the use and need of the life of carrie a. nation-第37章
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Suffrage is not to give woman greater opportunities to be bad but to
strengthen their powers to resist evil and help men to do the same。 To
cause her to think more of the inmates of her home than her raiment。
Woman's greatest sins and vices are those of vanity of appearance and
dress to attract or please their male companions。 The prostitutes do
the same thing。 Women should be taught to avoid the arts of such。
When I see a woman arrayed as I do these women in these homes of
sin I think； 〃There is sympathy。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
ECHOES OF THE HATCHET。
MRS。 NATION AND THE SALOON。
It was a crisis in prohibition enforcement in Kansas。 The first
smashing was like the opening of a battle。 The crashing glass sent a
thrill through the community and resounded o'er the land a talisman of
destruction to the liquor traffic。 It set everybody to talking； even the
public school children and students in all the higher institutions were
profoundly interested。 The press and the pulpit broke their silence and from
all over the state came the echo。 It was the firing of the signal guns。
The response came desultory； as the rattle of musketry in a skirmish；
then heavier from the bigger guns； as is the case in all reformatory work。
The criticisms and comments were varied； often amusing； reflecting the
agitation from far and near and everywhere。
A few months ago and the name of Mrs。 Nation was unknown outside
of Medicine Lodge； Kansas； but within the limits of sixty days she
has achieved notoriety； if not fame； by her unique crusade against the
Kansas saloon。 Many methods have been adopted during the last
two decades for the abatement of the liquor nuisance； but it remained
for an American woman； under the spur of bitter memories； and a sort
heart； to originate a method； at once so bold and radical as to sharply
focus public attention upon the utter villainy and lawlessness of the Kansas
saloon。
As was to be expected； Mrs。 Nation has been subjected to unhandsome
treatment。 A section of the press and the pulpit have joined
forces with the rum brigade in holding her up to ridicule。 She has been
burlesqued； abused and belied； but when all the facts are soberly and fairly
weighed； it will be found that the scale of justice inclines； very positively；
toward this sorely tried woman and her hatchet。 I do not pose
as Mrs。 Nation's champion or apologist； she needs neither。 History
that corrects the blunders of contemporary critics； will assign to her an
honored place long after the paltry penny…a…liner and ranting pulpiteer
are forgotten。 It is a simple task for those to whom the curse of rum
has never come close home； to condemn the methods of a woman； who；
as a drunkard's wife and widow； drank to the dregs the bitter cup of woe。
Mrs。 Nation saw her brilliant and handsome young husband slowly transformed
into a demon by rum。 She saw him land in an early and dishonored
grave。 She saw her baby cursed by the father's sin。 She saw
her early hopes blighted； and poverty haunting her door。 She saw a
favorite sister grieving her heart out over a fallen husbandfallen in
purse； in character； and station。 With this black catalogue of domestic
griefs 〃deep printed on her heart；〃 is there a mansurely there is no
woman！who could blame Mrs。 Nation； if she turned upon the guilty
gang who had blighted her life and smote them right and left。 When
the infernal record of rum is recalled； it is not so surprising that there
is one Mrs。 Nation； but that there is not one in every home in the United
States。
M。 N。 BUTLER。
A CONTRIBUTION TO HOME FOR DRUNKARD'S WIVES。
Dear Madam：I see you have purchased property to make a home for
drunkard's wives。 I send you five dollars to aid you。
Yours very truly；
Oakwood； Ills。 JACOB F。 ILER。
I hope thousands will follow the example of this man。 Oh！ how
the cry comes in： 〃I want a place in your Home。 My husband or son
is a drunkard。〃 Help the poor innocent results of the licensed curse。
Persons have often remarked； 〃How did you feel； when you went
in these places。 Imagine a burning house； a frantic mother； for her heart
treasures； her babes； are in that building。 She hears their cries； she sees
their little arms； waving behind the closed window； amid the smoke
that soon will be a flame。 She seizes an axe or hatchet near at hand；
with which she breaks open door or window to let her darlings escape。
Is there a mother in all the land that would not act thus？ The mighty
ocean； in its anger is lashing a frail vessel； storm tossed； the captain
orders the cannon to boom！ boom！ boom！ arousing and calling for help
to save the crew。 We amputate the diseased limb with a knife； we pull
the aching tooth with an instrument of steel。 〃Why？ In order to save。
Just so； the people are asleep； while our precious ones are in danger of
being engulfed in ruin。 The smashing is a danger signal； and I kept
it up； to prevent the people from relaxing into indifference； just as a
frantic； living mother would think only of the salvation of those she
loved。
AN APPEAL TO THE NATIONAL PROHIBITION COMMITTEE TO CONCENTRATE THE
FORCES IN KANSAS。
（Emmett L。 Nichols； Wilkesbarre； Pa。）
It is a fact beyond dispute； that wherever prohibition is carried in a
state； the liquor dealers' association of the nation in a menacing manner
demands the dominant party in such state that she sees to it that liquor
is allowed to be sold in enough places； at least； to make it appear that
prohibition is a failure； they knowing that the people once made to see
the beneficial effects of prohibition will adopt it generally； as the true
solution of the liquor question； as it really is； all other methods having
been proven to be absolute failures。 The politicians fearing the influence
of the power of rum； organized as it is； for self defense yield to the
demands of liquorocracy。 Mrs。 Carrie Nation has shown this to be the
true state of affairs in Kansas in her hatchet raid upon the joints of that
state。 She has shown up to public ridicule the officials of that state； in
different places； in demonstrating the fact that they not only refuse to
enforce the prohibition law； but screen and protect the violators thereof；
and arrest any citizen who attempts to perform the duty which they were
sworn to perform。 This state of affairs is most exasperating to every
lover of country。 I contend that Mrs。 Nation's hatchet has been the
means of bringing about the most critical period of the prohibition reform
movement in its history。 It has laid open before the world the fact that
prohibition does not prohibit in certain portions of Kansas； simply because
public officials in violation of their oath of office will to have it so。 Now
I further contend that unless these officials are forced to prohibit in
Kansas； prohibition will eventually be repealed in that state； and the way
thereby made all the more difficult for the triumph of the truth if the
officials of Kansas are allowed to continue their work of perfidy in refusing
to enforce the prohibition laws there； prohibition will not only be
repealed in that state； but the securing of national prohibition by peaceful
means will be an impossibility。 Viewing the conditions in Kansas
as I do； I am moved to make this appeal to the National Committee of
the prohibition party to concentrate its forces in that state； with the view
of arousing sufficient sentiment among the people there to drive every
〃joint〃 from within her borders。 〃On to Kansas〃 should be the battle
cry of the prohibitionists of the nation。 It is more important that
the will of the sovereign power in Kansas be enforced in the matter of
prohibition than it was on the principle of the squatter sovereignty there
during the days of slavery。 It seems to me that it is the bounden duty
of the National Prohibition Committee to make this fight。 I fail to see
any work within its grasp comparing in importance to it。 The agitation
which Mrs。 Nation created with her hatchet is bound to subside unless
some organization； having the cause at heart will take the matter in hand
and add fuel to th
