The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-03-12
The Storm Gathering.

The following essay was read be-
fore the Prosperity Union, by MISS
Abbie King, and on request publish
ed in this newspaper:
The elements of earth have met
And cast IL cloudy sky,
Oh. soon Il threatening storm will burst
That hovcrs now nigh:
binding the lighting's flash will be,
Deafcning the thuntlcrs roar.
And thea the clouds will p,iss away
The sun reign bright King DER
4 washed and more perfect earth.
This is but Il GUNNER Of the gath
ering storm, whose clouds dixie dark
and awful curtains.) hang on the pol
itical l.orizcn of this once proad and
prosperous government.
Justice is the sun that will III the
end reign King. You may ask what
Women Suffrage has to do with this
king; they will in time crown him in
all his majestic beauty upon his
throne, which has long been occu-
pied by money sharks, wlliskcy wor-
shipper and combinations. Long has
American ladies fought the armies
of the whisky god.
Many has been the victory they
have won. But the weapons of the
enemy are rough and rusty, and fear
full is the wall of distress that goes
up from our wounded ranks. In
that wall are the pitiful and distress
ing sob of the widow and orphan
\ wall that must pierce the gates Of
Heaven and cause tears upon the
throne of justice.
Every day battle is fought. Mil
lions of stalwart men fill the enemies:
ranks; thousands of determined
mothers, sisters, daughters, wives.
widows, orphans and God fearing
men fill the ranks Of the banner army
Hell itself is communicative chef Of
the polluted army, Mur,.er. (the dev-
lis foremost angel) is second in com
. mand. The army thus generated is
the largest i'll point Of numbers il
the aunaIs Of history. Its ranks arc
filed with thieves. gamblers. mur-
derers. anarchists. counterfeiters and
tories. end | am afraid few Of tho
Farmers and Laborers Union mem
bers lik. to down the nose and check
banner too often for the good of theil
mothers. wives, daughters and them
selves. The army of the enemy arc
fortified by Il breast work of false
hood, broken VOWS, crimes and mttr
lers. This fertilization is crowned
by whiskey kegs and beer bottles.
Oar defence is composed of love
truth. justice, virtue and determine
ton, it has been dedicated by hloot
tears, which the enemy has wrough
from our mothers and sisters for til,
last century.
Each year brings the conflict neare
an end. Soon 1t is to he hoped tina
the enemies balls will fall Harmless:
upon our rampant. The better class
of men are now leaving the weakened
ranks of the enemy and uniting Will
us. Would ] gotoo far were l to sa,
that with every recruit there is jo'
among the angels in heaven. TIL
victories of the enemies are baptizct
by the tears of heaven, and mad
hiieous Ivy the shouts of hell.
| God is justice, the female right It
sutfcra9e is just: and no doubt in
few more years we will have gainc'
this stronghold! from the enemy
which will cause their speedy over
throw. Then there will he cst;s!
lisi.ed The most free and prosparou
government that has ever graccd til
annals of history. Again will IT,.
peals Of the great liberty bell be Ilai
ed l,v shouts OF hundreds of thou:
ands Of neglected and disgrace
women
, Brothers OF the +. 4 il. t., YO
are fighting for great principle, $
are We: you are fighting for justice
50 are ~: you are fighting for free
,!'.t:.. S. sc we; in fact we arc battl,
n:: for right against wrong.
iou nave access to enemies anna1
by the ''ballot box" Throw ope
: the doors AMI bid us take up arm:
and then YOU can gain avictory "hic
must otherwise end in defeat.
United we stand divided, we fail.