The Press. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1894. TEETOTAL VIRAGOS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8740, 12 March 1894, Page 4

The Press. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1894. TEETOTAL VIRAGOS.

The conduct of a number of the women who intruded on the temperance meeting on Friday iast would make a highly diverting burlesque upon the stage. It would lean to the side of extravaganza perhaps rather than pure comedy ; but it would doubtless be the more laughable on that account. Since "Women's rights* 5 became a public question the possible eccentricities of - the emancipated woman have formed in turn the theme of every style of humourous art. She has been a godsend for years to the

caricaturist; a standing butt for the sallies of the literary flaneur ; her fate has formed tha plot of innumerable "novels with, a purpose "; b9r vagaries have been exhibited on the stage in farce and comedy, burlesque, and opera. Yet we doiibc whether pencil of artist or pen of satirist ever depicted anything more wildly ludicrous than the exhibition a band of women chose to make of themselves on Friday. The fauatical female who flourished her fist in the Bishop's face and poured forth the vials of her H'less wrath upon his lordship was the spirit of burlesque incarnate.

I Unhappily it was not a pickle- | herring farce upon the stage but a serious reality in the Young Men's Christian Hall. These fanatical women were in deadly earnest. They thought they were only carrying out the highest principles of Christianity, and giving practical expression to the Gospel according to the waggon-orators o£ Cathedral square—that mild and gentle minister of religion, the Rev. L. M. Isitt, hia sainted brother, and the valiant Mr. Taylor. The presence of these women in the hall at all was an impertinent intruaiou. The advertisement convening the meeting invited the attendance of those "favourable to a reduction (not exceeding 25 per cent.) of the licensed houses in Christchurch." A number of rabid prohibitionist women packed the meeting with the explicit intention of upsetting it and forcibly preventing an expression of opiuions more moderate than their own. Their presence was an impertinence, their conduct an outrage, Suppose, , for example, tho Wesleyan Conference had decreed the removal of the Rev. Frank Jsitt, say, to Waipukarau; his friends convene a meeting of his admirers to protest against his removal, or, perhaps, promote a testimonial. What would be said of the conduct of members of the liquor trade ie Christchurch—who have ample reason to wish him away—if they mustered their forces and attended.the meeting, disturbed its proceedings and negatived its resolution.? Such conduct would manifestly be au outrage. Yet this is precisely the way in which Mr. Isitt's female regiment behaved towards Dr. Elmslib and his friends on Friday, j Not merely did they refuse to allow the promoters of the meeting to conduct its proceedings in their own way—but they shrieked —nayyelpsd— interruptions at every speaker. Even a football bavracker or a Sydney side rough has some elementary notions of fair play. These women appeared to have none.

Much has of late been written, both in the English papers and the colonial press, about the humanising influence of the newly enfranchised element on public life in New Zealand. It is alleged that they have sensibly improved the tone of hustings eloquence; their presence has.banished rowdyism from polling booths; they have improved the conduct of public meetings. Those who were most bitterly opposed to the franchise have consoled themselves with the reflection that women would at least raise the moral standard of political life. We have ourselves shared the conviction, and cordially admitted that the conduct of women in the recent elections did much to turn the opponents of their enfranchisement into supporters and advocates. Cut the behaviour of the misguided fanatics who disgraced the community on Friday is a shock that must do the cause of woman incalculable harm. And it will do the cause of prohibition no good. The Bishop, Dr. Elmslie, Pastor Birch and their friends were doubtless much hurt and annoyed at the treatment to which they were subjected. We believe ourselves they made a mistake in refusing to accept votes against their resolutions. It would have been a better course to close the proceedings as soon as they found the hall swamped by the lady-barrackers, and order and decorum rendered impossible. But they will have tiie consolation of knowing the moderate counsels they desire to impress on the community have gained immensely by the outrages of the fanatics. The good sens 9of the community must revolt against such tactics, and people will shrink from entrusting the conduct of public affairs to the control of a party so utterly incapable of controlling themselves. Though Dr. Elmslie „may feel disappointed at the untoward result of the meeting he may rest assured that his influence on the question has only been strengthened. By his letter to the receut prohibitionist meeting, his utterances [in our correspondence columns, and the logical, moderate, and manly stand he has taken, he has placed himself at once at the head of the party of moderate councils and earned the respect and admiration of men and women of every class, whose opinions are not too twisted and tortured by insane fanaticism to be worthy of serious thought.