National Republican., 1888-01-19
TIE W. c. I. Union
"On the Side of the Lord ana the
United states snpremo Conri."

United states Supreme Court"
AT yesterdays meeting Uf the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, at Central
Union Mission, $50 Pennsylvania avenue,
Mrs. y. j. Martin expounded the Scriptures
In the devotional services, and compared
the women who are to-day fighting the
liquor traffic to the women OF biblical days,
who suffered but conquered. She said that
women care nothing for place or power,
but that they are waging q holy war for the
protection of their own firesdes. They
stand guard between their sons and the
vultute of intemperanee, and though the
vigil should be long and the ensuing bat.
tie severe they would persevere, and had
Gods promise of eventual victory. Men
might be called on to help, but to woman's
prescience and to woman's tenacity OF pur-
pose would be rightly due the laurel. In
the American republic pure women with
righteous purpose would succeed In any
undertaking, and they would insist upon
banishlpg this great evil from their midst.
She said they had right to fight in this
cause, as they were the greatest sufferers.
Mrs. La Fetra brought up the matter Of
the two petitions to Congress, and exult-
antly stated that their cause was so strong
that the enemy was dlsmayed. II was true
they were meeting with great opposition,
but 1t was ample evidence that their dis.
play OF strength was realized by the ad.
vGrsary. And here, as o business woman,
she wished TO call attention to the fact that
the work they were engaged upon was an
ursellish aud eNacting work, bringing no
earthly reward save the consciousness OF
having done their duty, and that, far from
being In hope OF reward, II was no incon-
siderable tax upon the resources OF those
engaged In II. But, for her part, she felt
o H.lN IL 4 4. =.
would perform Il In the face Of all opposl.
tion.
What the ladies denote the Opposition"
petition was read and commented UPON,
and In the collouuy which ensued Mrs La
Fetra said that the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union was ton the side Of the
Lord and the Supreme Court Of the United
StatCs,' which ttitc remark evoked
hearty burst OF applause from the assem-.
bl0ge.
Mrs. Weaver then read extracts from
Washington publication to show that their
efforts are being felt, in which the paper
quoted warned the business men interested
in the liquor traffic and In favor Of personal
liberty that there was grave danger ahead
that the efforts OF the W. G. I. L. were
liable TO result In sudden cloudburst OF
financial disaster to their interests II
they were not watchful and energetic.
She disclaimed on the part of the women
any such iCOnoclastic intention or desire,
ard argued that the reverse would be true.
She realized the difficulties in the path of
true and eilectual prohibition, but there
we're none which could not be overcome.
Some merrment was caused by the re.
peated statement in the article In question
that "prohibitlon does not prohibit" and
one lady asked, II such were the case, why
did not the liquor dealers combine with
the temperance folks to speed the coming
of what both parties were in favor Of.
Mrs. Martin, In answer to the claim that
prohibition would lessen the governmental
revenue, said she thought the groanng
evil of to-day was an excess OF revenue,
and that the lawmakers OF the land were
seeking an outlet for the stream OF wealth
flowing into the treasury. She meekly
submitted the matter to their august at
tention, but pleaded guilty to the crime Of
being "only q woman and not knowing
anything aboutit.
A vigilance committee was appointed to
scrutinize the opposition petition for the
detection OF possible repeating, the ladies
showing quite knowledge of the ways Of
the world and politicians
1t having been charged that certain en-
| ployers had coerced their employees into
signing the opposition petition, the ladies
threatened boycott, II they found it neces-
sary, to prevent such action, and quite q
| pugnacious spirit was developed, one mem
| ber saying that they (the women were pre-
| pared to go to extremes II necessary to
| protect their homes ami children.
| After some further discussion volunteers
were called upon to help finish the task Of
| circulating their petition and secure signers
thereto, and the union adjourned.