The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-01-27
THE TEMPERANCE UNION.

"The home against the saloonn was the
animating principle of the great convention
OF the National and Worlds Women's Chris
tian temperance Unions which was lately
held In Boston. This convention, which
represented more than ten thousand local
unions in America alone, with a member
bership in this country of more than ono
hundred and fifty thousand, was attended by
delegates from all parts of tho world Not
only were England and other European
countries represented, but also Canada,
Australasia, Japan, China and India
The objects of the Women's Christian
temperance Union, as stated in the resolu-
tions adopted by the conventiau, are diverse.
but they group themselves about the central
purpose to uss the influence OF women.
through the home, the church and such
public functions and relations as women
possess or may obtain, against vice and
chiefly against the vice of drink, which the
members regard as the central vice of all
the sum of all villanies.n
Few great conventions have ever met
which showed so complete an absence of dis
agreement, and yet as we have said the
programme of the Union is a very extensive
and varied one, which must provoke sharp
discussion unless the members were prac-
tically of one mind.
This programme demands, first of all. total
abstinence from slcoholic drinks for the in
dividual. and legal prohibition of the mann.
facture of and traffic in such liquors for the
state. In order that women may work
more effectively for these thinyS they are
formally advised by the Union to use every
| practicable means to obtain the ballot aud
secure equal GovernmentIrights."
The local unions are given leave to rem Ter
any assistance which they deem best to any
political organization which is acting in
harmony NTH the principles of the society
| In several ways iu it's resolutions the
National Union commits itself, and urges its
members to work along the line of poll-
tics.
In one OF its resolSS,ons it protests against
license or leniency towarl lotteries, aud
| condemns various public manifestations of
| vice and immortality.
Following its purpose to pursue its objects
through as great a degree OF influence upon
legislation as it can exert, the general con-
yentlon OF the Union petitioned Congress
for several things. One OF these is the rati6.
cation by the Senate of a treaty which was
proposed to the Governments of civilize |
countries by Congress of Nations held at
| BRUSSELS last year, and which has for its
| object the exclusion of intoxicating liquors
from large parts of Africa, and the more
complete stamping out of the slave trade
there.
| Congress was also asked to appoint two
commissions composed of men aud women,
one TO investigate social vice, and one to
| make inquiry into the alcoholic lduor
tratlc; aud TO settle oil difficulties, at home
and with foreign countries, by arbitration.
The convention also memoralizsi the COM
missioners of the Worlds Fair Of 1893 at
Chicago to close the gates of the Fair on
Sunday, and to prohibit the sale of intoxica.
ting drinks on the grounds.
The influence of the Women's Christian
Temperance Union upon public affairs has
already been considerable. Largely through
| its efforts, in thirty-five States OF the Union
| special instruction with regard TO the physi.
ological effects of alcohol has been intro
duced into the public schools. 1t is esti
mated that thirteen millions of children have
come under tho influence of instruction o.
this sort.
But the great mass of the work of thu
Women's Christian Temperance Union i
not along the lines OF public agitation
There is besides this, great deal of direc
benevolent and evangelstic work. Many
neglected children-the majority Of them
no doubt, neglected because their parents
love drink better than they do their children
-are cared for AMI put upon the right road
In many ways the membars of this granc
body continually work to protect society al
large against drunkenness and vice. or K
repair the raVages caused by them.
The delegates to this great convention
were earnest and manifestedly united in thei
purpose. Their deliberations were OF cain
AMI systematic sort, though they were a
the same time characterized by great dea
Of enthusiasm Youths C0HSpdnion.