Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-28

Annual Address to the National Convention
at Denver.

DENVER, COL, Oct. 2S-The annual oonven-
ton of the ". c. 7. U. began in this city this
morning. Miss Frances E. Willard delivered
the following address:
FRANCIS Z. wILLARD's ADDRESS
Beloved comrades of the white ribbon army:
1t has been stated by military experts that forty
well-traned soldiers are able to resist 10, 900
who have no discipline II the temperance
army. compared with the great army of the
world, il as small as this comparison being the
figures 40 and 10000 would Indicate and no
doubt II Il. we must remember that those who
have their hearts set as a flint those whose eyes
look straight on and who have caught step. one
with another. so that they march in
broken host, must. in the nature of things,
make mighty inroads on the great mob of
thoughtless. ignorant. careless opponents who.
except when they are drinkers and sellers of
drink. need but the arrest of thought toDbring
them to our ranks.
With a reiteration that may have seemed
wearisome / have insisted for many wears that
our state unions ought to petition their legisla-
ture tc build homes for men who are under the
drink habit and to pass laws compelling the de-
tentlon of drunkards within these friendly
walls. where work should be provided for them
and every effort made to give them back to
sell control, which is as thoroughly lost as any
Wild. bewlldered steed that runs amuck along
the streets with the bit in his teeth and his
driver overthrown
There is no object that we white ribboners
so much desire to photograph upon the brain
OF every voter as the Amer can saloon. 1t is
larger picture in this country than it can be in
any other because we are the largest of repub
hes. The most portentous factor in American
politics is the saloon. 1t has been recently
stated that there are 5000 saloons in New
York city. and that on these saloons
there are 1000 chattel mortgages. held
almost wholly by twenty wholesale
brewers and disticrs. These saloons con-
troll the votes of 40 900 men, and these Al. 900
constitute the balance of power, 20 that we
have twenty men who can swing the vote of
New York city: but as the city goes so goes the
state, and as the state goes so goes the nation
We want the saloon photographed with this
shadow In the picture. Whoever speaks of it
as an Isolated institution speaks ignorantly.
1t is an institution the character of
which becomes each year more clearly defined
and one that because of form Of govern
ment exposes us more than any other people to
political corruption. Because these things are
true the temperance women of America have
gone into politics and have taken sides with
the men who first, last and all times cast their
ballots against candidates for offices who are
IN favor of the saloon. The province
of Manitoba by plebiscite has re-
Gently declared by large majority in
favor Of prohibition and its legislature is prac-
tically certain to pass law to that effect
South Carolina has shown its colors in similar
fashion, though by different method and il
likely to be the next state falling into line for
freedom from the sway of the saloon. Kansas
republicans have come out noblv for a consti-
tutioual amendment that shall give women the
full ballot That means prohibition universally
enforced. If it will be firmly supported bv
the ". G. T. u.
While my honest fealtv is given to Cen
Bidwell and Rev. J. y. Crantill. our own ticket
by which mean jhe ticket to which the white
ribboners ''lend their influence" (having neither
money nor ballots to lend)-I can still rejoice
III the strong help given TO the cause of civil
service reform by the democratic candidate
while l grieve 10 learn, since arrival
OF his sueservienee 70 the tiger of
Tammany Hall. and remember proudly as a
patriot The clean personal record of the present
President. while bemoan his of wine and
the fact chat he can BY no means return 10
power without the liquor vote. None of us at
this time. when the shadow of great bereave-
ment hangs over the head of our chief magls-
trate. should fail to tender him our sympathy
and prayers.
Stal-ticans report that during the wear
1890 there were well nigh 1000 fewer marriages
in france than in 1889 Another companion
statement il that in the same wear there
were over 5000 divorces in the same country
But be ii remembered that there is no woman
question lit rance. This il a coincidence that
should attract the careful study of certain
among our leading men who oppose the adj
vancernent of woman to the status of individu-
alitv rs ii this most natural and reasonable de-
gree of progress must involve the extinguish-
ment of every frcside hearth
The recent national census has facts enough
to furnish for the Temperance. labor and suf-
fraCe reforms for the next decade Today in
the homes Of America among its teachers and
Its working women IN. ballots for which
our public statesmen imagine themselves to be
looking. While am heart and soul In sympathy
with every movement or the uplifting of labor
even when that movement may not be so ''wise
and well considered as our republican friends
desire their temperance movements 70 be-. and
while see far more in the question than TEN.
peraEce itself involves. where | once did not
see, it remains true that three fourth- of the
whole labor question Is summed up in the iol-
lowing.
Where are our carriages?" said an anarchist
a. some capitalists dove by.
VIII, replied a red-no>ed follower. ito tell
you the truth, saloon keeper yonder is riding
in mine
SUNDAY CLOSING.
This is Christian country and Christians
are commanded to remember the Sabbath day
TO keep It holy. Wnate er our personal views
concerning the details of this plan we must
stand sOlidty a. an association IN the emergency
that faces us. We must make general attack
on state legislatures to cover their state ex-
hibl's III Case the Congress does not continue
tafter electionl 20 stand for SUNDAY closing.
Chicago IL. will be he national battle-ground
for he mex year. Every possible attemp; Will
be made 20 secure from our legislation the
repeal of such laws a. give us meis ure of pro-
lection AT the worlds fair from the uprising
ide of strong drink that i determine to break
down every barrier and flow in to
take Possession of the great exposition
] he same effort Will be made in the munich
pality of dram shops. Politicians can summon
the drain Of the doodle 70 bring this about
The utmost POWER of the W. c. T. U. should
pour fourth 10 help the gallant division of me
ARM III Illinois and Chicago. which have from
the first ''enough with he beasts at Ephesus
SOMERSET W. C. T. L.
Not in years has any plan suggested been
received with so much enthusiasm as the one
foreshadowed in the columns of our official Or
gan some months ago, namely, the organization
OF somerset " c. I. u I he plan is very
simple. We propose TO name in honor of
Lady Henry Somerset a union to be made up Of
members who are not connected with any local
auxiliary either because hey live in distant and
Isolated places or some personal reason to them
selves sufficient. but whose hearts are warm
toward the white ribbon work in its method,
hand and spirit.
THE POLYGLoT PETITION.
The polyglot petition has been indorsed and
signed this year by LIP. 1855 persons The
present prospect is that with the putting down