The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-08
Women Lecturers.

made that Mrs. Judith Ellen Foster
was to lecture in Louisville under the
auspices of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, we felt a desire
that some one would let us know
what sort of a lecture to expect. AS
she has announced her intention of
making a lecturing tour through the
south, we will endeavor to give some
account of her proceedings for the
benefit of others.
One of the largest halls of the city
was well filled with an attentive and
appreciative audience. A few min
utes after the hour she was introduced
by Rev. DIR. Williams. She COM
menced with an eXhortation to all
the temperance people to "en-
dure," endure" endure" the great
wrongs imposed upon them by the
liquor interests. Then she spent a
half hour telling how the supreme
court of Iowa has erred in its decision
as to the legality of the last conStitu-
tional amendment. Had man ut
tered the criticism, he would probably
have spoken of more difiidence and
respect for the court than Mrs. Foster
used.
Then she entered upon her subject.
1t was nOminally temperance lee
ture, but really it was a mixture of
politics, temperance, woman's rights,
and the social problems of the day.
A large part of the address was de-
voted to proving that there is no
matter of principle at issue between
the Democratic and the Republican
parties, at the present. This is the
most artful argument in favor of the
Republican party that possibly could
be uttered in state so largely opposed
to that party. She spent much time
accounting for its late defeat at the
polls, and natural effect of her re-
marks was to arouse pity, or sympa-
thy, for the defeated party. She made
as many illusions to the necessity of
female suffrage as she dared, and held
| up for imitation the women of Iowa,
her "dear Iowa." in spending election
day around the polls. Between these
political pleas she sandwiched little
| temperance.
And what was the general impress
sion upon the nearer? Entertain
ing? Very. Witty? Decidedly so.
Humorous and captivating? Yes, to
such an extent as to prevent the
nearer (unless on the guard against
| being bewitched) from Analysing her
skillful address. But on sober thought
| it appears as one of the most mis-
| chieVouS addresses we have ever
| heard. 1t was plea for approval of
wOman'S deSertion of the fireside for
rostrum. Could she succeed in lead
ing our wives and daughters to leave
our homes unkept and our children
unframed, while they attend to the
hustings, she would break down the
most valuable barrier against intem-
peIYnce that exists. And her Ian
guage on this theme toward the gen.
tlemen in the audience was pert as to
arouse a feeling of disgust.
2. 1t was marked by painful de-
gree of masculinity. There was not
in it a particle of the spirit of "Let
them ask their husbands at home" but
rather the spirit of dictation to hus-
bands and to everybody. Very win
ningly was it spoken, but the spirit
pervaded her address.
3. 1t was marked by unpleasant, not
to say indelicate, plain-spokenness on
subjects that, in the south at least.
are considered unfit to be mentioned
in any promiscuous gathering. Her
language to young men was such as a
medical professor might use in his
lecture-r0om, but not such as pastor
would use in the pulpit, nor such as
may he quoted in these columns.
a.. Her effort to arouse the young
women of Louisville to leave their
true sphere where their influence is
mighty against evil, and enter the
arena of public life, would Off success
full so mar our homes as to leave
them unattractive, and would drive
multitudes of men who now love the
home hearth to seek comfort in the
saloon. Could she breathe her spirit
into our community, not only would
the evil far outweigh all the good she
is doing, but we apprehend that it
would outweigh also all the benefit
that would flow from the adoption of
prohibitory legislation by the state.
If the ladies OF our section feel a
necessity of concerted action by
women, upon the temperance ques-
ton, we hope they will make inquiries
whether the Woman's Evangelical
Temperance Union, which eschews
politics and the obnoxious fanaticism
of the day, is not more valuable
organization to promote this good
end. The fact that the "Woman's
Christian Temperance Union" en-
courages such addresses as the one
we heard, will restrain many true
friends of temperance from cO-opera-
ton with il.