Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-10-22

antly proved. Every man and wo.
man in the land is a competent wit.
ness, and can testify that poverty
want and misery are brought by in
temperance.
Bait we further claim that it robs
home of it's influence. We feel and
know that home influence is the
greatest blessing that mankind en-
joys. Yet the salo on is its rival.
1t uses its arts and allurements to
draw it's supporters away from the
home. The pleasure Of the wine
cup, the charm of music and the
fascination Of the gaming table, are
all invoked to weave a spell about
those who visit it, and close their
ears to the calls of duty and home.
In the saloon the ties of home are
ridiculed, and its very name spoken
in contempt. Imagine, if you can,
the author of those beautiful lines
that have cheered the weary wan
derer in every clime--from the Are
tic SHOWS to the burning plains Of
Africa; those lines that have been
sung by the sailor boy in his lonely
watch before the mast; by the sol
der around the camp fire and in the
prison pens Of the South; that has
brought tears to the eyes of millions
Of Earth's weary pilgrims-Imagine
we say, John Howard Payne sitting
under the blazing chandeliers of
some saloon, with the click of the
glasses, and the rustic Of cards in
his ear and under the inspiration of
such a scene, at such a time write
"Home Sweet Home" It could
not be. Such thoughts could not
exist with such surroundings. Does
it need further proof? Need We
call up the thousands and hundreds
of thousands Of mothers, wives and
sisters who have used all their arts
to make home pleasant and attrac-
tive, who, as the evening shades de-
scend, give voice with trembling lip
to the oft repeated prayer to father,
husband, son or brother, ".Stdy at
home to-night2' Shall we call upon
them to paint the sorrow, the an
guish that settles on their hearts as
after night, and year after year
this prayer is disregarded, and faith
er, husband, son or brother turns
away from home to enjoy the attrac-
ton of the saloon? No! We rest
our case here. There is no lack of
evidence; these scenes are too fire.
quent. Every town and hamlet in
our broad land can furnish scores of
witnesses. The saloon is proved to
be the eaemy of home. The question
is, Shall ice dgend oar homes.2 All
ages aud all nations have had their
heroes, the memory Of whose noble
deeds has been treasured up, but
among them the defenden Of home
have held the highest rank, and
been accorded the most lasting hon.
,rs. The monument that WIS rails |
I'd to mark the spot where Leonidas
ell, with his three hundred Spartan
heroes, defending the pass of Their
nopyle against the hosts Of Xerxes,
this simple inscription: "Stran-
,eI! tell it in Lacedaemon that we
lied in its defense, and in obedience
its laws" Showing that an ae-
,nowledgement that he died in de-
Of home and country was the
highest honor they could bestow.
20 it has always been, the man who
'oes battle for home and country, if
le lives, receives honor; if he dies,
is accorded lasting fame. Wei
md in the records Of the Trojan war
hat when Hector stood on the walls
f Troy defending the homes against
..jaX and his 100000 Greeks, that in
heir dire extremity the women, the
lothefs and wives and sisters of the
len OF Troy, stood on the wall with
pear and battle ak defending their
ONES; and the pen Of Homer re-
orded their praise. So it has been
all time; when man has been
riven to the verge of despair by in
hosts. woman has stepped
to stand by his side to do
for her home. To-day the
omen of America are by scores Of
lousands standing in the ranks
for home against the Amer
saloon and its supporters. In
,e contest to be decided on Nov.
in, woman is debarred. The weap-
agreed upon to decide the fate Of
me and right is one which the law
our country has placed beyond
re reach of woman.
We can only ask that you use
lis weapon az men. Use it III defense
home, Of justice, and Of right. On
lis question of defending her home,
oman demands the right to vote. 1t
her right, and 80 long as the bal
t is used to support an institution
'at desolates h0mss,so long rs those
lat wear the human form use the
to strike uaarMod, defenselsss
beings, SO long will women
the right to use the same
eapon in her defense; but let the
lestions which endangers home, be
ice settled as honor and manhood
ctate, and right and justice de-
and, and no true woman will de-
re the ballot.
To day We stand unarmed, denied
e right that is accorded even TO
e brute creation-hc right Of self de-
asc.
We can only ask the voters Of
Mon Go. to meet this issue like
-, and may the God of justice re-
ard every man according to his
3rks.
Wonderful.