The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-11-26
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE
UNION.
rnIrRrs1pENr REpoRr-coNrNUED.


with the lethargy which was upon
individuals, churches and the nation
n few years ago, we cannot doubt
that this organization has been q
potent agent in producing the rapid
change. To an extent which was
never true before, all classes are
to-day taking stand on one side or
the other of this most important
question. Men and women are
learning that this is an issue which
cannot be ignored; that, as of old,
he that is not for us is against us.
Young men are learning that they
cannot maintain q place in good
society, while they indulge in even
moderate drinking. Young ladies
more and more shun any intimacy
with those who enter the saloons.
Ministers find that temperance is a
gospel theme, and as such is not out
of place in the house of God. Even
that most conservative of all
churches-thc Roman Catholics
taking stand upon this subject
which must surprise and delight all
Christian hearts. Lawyers find
that temperance is not so unpopular
that they need fear to base the issue
of case upon its merits. Even
physicians, upon most indisputable
evidence, are growing to admit that
alcohol is not the tabled can de cie,
and that its apparent effects are
often not real, and may be obtained
with much better results 10y other
substances.
On the other hand, the forces
under the alcoholic demon, are
organizing themselves, and prepar-
ing to fight as for their lives. 1t is
estimated that every saloon controls
ten votes. Liquor Dealers Associa-
tions dot the land; and national
syndicate forthe promotion of alcohol
ism has been formed, consisting Of
2O2.2 62 brewers, distillers and deal
ers, united by a common interest
and by formal organization. "This
syndicate commands capital esti-
mated at 81, 200, 600, 000-invested
in business, distilleries and dram
shops altogether constituting an
enormous machinery for the manu-
facture, sale and supply of poisoned
drinks" That the United States
government is accessory to this, is
shown by the fact that it issued dur
ing the year 1884, 1SS, 2SS especial
permits F" TO retail alcoholic drinks.
Think of it. This alcohol syndi-
cate with its enormous capital and
with some two million votes at its COM
mand, is made a fiscal agent of the
general governments! From it,
through these especial permits, .
are collected about ninety million
dollars year.
Is it not evident, then, that the
armies of God and Satan are again
spreading themselves abroad? Ant
the battle is not TO be fought il
America alone, but in all civilized
countries, and even in our little
HaardE 1ei
Thus 1t has come 10 pass tnat tn'
temperance question is taking pro
minent place in politics. The rapic
rise of the Prohibition party is on,
of the most striking and interestin!
signs of the times. A party whicl
at its first presidential election coult
command 100000 votes, and whicl
at the second election in Ohio ha
nearly doubled the votes of yea
ago, must command the attention o
the country and its adherents ma.
no longer be called bot-heade'
fanatics, but must be admitted to b
what they are, the best men of tn
nation, laboring to overthrow th
greatest and most universal iniquit,
of the present age.
On this our first anniversary, TIL
little w. c. L. L. of the Hawaiian
Islands comes together tonight wit
no heroic tales, nor songs of victory
Our right to be exists rather in tn
needs about us, than in any grea
work achieved. The first suggestion
toward the formation of this Union
was made by Miss Francis K. viii
lard, the beloved president of th
National Woman's Temperate
Union of America. Some three an,
half years ago, she wrote to tn
president of the Y. Nj. c. A. here
inquiring about the condition O
temperance work in this country an
asking if it would not be possible t
organize Il Woman's Christian Ten
perance Union here. The letter wa
answered by one of the ladies, an
correspondence ensued which +,
suited in the coming here year az
of Mrs. Mary c. Leavitt, of blesse
memory.
Our Union was undertaken wit
many fears, and with great timidit,
We were all of us entirely inexpe
fenced in temperance work. Wit
feminine instinct we Shrank from Ii