n Of the mothers in our country. They
n are compelled to bear children, and by
D, the time their boys are old enough t
p be trained in these matters-temper
e auee and sobriety-they are out il
= other company and surrounded by
D. other influences, and they soon come t,
'e think that their mothers must certainly
=, be mistaken about it being disreputa
le ble TO drink whisky and chew tobacco
because our learned men and judges
governors, presidents, senators, aud al
q most every body do so. Are mothers t
he blame that their sons are led of b.
of such iufluences2 The wonder is tina
II mothers can have any courage at ali t
w. do battle against such odds. o.
Sequel, California, March p, 1878.
it1
DR.. Adam Clark, who had stron
he aversion to pork, was called upon I