The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1910.

White Ribbon, Volume 15, Issue 176, 16 February 1910, Page 7

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1910.

During the last two years educated women the world over have \V Oman's watched with intense inSuffrage. terest the progress of the Woman's Suffrage movement in the Homeland. That the most strenuous efforts to achieve this object have ended in failure is a matter of history. We ought to be the last to criticise the methods adopted by our sisters to enforce their just claims, but no doubt many of our readers, whilst fully sympathising with the movement, have had the feeling that some of the methods adopted have not been either dignified or tactful. Wo have not the least doubt that the leaders have been anxious to rouse public opinion, and in the Homeland that is a task somewhat difficult to accomplish. The real question is—that, having roused public opinion, and caused tiio much needed reform to be generally and freely discussed—has there been a corresponding accession of strength to the ranks of the progressives, and such accession as could make its weight felt in the realm of practical politics? We think not, and our doubts are confirmed by a recent cablegram which stated that the militant tactics employed in the past were to give way to a campaign organised on educational lines

We believe that that great procession of women that marched through the streets of London, combining as it did women from every rank and walk of life, did more to influence and educate public opinion in favour of the movement than all the violent and aggressive means employed before or since. If ever there was a time when England needed the voice of woman to be heard on the side of Temperance, Rurity, and Truth it is to-day. The spread of Intemperance, the ISocial Evil, and Godlussness is seen on every side. We do not, therefore, wonder that women of thought and influence have been compelb d to use moans, which for any other purpose would have been to them abhorrent, to enforce their right to help in tin* government of their country and the making of laws

that are fair and just to both sexes. We have been much struck with the advice given to members of the suffrage movement by one of our own workers from New Zealand. Without the least desire to be egotistical we believe that if the advice given by Miss Roberts as repoised elsewhere in our columns) could be carried out, the success of woman’s suffrage in the Old Country would be assured. < hir readers should remember the lessons New Zealand women have had to learn in the past, and if once the Temperance women of England realise the power the vote confers on them in dealing with the drink traffic, nothing can stop the progress of the movement. The British Women's Temperance Association has now a magnificent opportunity of gaining the goodwill and esteem of large numbers of w omen in the higher ranks of life who are fighting for the suffrage in their own way. These can bo shown the value of a union of forces for a common object, and many may be influenced tow ards the principles of our work by such union. Let us pray for our sisters that they may have Divine wisdom given them to act with courage and sagacity at this important time.

By the time this issue has reached the majority of our readers < )ur our Silver Jubilee OonvenJuhilke. tion will be over, and many of the delegates will be homeward bound. Wo know that our work has made progress in the past, and that many notable achievements in social life and politics have been ours, but how much more wo might have accomplished had we realised our responsibilities. After 2o years wo are only just waking up to the fact that we have amongst us a race of dark sisters who need our help and who appreciate it when given. If we concentrated our energies and talents oil our Maori work until our Golden Jubilee we should be more than repaid by' the results. I ntold generations would rise up in the future and call us blessed.

Our attempt at Scientific Temperance Instruction is totally inadequate to cope w ith the needs of th > work. Our only hope at present is to so make our voices heard on the School Committees of the country that the necessity t >r teaching the young the effects of alcohol on the body may be apparent. Herein we have lines of work in which we might employ five times the number of our present workers.

The need of extra assistance in our work amongst young poople, admirably as it is carried out at present, is plainly

seen. How much more easily and effectively will our work be done w hen our unions can draw workers who are familiar with cur principles and objects from the young people’s branches as the older members retire or die. These and other problems press for a solution in the future; our work lies ahead, not behind. We are tempted to say in the words of Cecil Rhodes, “ So much to do, so little done.”