The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-20
THE RING oP TRUE METAL.
To THE EDITOR or rHE NEw NoErnwEsr:
'The war drums are beating," and
upon every side, from inland to shore,
the cry is heard:


upon every side, from inland to shore,
the cry is heard:
up, soldiers, and fight!
The despot Intemperance
Hurl down from his height.-
1t rejoices my heart to hear this sub
ject agitated, for l believe it will lead
men to seek for some means, as yet un-
tried, to accomplish its downfall. 1t is
Time something was being done to drive
this dark presence" from our land. -
While have great faith in the power
OF prayer, and believe that the fervent
prayers OF righteous men and women
avail much, I know there are many
things which cannot be accomplished
by prayer alone.
When ship is at sea in a gale, tenn
pest-tossed aud in danger of being driven
on the rocks, would wise commander
sit idly in his cabin, his crew riotous
and drunken, his passengers Indifferent
and his ship, with all sail spread, rush
ing to certain destruction? Or, would
he summons them to his presence, all
kneel quietly in prayer, and pray that
the vessel might be borne safely out.
into the smooth waters of the ocean >
Would he not rather call every mau TO
his post, furl the sails, and use every
means in his power to out-weather the
gale? If his ship, were leaking, would
he not man the pumps, endeavor to stop
the leak and call 10 his aid passengers
and crew, both men and women, rs we
know has been done?
We are passengers in the glorious ship
of State. Our ship is at sea in gale
and in danger of being wrecked on the
rock of Intemperance. Captain Grant
sits in the cabin, seemingly Indifferent
to our fate. Some of the passengers and
crew are drunk and disorderly, others
are engaged in prayer, and We are all at
the mercy of the wind and waves.
When such such is the case, shall we all
kneel quietly in prayer, and without
making any other effort, beseech the
God of storms and sunshine TO bring
our vessel into the calm waters of Tenn
peranee? No. Prayer alone will not
avail.
Oh, friends of the temperance cause,
if you would have your prayers prevail,
perface them with good deeds, work aud
watch as well as pray. If you call upon
woman to assist you in your efforts TO
vanquish the dread monster, and call
upon her you must if you succeed, place
in her hands the only means by which
| it can be accomplished. Arm her with
the ballot and she will go forth ''con-
quering and to conquer" 1t will prove a
weapon In her hands the liquor dealers
and liquor drinkers will be compelled to
respect. Do not call upon her and ex-
pect her to accomplish anything with
her hands tied.
The only way to effect any permanent
good, in this matter, is 10 bring to bear
the strong arm of the law, to lay the axe
at the root of the tree.
Men unaided cannot, will not do this.
/ Were women enfranchised, they would
speedily put it out of the power of loved
ones TO degrade themselves below the
level of the brutes, by drying up this
prolific source of so much misery and
woe.
Let us friends be united in our efforts
to advance the cause of Woman Suf-
frage, and thus advance the cause of
Temperance, truth and right; let us
eco forth ia the pathway
Our forenlthers trOdi
We, too, fight for Freedom
Our captain Is God
Fling out our broad banners
Against the blue sky,
And shout, like true soldiers,
We conquer or deiT
May the day soon come when intem-
perance shall be driven from the land,
and prayer be turned 10 praise.
TEMPERANCE.
Portland, March 10, 1874. ~