The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-01-03

A singular and noticeable feature of the
canvass was the fact that "Young JIM"
and The other candidates whose principles
were out Of joint with total abstinence and
pure morals, did not approach the women
for votes, but in every way possible mani
Tested 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 worship; and the towns
people came forth.
AS Janet stepped out into the glorious
sunshine Of that New Years morn, she
felt the heart-throb Of a holy sa tisfaction.
What was that? The satisfaction of feel
ing that at last God was to be recognized
as a factor in government. And, though
it were but the municipal and school cleo
tons, the tide of the purest influence they
knew was to be turned in upoa them-the
influence IF women Lallowed by prayer.
They were going to pray for the blessing
of God, the Great Ruler, to rest upon the
men they hoped to elect, the men to whom
great interests were to be committed.
They were going to raise the polls and the
ballot to their just elevation in the Chris
tian civilization of this nineteenth century
advance ment, and demonstrate the great
truth, in their humble way, that s.righte-
BUSINESS exalteth a nation - while sswick-
edness is a reproach to any people,
The short prayer-meeting was well at
tended, and the voters went to the polls.
The six polling places had taken on an as
pect 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 differ
ent ways connected and acquainted with
the persons whose apartments were util-
lied, it was no difficult matter. Banners
and flags and plants adorned the polls
and an open family Bible was conspicu-
Gus in sone Of them. The ladies who
came for the first time in fear and trem-
bling, said, Why, it is not half so bad as
going to market or post-ofice,';
Their sweet, satisfied smiles as they
passed the rougher men quite disarmed
them, and no rudeness was offered. Es-
pecially 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 x
that the polling places were made ..at for
women"
Great indeed was the excitement when
the result of this unusual election was
made known. The t.goody-goodies, . as
the liquor party dubbed the women's can
didates, were elected with one exception,
and but one, of the opposite party. He.
whom We will call Jabez Brown, was a
good looking, popular fellow, with no par
ticular virtues and no glazing vices, a kind
spirit, and easily influenced by his asso-
ciates. He Immediately declared himself
pleased with the result of the election,
adding, after all, I 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 Of the plat
form. The W. c. T. U. were out in force.
The boys and girls were there, too. And
they can never forget the lessons ineul-
Gated on that occasion.
Rectitude of life. reverence for God and
his laws, the sacred character of the duties
of eitizpnship, the protection of the home.
the purity OF the ballot, and the recogni-
ton of the special relation of woman to the
State as well as to the home, are the prin-
ciples upon which to build a good founda-
ton for a national life more exalted and
more enduring than any depicted in his
tory. mo fellowship with the unfruitfu al
works of darkness s'No convenant with
DEATH ''no agreement with hell" for
re considerations. No compromise
with principles of righteousness, no tolera-
ton of licensed vices. Cannot these things
be? Why not?
We have grown so calloused by the exist
ence of licensed evils, by briberies, scan
dals, double dealings and tolerated vices
of various sorts in the high places Of our
country, that actually there are some peo-
pie who think a man must be a rogue or a
willy trickster to govern successfully; 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 viii be felt, and felt for good.
But the rum power and its associated
lawlessuress is not easily overcome, and
so K struggled with difficulties in her
new departure at several successive cleo.
tions. Honest citizens, however, being
awakened to the true value of citizenship,
the importance Of home protection, and
the power of woman's ballot, feel that they
lave made a very decided advance in civil.
l~izatIoD.
To-day K grows and thriyes, and al
ready ranks as a prosperous, e~nterprising
town, with clearly streets, handsome
schools and churches, a popular and
extensive free library and reading room.
schools of music and art, and several lit
erary and debating societies. The drink
curse is reduced to minimum, and conse-
quently poverty is but slightly visible, and