The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-16
Growth Of the Temperance and
Purity Crusades Reviewed.
VICTORIES BY WOMEN.
Defeat Of Tammany and Breck-
inridge Commended
Republicans Made Mistake by
Defeating Woman Suffrage

CLEVELAND, o., Nov. l6-O nQer the
national bauner For God and Home and
Native Land" delegates representing
every state in the union, and following
Of thousands Of wearers Of the white
ribbon, assembled this morning in Music
hall 10 open the twenty first annual con-
vention of the w. c. T. L.
The scene presented IN the hall just
before the convention was called 10 order
was a most animated one. The hum OF
conversation increased as the hour set
for the convention to be called to order
drew near, until it seemed TO assume the
proportion OF a mighty roar.
Tne decorations Of the dig auditorium
were artistic and prOfuse, with yellow
and white predominating
The wall which formed a back ground
for the platform was mass OF yellow
and white bunting- The white Is the
recognized color and yellow bears the
same relation 10 the woman suffragists.
The balconies are 1raped in white and
yellow The upper one is intertwIn ed
with the red, white and blue. Each bal
cony post supports state or superlnten-
dents banner.
The convention was called to order a
few minutes befor 10 o'clock. Miss VIII
lard raped sharply on the table in front
OF her. Instantly the big assemblage
came to order
..oeven raps for love hope and graft
tude," said Miss Willard
After the reading Of the crusade psalm
and the singing Of the songs "Rock Of
Ages" Welcome, Christian, Welcome"
Miss Willard stepped TO the front of the
platform. and the first applause of the
convention was given, and handkerchiefs
huttered in all parts Of the house
Miss Willard thanked the convention
for the applause, and then began the de-
livery Of her annual address, a resume
Of which il az follows.
'.The child Of the crusade has lived
out its eager youth and stands on the
threshold Of mature wOmanhOod. On
the 23d day of December, 1878 the first
praying band Of Ohio bridged with
faithful feet the distance between
church and dramshop. AS if by magic
similar professions began to move
throughout the West until in the fifty
days Of their unexampled faith and
works the liquor traffic was banished
from 250 towns and villages. We date
our origin from that red letter day set
like another Christmas in the drear De
Gem ber to show that dawn is sure to fol-
low darkness.
After reviewing the progress Of tenn
perance and the w. c. r. L. movement,
Miss Willard continued:
.sPrOtestantism has forged forward
towards prohibition, the Christian voter
is less purblinO, and begins to perceive
that the paramount duty of the hour is
that every man should feel that he must
be "a good citizen in order to be a good
Christian. The pOpe's representative in
this country has endorsed the right of
any bishop to exclude from the sacra-
ments those who belong to the liquor
dealers camp. Prohibition by law. by
politics, by wonan's ballot. is the watch
word Of the temperance army in all na-
tions.
The aggregate and systematic self
respect OF women is making itself felt
against the debAsing exhibitions of her
form, whether pictured or real before
audiences Of immoral men. The vic
tory gained by Lady Henry Somerset.
Mrs. Ormiston Chant and other white rib
bon women in bringing evidence to the
London county council which caused it
by vote of vs. to 32 to refuse liquor and
promenade hall licenses SO that promi-
neut places Of amusement in London are
Osed, Is perhaps the strongest proof
mat a better day has dawned and de-
serves to rank beside the victory Of
women in Kentucky over the perjured
Breckenridge and Of women in New
York over the tiger Of Tammanv
The white life for two"-that equal
standard Of purity for men and women
which alone can make home happy-is
cardinal principle Of the white ribbon
women but they also believe that we
shall always have double standard Of
morals while We have double standard
Gas a mau9-N leth in his newspaper.
90 ID he-and ~ ca4ese days he reads what
IL Is for the interest Of great corporations
TO have him read Opinion is manufac-
tured BY the newspapers just as scIentifi-
caliy as cloth is woven by the loom. The
editorial "We" should be abolished and
every writer stand on his own merits
he strongest thing that reformers could
DO would be to buy space in the great
papers Of the country in which to put
their ideas before the great humanity
that beats its life along the stony streets.
The word Of the hour was woman armed
with the ballot for the protection Of the
home and the reinforcement of that al
trulstlc minority of men who seek to en-
blazon on the statute book the principles
Of Brotherhood"
Miss Willard made the personal state
ment that any annOuncement Indicating
a lack Of loyalty to the pledges assumed
DY the leaders is likely to be in the
future as IN the past, 'sfalse as a gam mbler's
word and deceitful as a drunkard's low
Il have not turned PopuIist. though i
nope that Populists and Prohibitionists
may Pc agreed and walk together before
long; 1 am a tsetotalIer and expect to. be
one always am opposed to lynching
aG any time and any place, and whether
tao person lynched IS black, brown or