drunkard; he would not object to her saying if her home had
become intolerable that she should be allowed a separation, and
permitted to earn a living for herself, seeing that her brute of
a husband was unwilling or unable to give her a support. The
great cause would be advanced, he thought, by the advocacy of it
by women. He considered that the people would be called upon to
vote for the Maine Liquor Law one way or the other within a year,
for the politicians were becoming tired of this mischievous
element. It was one on which they could not calculate, and would
be glad to get it out of the way by submitting it to the people
for their disposition. The friends of the cause should be
rejoiced if women who could speak on this subject did come
forward and speak until the law was passed. He would feel their
advocacy an additional assurance of success.

The women of New York brought to this work a religious earnestness and
intense enthusiasm, that seemed determined to override every obstacle
that blocked the way to family purity and peace. Every phase of the
question, without a thought of policy or conciliation, was freely
discussed. Seeing the evils in social life, in the destruction of all
domestic harmony, they demanded divorce for drunkenness. Seeing wine
on the tables of clergymen and bishops, liquor-dealers and
wine-bibbers dignified and honored as elders and deacons in churches,
they called on the women to leave all such unholy organizations. Thus
besieging legislators for a "Maine Law," demanding purity at the
family altar, denouncing the Church for its apathy, and the clergy for
their hostility to the public action of woman, this State Temperance
Society roused the enmity of many classes, and was the target for
varied criticism.

Politicians said such radical measures as the women proposed would
destroy the Whig party, if carried into legislation. Churchmen said
such infidel measures would undermine the influence of the clergy and
the foundations of the Church. Conservatives said the divorce measures
proposed would upheave the whole social fabric. Thus a general
disintegration of society was threatened, if freedom was granted to
woman. Not being allowed to vote themselves, they used their influence
both in the anti-slavery and temperance reforms, to strengthen many
men in their determination not to vote for any man who was in favor of
slavery a