News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-11-04
Mrs. Perkins an Honor to Her Sex:

There are no men, women nor
children who wish their kindred and
neighbors and country well, but will
rejoice in the noble standing taken by
Mrs. J. l.. Perkins, of St. Johnsbury,
VT, delegate to the national conven-
ton of the W. G. T. u, on the rela-
ton of women of that association
with political temperance. And we
in Vermont can be all the more proud
of her because she halls from our own
Green Mountain State. AS the name
of this excellent band of women indi-
Gates, the ladies engaged in their good
work are supposed to follow on the
line given by their Master; to battle
with moral and religious weapons as
their leading idea, rather than to rely
on physical force. And the success
they shall attain will be measured
largely by the use of the means, the
most powerful in retaining and re-
forming the world.
Mrs. Perkins, at the Minneapolis
convention Monday night, we are in
formed by telegraph, Submitted a
report declaring it unwise for the
union to distinctly endorse any polit-
ical party, even the Prohibitionists,
and spoke in support of her report"
The greatest misfortune that could
possibly have befallen the union was
in their action in 1884, in engaging in
politics. Therein they became COM
batants in measures extending far be-
yond the single supposed purpose of
their organization, antagonized their
best friends, and injured the cause of
temperance. So long as these women
abstain from party politics they will
command the respect of the best men
of all parties, who will be ready at
all times to render to them in their
moral and religious work every assist
ance. There are other aspects to the
temperance cause than political and
directly legislative, the educational,
moral and religious, upon which our
whole fabric Of government is based.
Withdraw or paralyze these infuen-
ces and government by legislation
would be only an attempt, soon to
terminate in bloodshed, anarchy and
chaos.
We need the work of women in the
great temperance reformation, and
their accomplishments will be meas
ured by mans respect for them. They
can exercise a tremendous influence
over society, and especially over the
young, but as an executive force, can
not accomplish what man cannot do
himself. In undertaking mans re-
sponsibIlities they will not only fail,
but will impair their influence, and in
stead of being attractive will become
repulsive. The moral influence of
woman should be spared to her, for
this is her great and only strength. A
good mother is the strength of her
family, and in the great majority of
cases is the moral character of the
children in maturity. The opportu-
mites that are lost by woman cannot
be repaired by politics and legislation.
Happy should the home be that has
a good Christian mother in it, and for
tunate the community Of good moth
ers. They can, if they will, inculcate
morality and exercise restraint beyond
the power Of the law TO copy or en-
force.
We wish all women were as good |
as the best of women are, then there
would be less need of laws. In edu-
eating the boys, the girls should not be
in after years their infu-
ence will be potent for good, passive
or evil. The mothers and women of
one generation are responsible for the
mothers and women of the next, and
there is nothing that can change or
shift the responsibility. Boys and
girls, and men and women are strong
as they govern themselves, and this
strength of character comes from
on moral foundations. As
Mrs. Perkins directs the attention of
her great association away from poll
tics, leaving to men these things, and
labors for the development Of tenn
perance moral character in young and
old, she will be respected and hon.
pred by all good men, and women too,
and in the end will obtain her reward.
st. Albans Messenger.