Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-14

Correspondence Of The Evening Star
LIVERPOOL, May 6, 1892.
have said something in protest against the
ignorance of and contempt for American insti-
tutions prevailing in these islands: but scarcely
had the manuscript left my hands when dis
covered that America had, in an English tongue
and an English heart. n newly-converted but
most warm, eanest and powerful champion.
who IN many ways will do much to dissipate
the ignorance and contempt 1 complained of
and to silence the ''holier-t han-thou'' talk that
is so much heard over here.
Il left America with the sense that during
the last six months had learned most lived
most. loved most, were the concluding words
of an interesting interview which Lady Henry
Somerset graciously accorded me shortly after
her arrival here from the United States. Lady
Somerset will be remembered as the dis
unguished temperance reformer who addressed
enormous gatherings in most of the great cities
OF the United States during the past six months,
and whom chairmen and chairwomen were so
fond OF referring to as 1.-The daughter of a hun
dred earls.' She was received on landing in this
city by large deputation of the British
Womens Temperance Association and at an en-
huslastlc meeting was presented with addresses
by the United Kingdom Alliance and the United
temperance Societies of Liverpool.
IMPRESSED BY AMERICAS GREATNESS.
at is impossible said Lady Somerset to me.
''to visit that great country of the larger hope
without being profoundly impressed by the
glory of its present and its oncoming civiliza-
ton. the ma5nificence of its commercial pros
perlty, the splendor of its western country.
whose wonderful cities are rising I'D with the
commerce of the world in the palms Of their
hands; but. more than anything else, have
been struck by the great throb of sympathy
that beats through the heart Of that nation for
all shat tends to build up the holiness of human
brotherhood. by the rare intelligence and sapac-
1ty OF It's women and by the existence in spite of
much evil corruption, of a living and sensitive
national conscience. L attribute this latter
quality largely to the influence Of the women.
1t Is impossible to note the growth of such
society as the WOmans Christian Temperance
Union. with its constituency OF 3OO. 900. without
recognizing that there is within that organiZa-
lion power that impresses itself on the M
tional life. The president. Miss Frances Will
lard. Is woman of such rare genius and such
varied gifts that she will leave mark on her
generation. and hers will rank in the future
among the names of the great reformers of the
past OF whom America is justly proud.
''Oh, how | wish" said Lady Somerset as
she clasped her hands and raised her ewes to
heaven to give emphasis to the fervor of her
exclamation. that this dear country of mine
would emulate America in one grand. God-sent
u
hood. saw no drunken women in its streets,
while they may, unfortunately, SO often be seen
here. Never but twice at an American hotel
table hote did see a woman touch wine or
beer. and as travelled through the land felt
that would willingly give all held most dear
if l could ray the same of this country. This
was the first grand feature of American life
that called to the attention of my friends on
my return. told them that ii n woman went
into saloon in America she would, if it became
known, Immediately lose her standing
in every respectable element of society.
and l will appeal to my friends every
where to help in bringing about the
same condition of things here. In America
little children are not seen running to the
saloons with bottles and tin cans for beer as
you will see here, and thus you have averted
one of the greatest dangers of childhood. The
saloon and its peyfls are at least confined to men.
You have not even barmaids. as we have here.
Oh. it is pitiable to know that there are thou
sands of splendid-loOking and intelligent young
women hourly brought face to face with the
temptations that are inevitably associated with
the bars of public houses. know temperance
workers in London who have seen young women
fall from the bar to the lowest depths of dissi-
patton; and these poor girls began their liquor
selling careers solely with the honest intention
of earning livelihood. As have said, you are
much blessed in America in not having this sad
state of affairs to deal with.
LIQUOR IN POLITICS.
"Another thing was forcibly struck with in
nv trsvels-that in America to be engaged in
the liquor traffic debars man from many
social privileges and causes him, no matter how
great his wealth, to be generally looked down
upon except by the politicians. 1 wish, again,
that this were the case here. In olden days
England kept her honors for her Nelson's, her
Wellingtons and her Havelocks. Today the
men who brew the strongest XIX or the gin dis
tiller who can place on the market more than
| anybody else are raised to be the perpetual
legislators for the country" said Lady Somer-
| set, referring to the Guinnesses and the large
| drink manufacturers now in the house of lords.
1.-The British peerage," sine continued, sis be-
| coming the British beerage, and what used to
be the blue blood of the We're de We're is altering
| into the fiery liquid of the beer de beer"
In one respect. however, Lady Somerset
| said that the drink traffic in America had a
| worse aspect than it had i'm England. There
| the saloon had more political influence and in
| that lay Americas greatest danger. A member
of Mr. Harrison's government had admitted to
her that both Of the great political parties
catered to the power of the saloon, notwith-
standing that the best element Of each party
would stamp it out if it dared.
Personally" said her ladyship, ~ owe
America a debt Of gratitude. Wherever went
| loving hands were held out to greet me, loving
1 hearts babe me welcome, flowers were strewn
|
seemed the passport to love and loyalty. May
| God bless Americas women and her men, too. "
| DRINKING IN LIVERPOOL.
No doubt these contrasts in the lives Of the
two great English-speaking countries that Lady
Somerset pointed out to me she win also point
! out to many British audiences in the near
| future and it is probable that the temperance
advoc.. .es in the house Of commons will re-echo
her words when discussing liquor legislation.
| They will make rnther strange reading in the
British press parallel with contrasts Of another
kind which are repeatedly made here, and may
cause one great English daily to revise i'd
remark of few days ago that -FOUR American
eousins have to pay dsasg IN many respects foa