The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [74]
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 Humanity--I
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 to
time, but at last I venture to consume a little of your valuable time in
reading a letter from me. I have been fighting the liquor devil going
on nine years. Constantly have been called here by the citizens of this
place to deliver a series of lectures. I learn that you once lived here
and I see from today's Houston Post that you once lived at Richmond,
Texas. I find that the lady with whom I am stopping while here knows
you (Mrs. G. W. Gayle). Now Dear Mrs. Nation, I wish to say to you
that I believe that God has called you to a great work--a work that is
much needed, and that is calling the attention of the people of the United
States to the magnitude of the liquor traffic--the devil's great agent in
peopling hell--and I believe you commenced at the right place, the capital
of Kansas--the battlefield. Kansas being somewhat the center of the
United States, the eyes of every state in the union is fixed on it as a
guiding star relative to prohibition. If prohibition could be proven to
be a success in Kansas it would not be long until other states would follow
in its steps and on and on until our nation would be free from ruin,
but I doubt whether that will ever come, short of a great war such as we
have not seen or read of. If it is God's will, let it come, for there is
greater cause for war on this line than there was for the liberation of the
Cubans from the Spaniards. Now we see published in the papers down
here that you have gone into a newspaper enterprise to defend the Negro
race. I don't believe this for I know that there will be many things reported
by the liquor traffic to destroy your influence. I shall deny this
report as far as I can until I hear from you, for I know that the liquor
traffic is as wise as serpents and as harmless as the devil, and will do
anything they can to sidetrack you from the main issue, and that through
your supposed friends, so keep both eyes wide open. Then when they
fail in that they will lie on you. God, give you wisdom and may you
stick to your bush is my prayer. Oh, pray much and look out for enemies
in the guise of friends. They will fool you if you don't look out, for you
are doing more good than all the temperance workers combined. God
bless you; keep at it, and nothing else, for your work is only the beginning
of the greatest temperance and prohibition reform that has ever
been. Now it all depends on your not being sidetracked by supposed
temperance reformers. Don't allow any mortal person to stop you, but
push the battle to a finish. I have known of so many reformers making
a good start but about the time the thing begins to boil right well and
a prospect