The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-08-21
A WORD TO WOMEN.
Stand by the Republican Party.-Mrs.
Mary A. Livermore on Private Morals
and Public Issues.

Mary A. Livermore on Private Morals
and Public Issues.
I wish to repeat and to emphasize
the advice given by Mrs. S anton and
Miss Anthony in their circular letter
to the members Of the National
Woman Suffrage Association
''STAND BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Although women do not vote at Pres
idential elections, they exert large
political influence, which can@not be
measured, but which is potent, felt
and recognized. In no recent Presi-
Dental campaign has there been a
more imperative need OF womans
throwing her entire moral force on
. the right side than in the present in
stance.
regret that the National Prohibi-
tion party, at the convention in Pitts
burg, showed itself unequal to the sit
uation. 1t failed to give to its most
powerful allies the recognition which
was their due. Women had worked
for it, and what position it had
achieved was largely due to their ef-
forts. But it seemed to be willing to
use the National Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, organized In forty
States and Territories, with more than
one hundred and fifty thousand MEM
bers, only as stepping-stone to help
it climb into national prominence.
For, in its platform 1t made prohibit
ton of the liquor traffic a national
question, demanding for it national
amendment to the Constitution. But
woman suffrage, through which alone
prohibition Can be obtained, it relega-
ted to the various States for settle
ment This is putting the cart before
the horse with vengeance. For, as
Mrs. Stanton truly declares, ''Prohibi-
tion can not secure woman suffrage.
But woman suffrage is the only power
through which prohibition can be Sc
cured"
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 temper
ance literature and public meetings
they have accomplished much during
the last ten years. These agencies of
work and influence are still in their
possession. In the meantime the Ma
tional Prohibition party may learn
that its women workers are self-re-
specting, and may come to recognize
as of National Importance not only
prohibition, but the question of wom-
ans legal equality with man.
But there is another reason why
women this year should stand for the
Republican party" Women are not
more the victims Of mans drunken
ness than of his consuming lust. A
liquor seller is not greater foe to the
happiness Of woman, or of the COM
munity. than is an habitual libertine.
Drunkenness and licentiousness are
twin evils, and the debauehee is usu-
ally addicted to both vices.
When, therefore, great political
party nominates man for the Chief
Magistracy Of the Nation who is
charged with the grayest and most
heinous sins against women, they
should not be. dumb witnesses Of this
insulting and demoralizing act.
When, in addition, some Of our no.
blest men, at whose feet we have sat
for ethical teaching and religious in
spiration, after informing US that "the
paramount issue of this campaign is
moral rather than political" and that
the whole question hinges on the
moral character Of the Presidential
candidates-then proceed to advocate
the claims Of this libidinous man to
the Presidency, it is the duty Of all
women who stand for social purity to
protest earnestly and persistently.
The treatment Of the grave charges
against Grover Cleveland by some of
the most respectable journals of the
day is as amazing as it is reprehensi-
ble These charges are tacitly admit
ted, but it is declared they do not rem
der him unfit for the high office to
which he is nominated. 1.-THE cha stity
or unchastity of public men of ma
tional repute, and nominated for Of
flee before the people Of the whole
country, is not a proper subject for
discussion" we are told. And that "a
man may be private reprobate and
yet be paragon 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
condemn in women, and for which
they relegate 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 de-
praves the intellectual character, as all
of US know who have worked among
the fallen of our own sex. After
twelve years Of service on board of
directors of Magdalen asylum there
is left in my mind an abiding convic-
ton that no vice so damages not only
the physical and moral, but he men
tai nature, as that of licentiousness.
If Governor Cleveland be the i'm
moral man he is represented-and
there has been no responsible denial
Of the charge, which was in current
long before he was thought
Of for the Presidency-he is wholly
unfit to be the standard bearer Of the
American people. A man whose pri-
vate character would exclude him from
decent society should not be installed
n the White House as the host of the
Nation and the dispenser Of its hospi-
,alities. Could respectable women be
to attend the reception of
'uch President2
Either James G.. Blaine or Governor
Cleveland will be elected to the Presi-