Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-03-20
COLUMBUS REDEEMED.
The Last Work of the Lamcnted Inge and
the W. c. TT. Richly Uonored.

the W. c. L. 4. Richly Honored.
\ little more than twelve months ago
how strong the liquor traffic seemed !!
How it "spread itself here like green
bay treem How timidly the few who
believed it could be defeated, talked of
the wisdom of measuring the faith, en-
ergies and prayers of women with such
a giant. Was it not better to let the
great enthroned iniquity have undis-
puted sway than to arouse its deadller
hate and more terrible revenge by at
tempting to remove it in the face of all
odds against the movers in such plan!
But as the licensed traffic was hurting
the homes of iromen, more than any
thing else, the w. c. T. U. said in their
hearts and in their deeds, 1--WE must
do what we can to be free from this gi-
gantic curse!' The Court House was
the only place open to them to begin
the fight for life. At first no David
came to offer to meet the terrible enc
my. but God did send him ere long in
the lamented Geo. S. Inge! What man
or woman who went to those weeks of
meeting can ever forget the heroism of
that fight, the undaunted courage, the
matchless eloquence, the clear brain
and Napoleon-like determination that
made that court room historic forever!
The w. C.. Z. u. worked as never they
had before. To overthrow an evil made
by law required ceaseless toll, patient
endurance, 1.-The smell of the fire" of
battle. and the hardship of good sol
diers in a supreme contest for the
right. Only those who knew could ev-
er estimate all the tireless work it re-
quired to break the rule of the saloons.
Even public opinion drifted like a
surging river against the cause of Pro
hibition. But the current was stem
med and turned upon the saloons, and
they went under. The God of Geo. S.
Inge, the white ribbon women and the
friends of the right had conquered glo-
riously. THE horse and the rider" had
been cast into the sea! 1t was the
browning work of Geo. S. Inge's life.
He had given his last best service to
the women who never had nobler
champion or more fearless friend. In
a short time after that splendid service
God called him up to higher service.
Twelve months of pure air, of happy
freedom. and then the time drew near
when the last hour of legal Prohibi
ton was at hand The w. c. I. U.
thought more frequently than ever of
their friend and brother whose body
now rests in the quiet cemetery near
Corinth. The man who had not deem
ed it too small or too unpopular thing
to do, to speak for the w. G. T. u
wearing the little white ribbon as a
priceless badge of honor. But God
had so wisely wrought the overthrow
of the licensed liquor traffic that it was
an enemy shattered, defenseless and
with no power to step upon its throne
of iniquity. There were letters writ
ten to the public, eXhortatations, facts
and figures sent out by the w. G. Z. U.
These seem to be the weapons of de
Tense God yet left the women.
can open letter" was scattered by
the men who organized to assist the
cause of the home against the saloons.
This letter was the work of a w. G. L,
U. woman. The election day came qui
city and with peace in every home.
The victory came easily. Two years
more of life was given Prohibition. The
sun went down upon a happy people.
The victory this time had not caused
any suffering to anybody in the cause
of righteousness.
To all of those men who stood firmly
by the cause of the right, to all of those
women who gave their influence and
their prayers, the W. G. 7. U. would of
fer gratitude and congratulations In
the years before us let US all do what
we can to gain still more friends for
Prohibition, so that the next contest,
if ever there is one again. may be yet
more complete and easy a victory.
MARY MCGEE SMELL.
Columbus, March IL, 1894.