Huntsville gazette., 1889-11-30
A singular and noticeable feature Of


A singular and noticeable feature OF
the canvass was the fact that the candi-
dates whose principles were out of joint
with total abstinence and pure morals,
did not approach the women for votes,
| but in every way possible manifested
their utter contempt for women who
would sink themselves so low as to go to
| the POLLS"
Election day arrived. At eight o'clock
the bell of the Episcopal Church sounded
| out the call to woiship; and the towns
people came forth.
The short prayer was we'll at
tended, and the voters went to the polls.
The six polling-plares had taken on an
aspect rather different from other years.
The elder boys and girls of Janet's
school, "enthused" by their teacher, had
quietly resolved to make those places
Suitable for women" And as they
| were in different ways connected or ac-
| quainted with the persons whose apart
ments were utilized, it was no difficult
matter. Banners and flags and plants
adorned the "polls," and an open family
Bible was conspicuous in some of them.
The ladies who came for the first time in
| fear and trembling, said: ''Why, It is
not half so bad as going to markes "
| post-office!"
Their sweet, satisfied smiles as they
| passed the rougher men quite disarmed
! them, and no rudeness was offered.
Especially striking was the fact that the
smoking crowds in some cases removed
pipes or cigars and expectorated ''out-
DOORS" And thus it came about in K
that the polling places were made ''fit
for women"
Great indeed was the excitement
when the result of this unusual election
was made known. The ''goody-good
ies,' as the liquor party dubbed tho
| women's candidates, were elected with
one exception, and but one, of the oppo-
site party. He, whom we will call Ja-
bez Brown, was good-looking, popular
fellow, with no particular virtues and
| no glaring vices, a kind spirit, and easily
Influenced by his associates. He imme-
diately declared himself pleased with
the result of the election, adding, ''After
ALL had rather be on the women's side,
now. My boys are getting up"
The public meeting in the Town Hall
rang out the grand old doxology as the
new mayor and council and school trus-
tees entered and took places on the
platform. The w. c. T. U. were out in
force. The boys and girls were there.
too. And they can never forget the les
sons inculcated on that occasion. n
Rectitude of life, reverence for God
and his laws, the sacred character Of the
duties of citizenship, the protection of
the home, the purity of the ballot, and
the recognition of the special relation
| of woman to the State as well as to the
home, are the principles upon which
| to build good foundation for national
life more exalted and more enduring
than any depicted in history. ''No fell
| lowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness mo covenant with death, :"
mo agreement with hell" for revenue
considerations. No compromise with
principles of righteousness, no liberation
of licensed vices. Can not these things
be? Why not?
/ We have grown so calloused by the
| existence of licensed evils, by briberies,
Scandals double dealings and tolerated
vices of various sorts in the high places
of our country, that actually there are
some people who think man must be a
rogue or willy trickster to govern sue
cessfully; that, practically, honest
Christian men in city, town or State
government are of necessity failures.
just here is where woman's work in
the State is to make itself a power that
will be felt, and felt for good.
To-day k grows and thrives, and
already ranks as prosperous, enterpris-
ing town, with cleanly streets, hand
some schools and churches, popular
and extensive free library and reading
room, schools of music and art, and sew
eral literary and debating societies.
The drink curse is reduced to mini
mum, and consequently poverty is but
slightly visible, and never in it's debased
or disgusting forms. The town debt
diminishes yearly; the police depart
ment and all it's accessories are little
more than nominal adjuncts. All the
elements that elevate, refine and purify
flourish, while those that would deprave
and degrade are being eliminated. So
turned the cleansing stream of womaqS
influence upon the town of k
When from the national fountain
head this purifying stream of woman's
influence shall flow through all the
channels of legislation, we predict that
our young Dominion shall exhibit to
older and more fettered peoples civil
ization unsurpassed, craftsmanship
unequaled, nationality whose founda-
tions, centered in the eternal principles
of justice to all and oppression to none,
shall endure forever.-Mrs. DIR. Parker,
| in Woman's Journal.