Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-06-27

..speak to the children of Israel. that they
eo forward"


Lide MerIwether, in Good TempIar and
Temperance Review. Nov p. 1883.
s.speak TO the children Of Israel, that they
go forward"
Deeply, solemnIy impressed with
the m0mentous issue which envIroHs
us. appeal to the women OF Tonnes
see. ON lrellali "f our common cause,
cur common country, our children.
and our homes. | appeal 20 YOU on
behalf oi the living issue that has
bounded like young athlete into our
political arena, clad IN che triple steel
of GOODNESS. courage. and conscientious
ness, bearing aloft the white banner Of
purity andArmed with Ithuriels spear
of truth.
What spectacle can lie presented to
an honest, eager soul, more henumb-
ing than that of national organizs'
ton, a great political party thai has mo-
vital principle, no living iS-t4e, NJ"
grand, all-embracing truth, to give life
and force to its every act and utter
ance. How often do great political
Orators. men in whose souls the fire OF
genius burns, feel that fire flicker and
fade for want Of any adequate fuel
supplied by the principles embodied
in their party platforms. How do
they long for some living question to
set on fire heart, soul. reason and con-
science and burst from their lips in
Pentecostal flame of eioquence. lf
the dry fagots of personal acrimony,
and the cracking thorns Of blind, I'M
reasoning adherence to party were tai
&f..4lr
fires would soon die out for want O.
p fuel. How pitilu1 the picture present
ed hy our great political bodies q,
to-day; our legislatures and our cOts-
crosses, wasting countless treasures Of
time, talent, and money on mere m-
meaning technlc;Illties and trifeS
whu~e fruits die in a day, while hu
manity groans in bondage and clanks
its chains in torture, and the giant
Despot that has enthralled the land
stalks abroad with desOltting treHd
But here Is an issue, as grand ms it j.
vital-grand in the majestic truth OF
ages-NItal with Tie Likelihood wrung
from hecHcombs of human hearts. IL
Il the stupendOus question shall th'.
giant Alcohol still go unclaimed
Shall he still rule, and rIvage and ruin
our country, or shall the mighty hand
of the American people throttle this
CHASTITY deSolatOr of human hearts, and
hopes, and homes?
AS women, we are more profoundly
interested in this triumph OF right ami
defeat Of wrong, tina it is possible far
men to be; for IL we have not more to
gain, we have more. much more o..
lose than men. Man may attain n:Inie
and fame. place and power amid the
earthquake OF revolution and the = i
rocco of war. but woman's highrsI
happiest destiny can only be fulfilled
under the egis of government whose
statutes assure to her the peace and
quiet and comfort OF a welI-ordered
home. 70 impress the necessity for
such statute upon the Judgment and
cOnscienres of our Countrymen. comes
the inspired tongue and pen OF tenn
pcrance reform. To write that STATUTE
upon our executive tables of stone.
rises from every valley, hill and plain
over the length and breadth of our
Land, the grand army of prohibition. |
call upon every woman in our STATE
who loves her father, her brother, her
her husband, her son, her daughter.
her home, her country, or her God, Il.
enlist i'm this army; to don the armor |
OF augment, thrust with the spear OF |
truth, bear the white banner of purity, |
and keep step to the music of-Un- |
ion., The right of woman TO think, Ia
speak, to write, to work according To |
her gifts, as best she may, in any good |
cause, is | think, automatic. 1t is n
self-evident proposition, needing no
proof, and Ia discuss II would be an /
insult to Your understanding and II
waste of your time and mine. In |
CatO's day the women inaugurated |
rebellion for the purpose of being
allowed to ride in chariots, to deck |
themselves in chains, rings and jewels, |
and 10 wear purple robes. To-day the
army of progress again stands organ
lied, the rebel flag Is flying before the
weed choked mRt and the decaying
draw bridge of old Customs frowring
fortress, and woman demands seat in
the chariot of helpfulness over the
broad highway of humanity, the price
less jewels OF equal education, and the
royal robes of knowledge
| have asked you to enlist under our
banner; do you in turn ask me,
Whose voice calls me to arms ?"
Thousands of poor perishing victims
are calling upon you for help; fair
hands are stretched out to you; inn
plOring voices are calling from the
deep dark waters-~Save, or we per-
ish." Sin, and shame. and misery call
you; fathers, brothers, husbands, sons,
whose drunken orgies wiring your
hearts with anguish; children who
the fathers weakness, re-
peat the fathers crimes, foul rObberies,
and midnight murders, ruined consti-
tutlOns, and weary lives of pain, de-
serted, beaten, or maltreatad wives,
freezing and starving children. forsa-
ken and dishopored husbands, parents
whose gray hairs are brought in sOr
row tO the grave, blighted loves, crush
eli hopes, broken hearts. and desolated II
lives; sorrow thick as leaves in sum
mer. and sins countless as sands on
the sea shore are calling, myriad voiced
and trumpet-tongued on every true
woman in the land-"Arm for the res
cue, and on to the fightp'
| have accepted thr post of watch
man on the walls of this beleaguered
fOrtress-w would that my vision was
clSaTSEs anu HlOFS AaF-TcsiCHlnSt ttldt L
might see the enemy from afar, and
give you timely warming of every APP
preaching danger. have been chO-
sen Us your official leader and adviser.
Would | were stronger to lead-wisef "a
10 teach; nevertheless, such knowl
stige as | have | give unto you; trust
ing that under your careful culture
he seeds thus "sown in weakness may /,
be raised in power"
1st would speak to you OF organi- j
.ation. This means, not alone to form !;
society, enroll the names ofits mem !
,ers and receive their initiation fees; {
{ also means to arrange and systema- :
ize every department of work that {
he society can bring to bear, for the :
urtherance of its object In organic
ng a union, first find out the senu-
nent of your town, or community, in
egard to temperance. II you find it
weak, do not -despond. Remember
he promise given to Lot "Peradven-
ure ten righteous men should be
ound," and He said. Il will not de- :
troy il for tens sake" Next secure
he names of those whose interest Is
,arm enough, and whose influence j
reat enough to induce others to Join, t
nd get them to work with you. Get
copv of State and National minutes, l