People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-06-23

ed their opinions upon the organlza-
ton!
And if they had, where is the sin
And if not a sin, and it seems to
bear, and does bear, vitality upon the
Christian work they are engaged in,
why should they. be forbidden to dis
cuss or adopt it? There are, and
have always been, many minds as to
methods and measures of all reforms
Does the good brother forget the
storms of opposition, persecution and
martyrdom in the pioneer days of
Christianity, Professionalism and Meth
odism, and that, too, from the church?
Does he not remember that ''the
more they we're prosecuted the more
they grew ?" He, too, may learn
later that he is Fastening on the very
measure he is trying to defeat, in
forcing us to discuss the question
that we have hitherto so persistently
stunned, and only tolerated IN
thought as final and desperate alter
native.
We call him and the public to wit
hess that he, not we, introduced this
Trojan horse" question Gas he choos-
es to call it, for discussion, not only
into the North Georgia Conference
(where it already has many sympa-
thizers) to ''create division" but into
the Georgia W. G. T. U. to perhaps
disturb its harmony.
AS the question has never been
discussed by US | do not know the
sentiment of the Union throughout
the State. If there are a dozen ''suf-
fragists" IN the Union.I do not know
of them. I cannot foretell the result
of the discussion at the convention
for the question has been forced
upon us), but this | do know, that
the body Of consecrated Chistian
women will make it subject of ear
nest prayer; and as they would not
willingly or knowingly dare to take
a step in the wrong direction, neither
will they be deferred from taking
steps in the right direction, when
once convinced that it is right and
for the best as God gives them light
to see.
There are those who were not de-
clared suffragists who have been
made so by the extreme actions
against us. There are those who
look to it now from having been
among those women and children
that knelt at the polls and pleaded
in vain for redemption from the
liquor curse, while men, fathers and
Christian men," walked by them,
and deliberately deposited in the bal
lot box the vote to perpetuate the
curse upon them, and while this was
going on on one side of the court
house the money-bags of the liquor
dealers were being openly shaken
into the faces of the voters TO buy
the liquor votes
Is it any wonder that women see
that the great battle for the redemp-
ton Of the home is to be fought at
the ballot-box And that in their
desperation they are willing to wade
through deeper depths than any
they have known, and to suffer
all, dare all and do all in their hope
of overcoming the traffic?
When God called women from
their homes to 'be up and doing"
against the liquor cause, they came
from all parts of the land. They
met together in counsel. They knelt
together in prayer, and consecrating
themselves to the service Of God and
home and humanity, they enlisted
'Sfor the war; against the traffic.
They have fought it step by step
though often defeated they have
never turned their backs, lowered
their flag or polluted it by COM
promise, till at last they stand with
it face to face at it's most formidable
stronghold, the ballot box. Do you
think they'll give up the struggle
when once convinced that the victory
depends upon them there? God
forbid
For the honor and glory of man
hood they have been hoping and
waiting and praying that they might
not be driven to such an extremity.
But hope deferred and mans indif-
ference is driving them to despera-
ton. While they are waiting, the
liquor traffic is sending down thou
sands into the pit of despair, and
woes and tears and agonizing cries
for help are multiplying, and there is
no evil at the ballot box that can
equal the horrors of the liquor curse.
Why should there be any evil and
trouble in depositing piece of white
paper in behalf of the home? And
suppose there should be, men have
looked indifferently upon women in
their shame, degradation and suffer
ing in the drunkard's home. Why
should they be more Jealous to shield
them from the ballot box? The
church of God has sent them to face
the horrors of heathendom with It's
cannibaism, and hundreds Of dan
gers for the sake of the church. And
il the Savior did not rebuke them as
thew stood ahO11t the cross with the