Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-30
70 a-iT . For the SPECTATORS.
The Woman's Temperance Movement

L
1t can hardly be denied by, any that the
convention of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, held in this city. has
left an impression upon our Community,
That the impression is o good, one will be
questioned by some, and the endeavor te
depreciate the entire movement will he
quite as natural. 1t is somewhat novel IN
form and, calculated to- lgiveF to- woman
prominence in a sphere in which. we are
slow to accord her rightfnl place. 40.
tive participation in public lamentations
and lectures before public audiences have
been, in our opinion, questionable positions
for woman to fill. Their place is the home
sphere, the quiet of the family circle. the
privacy OF domestic life, and hence to show
| them honor is one of the primary Instincts
alike of the chivalrous and Christian senti-
ment OF our people. Without this domain,
we are apt to grow suspicious of her infu-
ence and motives, if not to abate Just a
little that delicate regard in which she is
held. Asi-we are slow torecede from such
a position, because it is honorable alike to
both sexes.
1t is, however, well to weigh our .judg-
ments on all social questions, and to see
that they stand the test of practical rea
son. To hold opinions is very easy and
common; to be assured that these are well
founded and truly serviceable, that they
rest upon what will best promote sacred in
terests is less easy and common. And yet
this latter cause is the only wise one. So
ciety is constantly changing. While civil
lization moves forward in its course, there
are almost innumerable attending evils,
which are variable in their form and inf1u-
ence. To meet these, change of method
is necessary. In proportion to the hold of
any vice upon the community, will the
measures to meet and resist it be extraor-
binary and .justifable. 1t is the mans
duty to protect his wife and children against
the burglar, yet if he is too cowardly to do
it, we honor the woman who possesses suf-
ficient courage and strength to beat out the
brains of the thief in defence of her prop
erty. The application to the case in hand
is easy. Intemperance is great evil, the
greatest single evil of our age. Its most
deadly attack is upon the home, which is
the very citadel of society. Through this
it reaches and poisons every department of
life. To deny that woman has the right to
protect this, the home, is tantamount to
denying that she has any rights in it. The
way in which she undertakes to do this is
questioned, but in the presence of a great
evil, one that is destroying her own life
and that of her family, any method, not
immoral, that promises relief Is justifable.
1t is not so much the method of obtaining
dress as the magnitude of the evil that
should occupy our attention. When wo-
man is the chief sufferer, then surely she
has the right to be active in self elf-protection.
To deny her this right, is to remand her to
that condition of abject slavery occupied
by woman in the Orient.
To all who attended the exercises of the
recent convention, the moderation of these
women could hardly fail to be observed.
They we're temperate in their views, wo-
manly in their manner and utterances, and
devout in spirit. 1t was repeatedly af-
firmed that they did not seek to usurp the
place of the Gospel. of the politician, or of
the citizen. Their object is self-protection
against great social evil. After long and
bitter suffering, after patient waiting upon
men for such legislation as would give re-
dress, and such waiting followed by con-
slant growth of the evil, they are impelled
by the necessities of the case to take the
work of reformation in their own hands.
And the measures they propose to employ
are not carnal. In humble reliance upon
God, and trusting in the promises of His
Word, they have entered uDOn this mis-
sion. Will they succeed? That rests with
God, and there they are willing to leave it,
This movement Will become general.
There is that in it which touches the deep
symparhies of woman's nature, and in
spires her with purpose that will not soon
retire before opposition. That it may run
into extravaganza and the excess of fanati-
cism is the chief danger. All who enlist
in this movement will not be as temperate
in spirit and language as were these repre-
sentatives. Any great movement is in dan
ger from wild and unreasonable spirits,
and none so much as those that appeal
most strongly to the emotional nature. The
friends of this movement should be alive
to this danger and guard against it. In the
hands of fanatical ladies the cause will run
to inevitable ruin. That moderation which
follows upon the conu,ctige power of the
Divine Word will prevent that excess which
needs to be most feared. If the movement
has been born of this principle, which is a
divine one, and continues TO let that domi-
nate in all its methods and aims, why, then,
there is success in it. With God on their
side, these women may we'll be strong and
confident. While this Union remains true
to the spirit and aims evinced in this con-
vention, we wish it a hearty God-specd.
Nor can we men afford ito stand off and
look on.'' To let our wives, mothers, and
sisters fight this battle alone, would be nei-
ther brave nor Christian. They have a.
claim upon our practical sympathy and
cooperation 1t is not affirmed that they
need our superior aoisdom and tact in man
aging and directing the movement but
that they need our help. To the friends of
Christian temperance everywhere, this ap-
peal dare not be neglected. AS political
movement, it would merit suspicion, but
this is not such. 1t is pre-eminently moral
and religious, originating in our Christian
homes, protecting them from the destroyer,
and through them, purifying the entire So
cial and political atmosphere. That they
may succeed, is our hope; that they are
right, we are sure. CITIZEN.
Staunton, September Goth.