The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-06-04
Patriotism.

the tact that the patriotism Of the faith
ers and mothers of the Republic has
not yet all departed from4aleir descend
ants. While it is lamen,able part of
the records of tie times that the tories
Of the Revolution have SO large repre-
sentation in the copperheads of the
North. who have fallen heirs TO the mis-
cradle principles Of their prototypes Of
'7s;yet il is equally cheering 10 know
that the great mass Of the people are
right at heart and have retained the
virtues OF their ancestors.
We are led to these reflections from
reading an account Of The proceedings
and address Of the Ladies' National
Covenant" at Washington, the leading
object Of which organization is set forth
in the second section Of the first article
Of their constitution. as follows:
"The object shall be to unite the NO.
men of the country in earnest resolu-
ton to purchase no imported articles
of apparel where American can possibly
be substituted during the continuance
Of the war;"
This sounds something like the re-
solves of :le ladies of New England
when they determined to drink no more
tea while that article Of luxury was tax
ed BY the British government in viola
.ion OF the rights Of the colonies. Here
is the pledge Of our modern ladies in
the second struggle for Liberty
''For three years. or for the war, We
pledge ourselves to each other and the
country. to purchase no imported arti-
Gle Of apparel"
The meeting unanimously adopted
the following resolution. which ought
10 reach every man who is patriot. and
cause Lin to throw his expensive habits
10 the wind:
"Resoiced. That while. as the wives,
daughters, and women of America. We
are ready and determined TO practice
self denial for the benefit of the country
and our sex. We earnestly request th.
men Of America also to abstain from
the use of imported articles. especially
wines, liquors, and cigars"
When il is remembered that five mil
! lions of gold have gone ont of the coun
try in single week for foreign goods
: the necessity for this action will readily
appear.
Beginning at Washington, with thu
leading women of the nation a, its head
4 it is TO be hoped that this covenant
association will have a salu:ary in
fluence throughout the nation.
The address, said 10 have been witt
ten BY Mrs. Ann s. Stephens. is YER
able. and rings with the true spirit @
loyalty. We make the following pun
gent ex racis
'.IG 1870 the women OF Massachu
sei,s. actuated by the same impulse tina
inspires us. assembled in the city o
Boston, as We have met here, and re
solved to serve the country BY an effor
Of self-sacri6ce far greater than We ar
called upon 10 make.
On the 9lh of February, three hun
dred matrons. each the mistress of ,
household, met as We Go now and signet
pledge 10 abstain from the use OF tea
the greatest Injury of the time. and th,
very life Of all The social gatherings fo
which our New England ancestors wer,
sc famous. Three days sfter twice ths
number Of blooming young girls me. il
The same place and signed like pledges
From that brave assemblage of womer
non importation societies sprang up tha
produced an effect upon the mother
country almost equal to that created by
the success of our Revolutionary armies
During all the terrors of the war these
noble women held firmly 10 their pledges
and by their earnestDess awoke lLs
sympathy and cooperation Of every
sister colony in the land. The spirii
thus aroused extended itself to impor:et
goods Of all kinds. and every hearth.
stone was turned into an independen
manufactory. Thus it was that the ilax
wheel. the hatchel, and the hand loon
became sublime instruments Of freedom
in the hands of American women. The
house mothers Of &c not only kept lhei,
pledge Of non-importation. but With theiI
own hands wrought from the raw mate.
rial tie garments which clothed them.
selves. their husbands. and children
The Ile.!se which they took and KEEP,
s. faithfully evoked not only great self
saeiiiic-. but hard. hard toll. such as the
women Of The present day scarcely
dream of. Had they not endured and
lsbored while their husbands fought, We
should have had no mighty Union to
pray and struggle for now.
We, the women OF "a. have the same
object 10 attain and the same du les 10
| perfcrn, with we're so nobly accom-
/ plisIci Ly tie womsncf &c. Siaii We
not follow their example, aud take up
chee,fuhj The lesser burdens that the
i welfare oi oar county demands? They
s gave up tie very comforts o. life with