Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-15
"Stand by the RepubIlcan Party.,


Morals aud Public Issues.
wish to repeat and to cmphnsize tho nd.
vico given by Mrs Stanton aud Miss Anlho.
NY in their circular letter to the mombers Of
the National Woman Suffrage Association
STAND by THE RErUBL1cAN PARTY" Al
though women do not vote at presidential
elections, they exert a large political infu-
onco, which cannot be measured, but which
is potent, felt and recognized. In no recent
presidential campaign has there been more
imperative need of womans throwing her
entire moral force on the right side than in
the present instance.
regret that tho National Prohibition par
ty at the convention in Pittsburg showed IT,
self unequal to the situation. It failed to
give to its most powerful allies the recogni-
ton which was their due. Women had work.
ed for it, and what position it had achieved
was largely due to their efforts. But it
seemed to be willing to use the National
Womans Christian Union, organized in forty
states aud territories with more than one
hundred and fifty thousand MEMBERS only as
q stepping stone, TO help II climb into nation
nj prominence. For in its platform II made
prohibition of the liquor traffic national
question, demanding for II a national amend
mont to tho constitution. But woman suf-
frnge through which alone prohibition can
be obtained, it RELOCATED to the various states
for settlement. This is putting the cart be-
foro the horse with vengeance For Rs
Mrs. Stanton truly declares, prohibition can
not secure woman suffrage. But woman suf-
frage is the only power through which pro-
hibtion can be secured"
All temperance women can continue to
work for their great cause through the moral
agencies at their service Through the church
and Sunday school, through platform speech
and the temperance education of children,
through the dissemination of temperance lit
erature and public meetings they have ac-
complished much during tho last ten years.
These agencies Of work and influence are
still in their possession. In the meantime
the National Prohibition party may learn
that its women workers are self citing,
and may come to recognize as of national i'm
portanco not only prohibition but the ques-
ton of woman's legal equality with man.
But there is another reason why women,
this year. should stand for the Republican
party" Women are not moro tho victims of
mans drunkenness than of his consuming
lust. A liquor seller is not greater foe to
the happiness Of woman, or Of tho commun-
ity, than is an habitual ibertinc. Drunken
ness aud RIGHTEOUSNESS are twin evils, and
the debauchoe is usually addicted to both
vices.
When, therefore, great political party
nominates a man for the chief magistrcy of
the nation who is charged with the gtayest
and most heinous sins against women they
should not be dumb witnesses of this insult
ing and demorazng act When, in addition,
some of our noblest men, at whose feet we
have sat for ethical teaching and religious in
spiration, after informing us that 'Ihe para
mount issue of this campaign is moral rather
than political, " and that the whole question
hinges on the moral character of the prosi-
dental candidate-then proceed to advocate
the claims Of this libidinous man to the pres
dency, it is the duty of all women who stand
for social purity to protest earnestly and per
sistently.
The treatment Of the grave charges against
Gov. Cleveland by some of the most respec
table journals of the day is as amazing as it
is reprehensible. These charges are tacitly
admitted, but it is declared that they do not
render him unfit for the high office to which
he is nominated. 'The chastity or unchasti-
ty of public men of national reputo, and
nominated for Office before the people of the
whole country, is not a proper subject for
discussion, we are told. Aud that "a man
mLy be private reprobate and yet be par
agon of public excellence" In the presence
of our young sons shall we silently assent to
this debased public sentiment which the
press has revealed to US during the last few
weeks?
Let us remember that there is no sex in
guilt Those vices which men most condemn
in women, and for which they relegato them
to obscurity and subject them to ostracism
are not to be condoned by women when men
are guilty of them. Social impurity taints
the whole being, and untones and depraves
the intellectual character, as all of us know
who have worked among the fallen of our
| own sex. After twelve years of service on
a board of directors of Magdalen asylum
there is left in my mind an abiding convic-
tion that no vice so damages not only the
| physical and moral but the mental nature,
as that of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
! II Gov. Cleveland be the immoral man he
is represented-and there has been no re-
sponsibe denial of the charge, which was in
current circulation long before he was NOM
mated for the presidency-he is wholly unfit
! to be the standard bearer of the American
people. A man whose private character
| would exclude him from decent society should
not be installed in the White House as the
host of the nation and the dispenser of its
hospitalities Could respectable women be
| expected to attend the receptions of such a
! President?
Either James q. Blaine or Gov. Cleveland
will be elected to the presidency. There is
no chance for Gov st. John, immaculate as
he is in all respects. We're an habitual
drunkard nominated for the presidency wom-
en- would work to prevent his election by all
fair and honest means The elevation to the
chief magistracy of an habitually unchaste
man would be an equal calamity. Shall not
all women exert their influence to hinder so
unfortunate consummaton And the sur
est way to do this is to "Stdnd By the Re
| publican party" Its candidates for Presi-
dent and Vice President are able men, whose
long years of public service have entitled
them to the recognition they have received.
They are neither drunkRrds nor libertines,
and their relations with women are so noble
that they will be accompanied to the national
capital by wives and women friends OF rare
intelligence, high culture and unquestioned
moral worth. MARY A. LIyERMoRE
Melrose, Mass, Aug. 7, 1884.