Famous Speeches: Frances Willard's Speech on Outlawing Alcohol, 1893

Editor's Note: The following is a speech from suffragist and president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Frances Willard. The temperance movement tried to stop people from drinking alcohol in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During this time, excessive drinking of alcohol was viewed as a social problem. It caused domestic violence against women. This led to the formation of many organizations, such as the WCTU, which campaigned for the prohibition, or ban, of alcohol. The WCTU was not just a temperance organization, but also a powerful women's organization that worked for women's rights and the right for women to vote. Willard came up with the slogan "Do Everything" for the WCTU. She encouraged WCTU members to do everything to change society. She asked them to lobby and petition lawmakers, preach, publish in newspapers, and teach women job skills. She fought for improvements in prisons, an 8-hour workday, and world peace. Willard gave this speech at the 20th Annual Convention of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union in 1893 in Chicago, Illinois, during the World's Fair.

"We Did Not Realize The Intricacy Of The Undertaking"

We began the delicate, difficult work of getting politicians to outlaw the sales of alcohol. But we did not realize the intricacy of the undertaking nor the investigation and research needed. Almost 20 years have elapsed since the call to ban alcohol began. We have all been refreshing our knowledge of those days by reading the "Crusade Sketches" of its heroic leader, Mrs. Eliza J. Thompson. We know that there was one thought, sentiment and purpose that motivated those Christian "Praying Bands."

"Brothers, we beg you not to drink and not to sell!" This was the one wailing note of these moral musicians and it caught the universal ear and set the key of that mighty orchestra. It was organized with so much hard work, but needs support now by the clanging cornets of science, the deep trombones of legislation and the thunderous drums of politics and parties. The "Do Everything Policy" was not what we chose. It is an evolution in thought. A woman has a genius for details and a patient devotion to following the enemies of those she loves everywhere. These have led her to oppose the alcohol habit and the liquor traffic just where they are, wherever that may be. If she does this, since they are everywhere, her policy will be "Do Everything."

"The World, The Flesh And The Devil Get Their Turn"

Everything is not in the Temperance Reform, but the Temperance Reform should be in everything. There is no better motto for the "Do Everything Policy" than "Make a chain, for the land is full of bloody crimes and the city of violence." If we can remember this simple rule, it will unravel the mystery of the often misunderstood "Do Everything Policy." The prohibition movement in America has not been as active in the past year as before and there are many reasons. A presidential campaign always lowers the moral atmosphere for a year before it begins and a year after it is over. Lawmakers become timid and politicians don't take bold action. The world, the flesh and the devil get their turn, and the time is not yet. In the past year, the attention of the nation has been focused on the World's Fair.

There has been ill will set in motion as the result of the chasing of money and unworthy desires for success. The financial panic of 1893 has riveted the attention of the public on their own dangers and disasters and worries about losing money and jobs. And the spirit of money-making has affected even people who have fought against alcohol and for temperance.

"The Power Of The Saloon Is Proven"

A bill [potential law] has been waiting for approval by Congress for the appointment of a commission on the investigation of the liquor traffic. I have never failed to call attention to this, nor have I failed to urge the cooperation of the WCTU. The vast importance of this possible law is demonstrated by the continuing efforts of the whiskey makers to stop it from being passed. So far, they have been successful, and are likely to be for many years to come. The power of the saloon is proven by the defeat of this law each year in Congress.

In spite of this, we have gained an intelligent idea of the alcohol business from IRS tax reports and from state and police records. But what we want is the government to acknowledge the evil of the alcohol sellers and makers. If Congress keeps refusing to investigate, the WCTU should make a thorough investigation of the liquor traffic. Undoubtedly, state and national politicians would place all possible obstacles in our way. But we have people in every community who are devoted to our cause. Unless Congress creates a commission and allows prohibitionists to oversee it, the investigation would be unreliable. I hope the WCTU takes favorable action.

Quiz

1 Which paragraph in the section "We Did Not Realize The Intricacy Of The Undertaking" suggests that hard work will NOT be enough to prohibit alcohol? (Write your answer in complete sentences, explaining why you chose the paragraph.)

2 Which sentence from the speech shows Willard's MAIN problem?

(A) Almost 20 years have elapsed since the call to ban alcohol began. (B) The prohibition movement in America has not been as active in the past year as before and there are many reasons. (C) In the past year, the attention of the nation has been focused on the World's Fair. (D) The financial panic of 1893 has riveted the attention of the public on their own dangers and disasters and worries about losing money and jobs.

3 Read the paragraph from the section "The World, The Flesh And The Devil Get Their Turn."

A presidential campaign always lowers the moral atmosphere for a year before it begins and a year after it is over. Lawmakers become timid and politicians don't take bold action. The world, the flesh and the devil get their turn, and the time is not yet. What is Willard's MAIN purpose for including the paragraph in her speech?

(A) to explain why it has been taking the WCTU more time to achieve prohibition (B) to suggest that lawmakers no longer have positive views of the WCTU (C) to emphasize that she cannot keep the world from being a terrible place (D) to show why presidential campaigns create more of a need for prohibition

4 Willard gave this speech MOSTLY to explain that the WCTU needed to support a congressional investigation of the liquor business. What did she do to illustrate this point in her speech?

(A) She explained what made her join the WCTU, why it is important to the country and how it has been opposed. (B) She described the purpose of the movement, what has caused it to be difficult and how the WCTU can help. (C) She explained the purpose of the investigation, why it would help businesses and how the WCTU would benefit. (D) She described how the WCTU could get involved, what problems alcohol causes and how the investigation would end them.