River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-06-02

| BY DR. Arthur Edwards.
We heartily wish five millions cop
les of the .'minutes" of the last annu-
al meeting of the Woman's National
Christian Temperance Union could be
circulated and read throughout this
country. A careful reading would
make every advocate flaming evan
gel, and every doubter or enemy
silenced battery. Save the gospel by
the pulpit, no cause in the land is go
ing forward to victory more surely
than is this temperance movement in
the hands of women. TO be drunk,
has become disgraceful, even among
drinkers; to drink at all, will be pres
emily condemned by most Of our fifty
millions.
We printed current abstracts Of 60
ings of the convention which met last
October, in Boston, but even our
friendly conception of the body was
inadequate until this stout pamphlet
of minutes came to our table. We be-
lieve the best friends of this reform
do not realize the social revolution
these women have organized. No
journal of a senate, general assembly,
general conference, or modern ecu
menical council sketches more COM
plete, enthusiastic and restless assem-
bly, of thinking workers. Not long
since, we almost deSpaired that Wo
men could ever be drilled into parlia-
mentary docility, or get at delibera-
tive work, as are and do men. Not
only do these women fight like Tar
tars, but they plan like generals, and
besiege like brilliant engineers. AT
the initial session, delegates from
twenty-seven States and territories
were present. Miss F. E. Willard
presided over this seventh annual
meeting, for the movement took on
national proportions in 1874, and will
deliberate in Washington next Octo-
Der. This crusade for the deliver
ance of the holy home, has already
moved millions, and has shaken sew
eral states. 1t will presently compel
respect from legislatures and some
sort of national attention, through
the nations Congress. The balance
of power is still affected in a powerful
sense by 'greenbackers, " and it re-
quires but ordinary foresight to per-
ceive that so many women will pres
emily constitute, fundamentally,
constituency which congressman will
not dare to ridlcule or rebuff. Results
are ripening fast, and next October's
meeting, in Washington, will certain
" harvest first fruits comparable to
the prohibition of slavery i'll the Dis
trict of Columbia.
What power this body represents!
1t is Union" therefore concentra-
ted force. Its agents are "Women, >
therefore more numerous than the
Republics homes. 1t is National, >
therefore a permeating influence al
ready entrenched in well chosen
strongholds throughout the land
1t is Christian, therefore
resistless, since it seeks to realize
the mission of the original Redeemer
of, and relies upon Omnipotence. 1t
is pledged to Temperance, but that
temperance means total dbStine7lce, land
thus goes to the very roots of things.
The very name of this ''Woman's Ma,
tional Christian Temperance Union
implies work as consecrated as the
pulpit's since no lost victim is pro-
nounced safe until he has given his
heart to Christ and is regenerate.
Mrs. Livermore, of this grand army,
is the wife of n Universalist clergy
man, but we hear her talking in this
convention of Gods spirit, and in this
instance we are content to find her
striving to save men from an undubit-
able hell on earth.