The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-20
Work of Temperance Societies.

During the-past~ week the annual
convention Of the w. c. T. L. was held
in st. Paul. There was a large repre-
sentation Of delegates from all rrrts
OF the country; and the deliberations
Of the body and conclusions have at
tracted very general attention.
1t is a mistake on the part OF some
people to esteem the work of this or
ganization lightly. There is no doubt
Of the fact TINT the women engaged
I'm this specific work Of reform are
whole-souled and honest in their eff
forts. The temperance cause mas
been sought to be promoted
almost as far back as the anti-slavery
agitation But slavery Wns more d.
rectly associated with political econo-
my than the temperance cause
ever was. Slavery, involved GER
tain rights over the control of
individuals as chattels. 1t was
an institution which figured in the
deliberations OF those who formulated
the constitution Of the United States.
Temperance is a moral issue, but, when
we come to measure the material losses
to the industrial element OF the coun-
try resulting from uncontrolled retail
liquor traffic, the tendency is to give
u the credit of the w. G. r. L. at least
cOmmendation for the work that they
have thus far carried on
one of the most sensible emanations
from this reform society is the unwill-
ingness expressed TO attempt any cru
SADIE in favor Of prohibition There
has been no more serious drawback
Of
en- assoctted with this method of re-
form than the ENHANCEMENT of state
issues with the moral proposition look
ing to the prohibiting of sales of liquor
within the boundaries of a fixed com
monwealth.
Prohibition is impracticable The
whnle principle of prohibition is dl-
rected against the personal rights and
privileges of mankind. individuals are
not disposed to accept dictation from
any other individual or body of people
who presume TO set up a code accom-
panied by a sort of ultimatum that if
YOU do not come up to our idea of what
is right, YOU must be relegated to the
ranks of those who act VIGOROUSLY
wrong
1t is unfortunate. in dealing with
this important question of the promo
ton Of temperance with respect to the
sale of liquor. that principles based
on more elastic foundations have not
prevailed. The further away the
w c. T. L. can go from the idea Of
prohibition the greater will be their
advance in the direction of the end
they seek Nothing can ever be gained
The elimination Of the saloon by grad
uaI processes is the alphabet to the
solution OF the whole problem. Mu-
inequalities should contihct the area in
which liquor may be obtained at the
bar The work Of contraction should
be continual, but gradual. No expan-
sion should be permitted, even though
legislation should be required to en-
force this theory
The convention of the W. c. T. U.
held in st. Paul during the past week
failed i'm some respects TO come up to
the standard Of shnightforwardness in
dealing which many good people Of
the country had expected TO result
from their deliberations The abandon
ment of the Chicago Temple was most
conspicuous but the noble determine
tion expressed by the younger element
of this most meritorious body To go on
and complete the Temple as a memo
rial 70 Frances Willard viii undoubt
eddy appeal to the liberal impulses of
those who have to give for the promo
ton of useful Institutions such as the
organization mentioned unquestiona bly,
IS.
The convention just closed was con-
spicuous in the proceedings of the body
Tor the absence of radlcalism in the
interest Of any one line of procedure.
il is possible that u break may occur
over the Temple issue, and that the
w. c. T. L viii hereafter operate in
divided parts. but there is no question
that the high principles represented hv
Frances Willard viii be maintained hv
the following which the surviving
members of the organization viii gath
er 10 themselves.