The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-03
LETTER FROM OLYMPIA. ". T.

not, perhaps, accomplishing as much as
you are in Portland, yet there is great
interest in the work among all classes.
have just received the NEW NORTH
WEST Of June 10th, which, rs usual, is
full of good matter. On reading Of the
Opposition you encountered in the
church, when you ventured to speak
conscientiously of the great issues Of the
day in the Temperance work, my SYM
pathies were much. drawn toward YOU.
One can readily understand the many
trying ordeaIs you are often compelled
to pass through in battling in the great
cause OF Human Freedom almost alone. |
No; not alone; for God is with you,
giving you sustaining strength and
courage for your work, I rejoice in your
noble courage, and the still nobler senti-
ments YOU are enabled TO express before |
such large assemblies of people, amid
such strong opposition in high places.
People must be strangely obstinate
and blind who cannot, or win not, per-
ceive the Pillar Of Fire that is guiding
i this Nation to-day out into the light Of
a better way. Not until necessity Of
events force the facts npon them, will
they admit its truth. Then behold
They take to the new order of things as
If they had been praying and fighting
tfor it all their lives. -. &.
Yet it is true, there are many good and
Intelligent Christian people, who have
a horror Of anything being said in the
fchurch bearing upon any of the political
questions of the day. IF in the meetings
you but mention Woman Suffrage as a
possible consequence to follow this tenn
lperance work, you viii meet look over
the faces of some of the ministers and
members Of the audience, as if you were
FprUfaning the sanctuary, or committing
sacriIege. -..i .-.
They seem to have quite forgotten
that the first Church established on
! earth was 4 political one. a1''4t
II tile law, as given by God through
u Moses to the Jewish Nation, was not
+. one Of political economy, do not know
what It was. But what is politics ? Is
liit not science of Government, the en-
actmemt OF laws, the devlsing Of ways
, and means for the prosperity and pro-
! lection Of the people, whereby their well
fare and happiness may be secured? And
{ is not that the work Of the Christian re-
= i.lfgion also? 70 10 good, to help make the
, world better, through every means and
] agency that God opens up for us? The
+ Church should use its influence 10 make
: every means available to serve that end.
e IL it does not, it IS only doing half its
: work, and it is time it was awakened up
= TO that fact. Yes, politics belongs to
! the Church. God placed it there in the
, beginning, not as Church and State
e Europe. But it is her duty to lend her
= voice, her influence, to use what power
:. she POSSESSES to further theenactment oi
;. these wise and beneficent measures that
o promote the moral and social welfare
r aud Christian elevation Of the Nation
d The Church has too long held hersel
! aloof from the political affairs of tn,
e Nation. As if her eountry's welfar,
r was no concern of hers, her minister
: contend that she must not preach, o
e trouble herself about politics. And so
n has come TO pass that our once nobl
/ Government, that cost so much blOo'
J. and treasure and self-sacrifice, has beel
If left to fall into the hands of demagogue
u Alxianf -
,r cenary self-interest, and whose evil decd
10 have we'll nigh brought our country t.
y ruin, lo' ,al rl L5l-al eyed aal
y q How inconsistent do those minister
$. appear, who encourage and even urg
+ the,ladies to visit saloons and dens q
a infanly, where they would not, or dar
d not, go themselves to plead, pray, sir
:, and urge the liquor dealers to give u
10 the traffic, and the rum-drinker t
80 abandon his bad practices. Yet, II on
TO ventures 90 suggest giving woma
e the ballot, as one of the possible way
lg pointed out by Almighty God to furthe
X the good work, they Immediately bristl
ID with Indignation, as If you had sul
aigested a something wicked. Why, If
ne weak, delicate, sensitive woman en-
beard the lion In his very den, an
of work with such heroism and courage 9
to man never used for God and the righ
it is strange indeed she should be denie
.' the right to even say she wants I'll
ballot, which is but the legal power [
maintain and uphold those principl,
nd she is now 50 nobIy fighting for, so tbs
eh her labor of love may not be in vair
on that her power may still be felt throug
w the ballot, after erusading shall nece
e. sarily cease, by the enactment
,e. righteous laws that will sweep tn
ed vile curse from the earth forever.
IN. IT. heretofore, there have been an
n doubts 10 the minds of good men as
ge where the power and influence of wome
ng would be felt and given, should she b,
les come lenfranchised, 1 think her wor
N in the temperance crusade must disp
ng them forever. That the large majorit
OF of women would be found strongly @
ow the side of right, justice, and tempe
all anee, and any great moral question
nd there is not shadow OF doubt. Help,
ny aud guided by the wisdom and influen,
eld of the Christian Church, In the tr,
4 spirit of the Master, as CO. workers wit
men, there is a great work for wome
. to do-to help evangelize the world. TT
field is already white for the harvas