The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-10
WOMAN'S WORK IN THE TEMPERANCE
FIELD.

I approach this subject with doubts of my abil-
ity to fully investigate it in all its essential bear
ings. The position which women occupy before
the law renders the case more difficult to treat
than it would be if they had the right Of suffrage
but that right is not far distant. However action
is needed at once and it is the design of this art
Gle to point out woman's work in the temperance
field. There is need of moral suasion and there
is need of legal suasion.
Women are conversant with the effects of
drunkenness in the common walks of life as well
as in high places. Upon them fall heavily the
sorrows, cares and blows inflicted by drunken
husbands fathers, brothers others with whom
they are concerned. Physically, they are unable
to protect themselves. Legally they can prose-
cute for breach of the peace; but the fines take
from the drunkards families the means Of their
support. Womans work in the temperance field,
therefore, is made effective by moral suasiOn, by
sympathy, by frmness of purpose, in frowning
down in all prudential ways the of all intoxi-
eating drinks as beverages.
There is one matter of vital Importance to which
I would desire to turn the attention Of young
ladies and their mothers: There are very many
fast young men in our country who put on
specious appearance, who are in many cases 'ga-
dies men," who have not yet become drunkaris
and gamblers, but are that grade, though Sc
cretly. These chaps insnuate themselves into
the home circles of respectable families, and are
often treated with marked respect. From friend
ship the road to love is short. Many young ladies
fall in love with such young men, and their par
ents often appreciate the attachments. They be-
lieve that after marriage such fast young men,
having "sown their wild oats" will become sober,
steady husbands.
There are scores of the best young women in
our state who marry tipplers and rakes OF
course, these fellows conceal their true character,
and promise, if suspected, to forsaIe the company
and practices in whisky dens. Where one such
man becomes reformed after marriage, twenty of
them will continue their downward course. In
temperance hardens the hart, blunts and destroys
natural affection, and renders its victims un-
worthy Of the love and respect of kindred and
friends As the love of gambling, whisky and
vile company increases, the love for wife, parents
and friends decreases.
If young women and their fathers desire to
bring about the reformation of tipplers and gam
blers let them try their skill upon them by hold
ing them aoof on trial for a long time.
1t is said that reformed rakes make the best
husbands. This I deny in toto. A reformed
drunkard is never safe. Men have been known
TO abstain for months, and even years. and under
peculiar temptations to fall to ruin.
Drunkards, or tipplers, who are only incipient
drunkards, have contracted disease which will
cleave to them more or less through life. They
transmit this disease to their innocent offspring
Hence children are born Of drunken parents with
depraved appetite for spirituous liquors.
II our 'fastn young men or widowers are to be
reclaimed by the sacrifice Of an equal number o.
our women, then let them plunge into drunkards
graves unmarried. The mark Of Cain should res
upon all men who use ardent spirits bever
age. They should be treated by all ladies as un
worthy of their company and love.
To the wives Of drunkards turn with pity
They can by their kind influence prevent thei
sons from going i'm the way of their fathers; anC
perhaps they may, to some extent, influence the
husbands to better lives. The ladies Of this State
are doing nobly in the temperance work lie
them aid in organizing temperance societies
and clubs Of every order. We must organize juve
nile societies for the children, and have pledges
for them, by which they will agree to abstain
from intoxicating drinks, from tobacco and from
gambling In this way, we can save the rising
generation. My good mother saved her six sons
7 call upon all the ladies in Oregon to hell
educate public sentiment and labor for civil dam
are laws and laws to take care Of the drunkard
and protect their families, and as possible
70 obtain prohibition law, by which the accurse'