Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-04-02

many a faithful band OF women VINO
are making war upon the hoary
headed despoiler OF their homes.
Many time was Paul compelled to
listen to the ribaldry Of the ruiiians
who opposed the great reform which
eventually was to regenerate the
world. The christian ladies Of Chi
cago-Chicago's best type OF woman
hood had nothing more to endure
on that memorable retreat from the
Council Chamber than Paul and his
fellow dcciples frequently went
through. His stripes, his imprison-
ment and his bonds were everywhere
heralled as defeats. Men saw not
that here and there the great apos-
tie planted kernels of truth to grow
like many-rooted Banyan trees to
overshadow the whole land.
And 50 with the ladies Of the city
OF the Lakes. Carried by similar
inspiration to apparent defeat, it
proves after all, a defeat on the way
to victory. True the Sunday or
dinances have been abolished for a
time. But God swept from power
the party organization that annulled
the Sunday ordinances in less than
half an hour after the vote.
That power that drove the re-
formers of the first century through
the contempt of the world, carry the
reformers of to-day through defeat
to victory.
How victory? Is not the repeal
ing Of the Sunday law defeat I!
Let Us sce What has the woman's
movement done The ticket pledged
to the annulling of Sunday laws was
elected last year by 10000 majority,
None to-day who has an accurate
estimate Of the tone of public opiu
ion in Chicago would claim that any
such majority is now possible. The
is educating the public
sentiment by means OF that very
defeat up to Il higher level than it
was possible for public sentiment to
reach without that defeat to spur
on the virtue and picty that lies
too dormant in many hearts.
The formation Of the 10th cen
tury was but another exhibition OF
this inspirational power. 1t wa
the power of prayer, OF faith, OF
love, of piety to work upon the
masses. \ power that swept Eu-
rope like an epidemic, 1t arrayed
virtue against weight against
worked with force
that astonishcd and hcwildered the
people.
History gives us some wonderful
examples OF the power that resides
in the religious enthusiasm of wo-
mans nature. The career Of Joan
of Arc is without Il parallel. OF Il
spotless character, distinguished for
her purity and nobility; her limo
cencc, her gentle dignity impressed
all. BY the power of these qualities
she restrained the brutality and
passions of her soldiers as neither
laws nor military discipline, nor
penal treatments could begin
to do. Where laws failed, she
t,iumphcd. Where penal enact
mcnts could not deter from crime,
her purity, her modcsty, her gent,
dignity had supreme sway. True
she was convicted as II sorceress,
and burned at the stake after the
reverses incident to all such eyhal-
tation~ of faith and feeling. But
ten years had not passed away be-
fore the King of France reversed
the decision Of the courts, and pro-
nouuccd her martyr to her to,nt-
try, her hciigjo" and her King.
Thi, power she welded was very
unlike that which is backed IN mas
culine hands 10y the state. Napo-
leon, for example, in his person
carried the dignity of France. The
sword of the Empire was put into
his hands. But Joan Of Arc had no
such prestige. Her decent was of
u poor peasant ancestry. She had
received no education. Her power
was simply the power of goodness,
gcutleucs~, love and piety. Her
followers were borne away 10y the
enthusiasm, which overlooked from
her qualities of heart and mind.
Evil Siy"ah away before the force
of the good i'll her. The brutal
were refined by the power of her
gcntlcncss. She protected hclsclfnot
py power OF law, bat 10y the power
OF innate goodness. She executed