New-York tribune., 1901-01-29
WILL SHE KEEP FAITH!

II is gratifying to learn that Mrs. Carrie
Nation will not permit bleeding Kansas to con-
tract her powers That Commonwealth is by
no means what one would call ''pent up" and
yet in comparison with 1.-The whole bOundless
continent" it is rather narrow field of action.
Mrs. Nation therefore announces her intention
OF coming TO New-York next summer on a
saloon smashing campaign, after which she Will
complete the organization of a standing army
of women to wipe out the traffic wherever it
exists. The plan of operations which she will
employ in this city is simplicity itself First,
she will demand of the salOOnkeepers that they
close their places of business. Next. if they
refuse, she will warn them that their establish
ments will be smashed, and, finally. within a
week from that time she viii lead the assault
in person at the head of n regiment of her own
sex. Such is Mrs. Nations present programme,
and we have no doubt that she will carry 1t
ont unless circumstances arise over which she
has no control 4 careful study of her features
as reproduced by some of our Obllging cOntem-
pOraries produces the conviction that she is not
q person to be trihed with Her cOuntenance
does not reveal the sublime placidity of George
Washington and Mrs. Lydia Pinkham or the
ethereal fire of Coxey; but should say that
nobody could behold IL for even the briefest
fragment of time without n strong desire to
remember a previous engagement. 1t is not
without reason from her point OF view, that
Mrs. Nation expects 10 describe her New-York
experiences in the immortal words, II came, l
saw, | conquered"
So far as it is possible to forecast the near
future of this martial and intrepid woman, the
only obstacle which she is likely to encounter
in this city is the police Realizing that there is
no hope of dealing with Mrs. Nation on a cash
basis, they may conclude that duty requires
them 10 enforce the law and arrange for her
incarceration the moment she appears at the
head of her regiment and begins hOstilities
Indeed. should not he surprised II they
should lead her away before she could smash n
single mirror in spite of the regiments tears
and protestations that il real mean. We
are fully prepared to believe that such thing
now appears inconceivable 10 Mrs. Nation. But
she should consider what happened 10 Coxey
To be sure, he mere man. but he had
a high opinion of his own valor and forti
tude. Yet he had no sooner come within
sight of the Capitol at Washington and
been told 10 keep off the grass than he felt
that he had missed his vocation and rs
promptly as he could he sidled off into the back
country and began to amass an inglorious fort
une. Nevertheless, as have said, there is
something about Mrs. Nation which does not
remind of COxey. and are willing TO con
cede that if she had been in his place she prob
ably would not have got off the grass at the
very first warning.
AT least we hope that we do not overestimate
Mrs. Nations firmness. She has announced
that she will be here at the beginning of the
dull season, when the vast majority of New
Workers who have to spend the summer in town
/ are depressed in spirit and long for something
10 enliven the prospect. Moreover. her arrival
in satisfactory form and with a determined
purpose will be good for trade. great many
persons who are In the habit of going early TO
the country will arrange to stay later than
usual or return TO see the show, and there will
undoubtedly be a large influx of strangers
There would be reason for complaint IL all the
police had TO do was merely to meet her at
the station and say "Shoo!" Unless she wants
to disappOint the public she must at least re-
cruit her regiment and march down Broadway,
preferably without permit.