第 33 节
作者:谁与争疯      更新:2021-02-19 00:36      字数:9322
  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 the fire of righteous indignation which has been sweeping
  the state。 The National Prohibition Committee can not afford to
  look on letting matters take their course。 The time has arrived for action
  on its part; that it may set the example before the world what the party
  it represents will do if placed in power。 The very soul of every
  prohibitionist
  in the nation ought to be on fire in a determined fight for the
  triumph of prohibition in bleeding Kansas。 I believe the struggle being
  had there now means more; either for the weal or woe of this country;
  than did the struggle against slavery on the same soil by John Brown
  and his followers。
  National Prohibition Committee; I repeat; 〃On to bleeding Kansas!〃
  A CO…LABORER IN TEXAS WRITES。
  Columbia; Texas; February 23; 1901。 Mrs。 Carrie Nation; Topeka;
  Kansas。Dear Madame and Co… Laborer in the Cause of HumanityI
  have thought for some time that I would write to you; but knowing that
  you were burdened with correspondence I have put it off from time