Democratic banner., 1847-05-24

whose hearts cords have thrilled with
friendships kindred touch-to you who
would see humanity FIJI an honorable grave
THE cause of Temperance should be very
dear. Fathers, you should not oppose the
mothers of your children in rallyiDg to our
aid. 1t is to a mothers influence We look
for the formation Of character. Oftentimes
you would gladly know that from a moth
er's lips your children might learn precepts
of wisdom for future guidance-for many
a father feels that his example is not such
as he wonid see his child emulate.
In this noble cause we would gladly en-
list all who ~honorably bear the appellation
Eof None need plead a lack of in
%huence. | say it not boastingly, but wo-
man was never without it. Look back,
through a long vista of years, and see the
noble Esther, generously riskins her very
life TO save her beloved nation from a hor-
,rible massacre. Again: In fierce battle did
Joan of Arc, with sword in hand, carve her
own ga deathless name" ] will cite YOU
to a latter day-to scene amid the strong
holds IF that people with whom we are now
at war. Far above the house tops of Tam
'pico-ere an American soldiers foot had
pressed its soil, our stars and stripes were
seen floating proudly on the breeze-al-
most alone and unprotected, a woman had
lgrasped the halyards Of that flag, and send
ing it aloft, she stood beneath its shade, and
amid threats of yengeace heard the wind
whistle through its folds a sweet song of
victory. Such has ever been the power of
wOman's influence; and, although circum-
stances do not call for this kind of action
from us, they call for an action not less de-
|termined--an influence not less powerful
"a soft undercurrent, that will mould the
young heart to moral courage, or, gently
and preservingly exereted, will sometimes
cause even stern man to yield his errone-
Gus opinions. Take for example the life of
the gifted authoress Hannah More, whose
every line bears an impress Of her own.
sweet spirit. Through the influence of this
woman, the proud and Remembering inf
del Voltaire so far yielded his opinions as
to admit the more plausible claims of Chris
and ask the prayers of a priest
And yet has woman's influence been pro-
of deleterious effects. Oftentimes
a lady, by slipping a glass Of wine, %encour-
ages gentleman to quaff a full goblet.
This polite habit cultivates the taste. that
once acquired the ruin is easily wrought.
A bride once persisted in having her hus-
band pledge in a glass of wine. He was
Washingtonian, and none doubted the
.frmness Of his purpose. Unable to resist
her eloquent ~pleadings, he drank the wine.
Alas! that glass, pledging the bride, pledg-i
ed also the death warrant Of her happi-
ness. Need / say ii? That man filled a
grave. Ladies, test your inHu-
ence in the crucible of active en- volence;
you will see the gold collect and glisten in
the element of social relations.
Our second emblem, "Faith, without
works, is dead"
Our third, Charity, appeals 10 every one
in whose bosom beats a human heart. Our
object is not only to shield from famine and
intemperance the young who are placed in
our charge, but to incite to virtue and mo-
rality, by educational advantages, those
whom poverty hath stricken to the earth.
By education to lessen that great evil, the
lack of moral principle which breathes its
poisonous influence in every community -
An eminent writer has said, "to preserve
the animal life of a child and there to stop
would b--not the bestowment of a bless
ing, as the fulfllment of a duty-but the in
Fiction of a fearful curse. And if a child
has any claim to bread to keep him from
perishing, he has a far higher claim to that
knowledge which will preserve him from
error and its fearful retinue of calamities."
Individually We can do but little in tins
great work of reformation, united we can
Withstand a host Of opposing power.
We know gentlemen sometimes say that
curiosity leads us into this associate cir
Gle. Nor arc they slow to tell US that this
same principle leads to mans degradation.
are bound to admit that woman first
erred. But only because mother Eve was
"a little more impatient for knowledge than
father Adam; he would have eat the apple
any how. But gentlemen, if the same
weapon by which we were vanquished Will
enable US to atone in some degree for our
folly, by aiding man in the approximation Of
his once lofty position, may ws.not be al
lowed to use it? Surely you will not deny
ius this when restitution is all we can
offer. However, we are not SO anxious to
establish the propriety Of our plan Of ope-