The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29
WOMEN and TEMPERANCE:
I,adv Henry Somerset and Her
Efforts for Reform.
4 GREAT LEADER OF TIER SEX.
ss, Talks Freely About Drunkenness Among
The Women Of England.

s,arrre-The Re.uIt OF Fifty
x..r. Of Effort In Engiaud-The Wine
,-,,.,,r OF European Countries - Her
,-.-..,,or. OF the World. Fair.
,.,r u.nry Somerset sailed for Liverpool
wednesday, after brief stay OF but ten
- In America. This energetic and ardent
snnnorter o. the temperance cause journereu
utbe way from England in her capacity OF
Via. President at Large OF the Women's Chris
w T.mnerancs Union TO represent Miss
frances Willard at the Temperance CONGRESS
la In Chicago last week. to preside at the
ne.u session. and to read Miss Will
,.rd,s review Of the progress Of the
so. IN all parts Of the world and
a.. work OF its missionaries in all
su,tries. And. despite the long journey
"a the arduous duties at the Congress In the
- Palace. where the lady said herself
uv.s like speaking in an open railway sta
.,on and Notwithstanding the Chicago influ-
ANA aha brought back with her, tho splendid.
yioorous English woman manifested little
t,ace Of WEAKNESS. either OF mind or body. and
..o.ived Americas usual tribute to greatness,
Oh. oueries OF the interviewers. with cordial
0raciousness. because. she said:
"you sea- am in the business now myself.
and know how glad would be to get the in
t.rviev with ono Of your ladies fresh from a
rrsat meeting OF so important nature. It
makes all the difference In the world how you
feel about It when you get little taste OF the
newspaper life yourself don't you see. And.
YES, l like 1t very much indeed. Tho Woman's
Herald Is prospering as well as We could wish.
and now we mean to broaden II out ana take
up new lines OF work
In Lady Henry's toilet there was touch
ri the temperance color and bit Of the SUI
fr.re tint as we'll for the panels OF her black
crepon gown were corded with white. and the
wrap on her arm had the suffrage yellow in
its lining. There was bit Of rare lace at the
throat clasped with jewels. and the suffrage
how OF white on her bodice was caught in with
n pearl OF great price. In the richness OF her
dress and in her manner. cordial. simple. and
unaffected. but digni1ed. she was every inch
the ideal daugh Of an earl
Considering tho tremendous efforts put
forth for the cause Of temperance during tho
last fifty years the results moro than satisfy
the expectations OF the workers." she said.
in the last ten years. the progress has boon
marvellous. In England tho question has re-
solved itself into political issue. and We are
really now concentrating our forces on that
temperance reform and has aIienated what
& IT ssS from interest ea 1a qo Course
re TEMPERANCE people now rally round
them. and the " cause gains strength
for local Hsy option. with the Woman vote. to be
the most powerful weapon against intemper-
ance-even stronger than prohibition. And so
strong is this impression among tho people
that the Labor party and the Liberal party have
joined issues on Temperance reform. This CO.
course it involves an i'm mense deal Of work for
this woman's organizations. talented woman
has been secured to stand at tho head Of the
mass meetings. collect petitions. and attend to
all the political interests everywhere.
and believe. too. that 1t must cons: in fact.
that it is imminent in England. We already
have municipal suffrage and vote on school
. voice in the parish councils will como before
Parliament in November. In fact. every new
d" Yes. think American S women are quite as
ready Tor the suffrage as the women OF Eng
i iand. PERHAPS aIp y9u are not 80 well organ
tionss, Of women in America except the
s,;ssss ~ %si
politics in the temperance work. The kind OF
work women have hitherto been allowed to do
and that Is all very well in it's way. But in a
great battle like this woman's powers ought
not to be restricted to caring for the inevitable
wounded. but rather be directed to removing
the causes which lead to the warfare. In Eng
and the wo@ans y S I In AMERICA ern op thai
party which will secure the woman's vote will
have the strongest weapon against the LIQUOR
able features of political power and Issues.
~ course. your politics are more involved
ana an mt than ours. but your women are
I RANK and iIe Of women in America are better
educated. In England only what We call the
spond to your public schools. The great mid |
81 oie classes which are the strength and sinew
q ne nation. go TO private or boarding schools
ton is narrow and inefficient. The conse-
SHsnso M is Te have great difficulty IN finding
and organize movements OF reform. or |
course, Te have the few titled ladies you hear
80 20 much about. but there are not many Of |
gan women are better qualified to-day to take |
a aotu OF the affairs Of state than are English
H9Rsh though tho English women have more
increasing or decreas ing =?
Mony IN all classes. There is the drunken
iPs woman q the middle class. and there are
He II classes. The only way OF reaching them
ion through public opinion, And public opin-
psrance on every side As soon as the tenn
Hetance movement ceases To be a sentimental
ssus ana rises to the level Of great political
NJ,
t nieh VINO formerly did not take the slightest
- aSetes! IN temperance are Obliged not only to
90 % ntei est IN 1t now but to take position
o o 'ne ono side or the other. man cannot
s : ~ upon ne platform In England to speak on
All politicai question without being asked
H. Hpeeted 10 take a stand on this question.
~ ~ me result OF the great fifty years work
AZ Ss ,ne temperance people. Public opinion is
tarsn,eI and public men are obliged to be- in
vo,: 40 am not prepared to say that the uni
mns ssi VINE drlnking in European countries is
inn o. etrlnental to the people than the drink
In is i v NE sake OF drunkenness SO prevalent
sn,SeiiGai or course among the French. alb
disaanss uflhklng Is on the increase. and Is most
a M aasious IN results. We are going to get out
phtedge i9r wlne-drinking countries which
siitDls me signers from the drinking OF
snna W intend to interest the temper
Can1,I workers In the purity question on the
JostIteut especially in Spain and Italy. Miss
q r y Bpt! or has been sent out by the W.
ilsd 81 i, iof mat especial purpose. The legal
cids5Ise IN lthly ID most deplorabl9 and de-
''aswry IN need Of reform
anca "n IA IS the duty Of mothers In the temper
need oT,CItk 10 inform themselves OF tho
ths eu y, me world everywhere and so prepare
bsItseNes 70 know the need OF the child that
ior .VrI hss 10 them: WHAT they desire Of good
OF. .Melr own children they must see that
rns v. Peoples children POSSESS. The SAFE
mnstu lhey would have for their children
The wor . we protection OF all the children In
Ia. al "'tu. you cannot save and elevate iso-
-stione ases except in rare Instances. The ele-
: fhro, tha al |