Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-19
A Word To Women.

Iwish TO repeat and to emphasiz,
the advice given by Mrs. Stanton and
Miss Anthony in their circular letteI
to the members of the National Wo
man Suffrage Association-"Stand by
the Republican party" Although
women do not vote at presidential
elections, they exert large politics
influence, which cannot be measured
but which is potent, felt and recog
nized. In no recent presidential cam
paign has there been more impera.
tive need of wOman's throwing her
entire moral force on the right side
than in the present instance.
regret that the National Prohibi
ton party at the convention In Pitts
burg showed itself unequal to the sit
uation. 1t failed to give to its mos,
powerful allies the recognition which
was their due. Women had worked
for it, and what position it had
achieved was largely due 20 their eff
forts. But ii seemed to be willing t(
use the National Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, organized in forty
states and territories, with more thar
one hundred and fifty thousand mem
bers, only as stepping-stone, to hell
it to climb into national prominence
for in its platform it made prohibition
of the liquor traffic a national ques
ton, demanding for it nationa
amendment to the constitution. Bu'
woman suffrage, through which alone
prohibition can be obtained, it rele'
gated to the various states for set
Element. This is putting the cart be-
fore the horse with vengeance; fol
as Mrs. Stanton truly declares, 'Pro
hibition cannot secure woman suf
frage. But woman suffrage is thu
only power through which prohibition
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 ant
the education of children, through ths
dissemination of temperance litera
ture and public meetings they have
accomplished much during the las
ten wears. These agencies of wOrl
and influence are still in their posses
sion. In the meantime the Nationa
Prohibition party may learn that III
women workers are self-respecting
and may come to recognize as of ma
tional Importance not only prOhibi
ton but the question of woman's lega
equality with man.
But there is another reason WHY
women, this year, should "stand b!
the Republican party" Women ar
not more the victims of mans drunk
enness than of his consuming lust. A
| liquor seller is not greater foe to tn
happiness of woman, or of the com
munity, than is an habitual libertine
Drunkenness and RIGHTEOUSNESS ar,
twin evils, and the debauchee is usu
ally addicted to both vices.
When, therefore, great political part,
nominated man for the chief magis
tracy of the nation who ia charge,
with the gravest and most heinous sin
against " omen they should not b,
dumb witnesses of this insulting ant
demoralizing act. When, in addition
some of our AOblesi men, at whose fee
we have sat for ethical teaching ant
religious inspiration, after informin,
us that "the paramount issue of thi
campaign is moral rather than politi
cal, land that the whole question hinge
on the moral character of the presiden
tial candidate-then proceed to advO
cate the claims of this libidinous maj
to the presidency, it is the duty of al
4 rr,hn cfonl Cor cAciol vNnrifv- 4,
protest earnestly and persistently.
The treatment of the grave charge
against Gov. Cleveland by some of tn,
most RESPECTABLE journals of the day j
as amazing as it is reprehensible
These charges are tacitly admitted blu
it is declared that they do net rende
him unfit for the high office TO whicl
he is nominated. 1.-THE chastity o
unchastity of public men of nationa
repute, and nomination for Office be
fore the people of the whole country
is not a proper subject for discussion,
we are told. And that "a man ma,
be a private reprobate and yet be
paragon of public excellence" In tn
presence of our young sons shall W
silently assent TO this debased sent
ment which the press has revealed (
us during the last few weeks!
Let us remember that there is M
sex in guilt. Those vices which mel
condemn in women, and for which
they relegate them to obscurity, an,
subject them ostracism, are not to b.
condoned by women when men ar
guilty of them. Social impurity faint
the whole being, and untones and dc
braves the Intellectual character, as al
of us know who have worked anon
the fallen of our sex. After twely
wears of service on board of direC
tors of o Magdalen asylum there
left in my mind an abiding conviction
that no vice so damages not only th
physical and moral, but the ment,
nature, as that Of licentiousness.
If Gov. Cleveland be the immOr,
man he is represented-and there his
been no responsible denial of III
charge, which was in current circul,
ton long before he was thought {
for the Presidency-he is wholly unf
to be the standard bearer Of the Anne
lean people. A man whose priva'
character would exclude him from d,
cent society should not be installed
the White House as the host OF ii
nation and the dispenser of its hosp
talities. Could respectable women
expected to attend the receptions
such President!
Either James G.. Blaine or Gov
Cleveland will be elected to the pres
dency. There is no chance for Go
St. John; immaculate as he is in
respects. Were an habitual drunkal
nominated for the presidency wome
would work to prevent his election b
all fair and honest means. The eiev
ton to the chief magistracy of Q
habitually unchaste man would be
eauaI calamity. Shall not all womt
. exert their influences to hinder so u
e fortunate contamination? And Il
!, surest way to do this is to "stand
the Republican party" Its candidat
for president and vice-president a
able men, whose long years of alb
service have entitled them TO the
e ogcnition they have received. Th'
!. are neither drunkards nor libertin'
: and their relations with women are
0 noble that they will be accompanied
. he national capital by wives Al
women friends Of rare Intelligent
: high culture and unquestionable moi
t worth. MARY A. LIvERNORE.
!. MeIro.e, Mass, Aug. Z, 1884.
J.
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