The Press., 1896-12-24
w. C. T, U.
IN. B.-Buy and read the following address. It will help you and you will help The Press.l
Miss Willard,s Annual Address,.


 IN. B.-Buy and read the following address It will help you and you will help The Press.l
 Miss Willard's Annual Address.
 Beloved Sisters All the mountains of difficulty, from the little toddling step of one who was slow to learn to walk, even to the duty of this hour, all the moun- tains have changed into mole-hills my whole life long. I dreaded to come be- fore you without a written address. It has been my habit to write it with some care, and said to myself, "They know that consider what am to say in my annual address, whether do at any oth- CT time or not, and how can face them with any less preparation than usual ?'' But now feel serene about 1t, and just as much at home as though you and l were seated together at one of the friend ly tiresides from which you came so late ly, and we were speaking together about those sweet and holy things that your presence here signifies to God and men.
 In June last was in the great conven- tion of the British Women's Temperance Association in London. Some one moved that cable be sent to the women of St. Louis because of the cyclone, and it was done with heqrtiness and good will by those dear sisters of ours, some of whom are on this platform now and will be pre- sented to you later.
 It was brave thing of the St. Louis women to have us come. It was just like them, and want to express on Your be- half and my own the deep love and grati- tude we feel toward those who (when we were in somewhat of an embarrassment about the national convention, as to the place of its meeting, for reasons that are known to you) said "Come to us''-the very last city in the union that ought to have dared and done and prepared this splendid scene for: us. And so the first thought in my heart and in yours is, IA thousand blessings on their dauntless foreheads." [Applause.] do not sup pose the good people in St. Louis realize just what is the particular place in all their city that history will speak of most. There might be a difference of opinion, | but not among some of us women who were in St. Louis before. For this is the second national convention that we have attended in this city. In the year 1884 the United Presbyterian church opened to us (when most other churches did not Open), through the kindness of Rev. Dr. John A. Wilson, with whom and his party I had once shared the dangers and dis comforts of an oriental journey, and he said he did not think I would be "up to anything very bad" That little church is the most historic spot in all St. Louis. l Applause. That little church in which the gentle, mild-mannered, soft-voiced women of the white ribbon set the clock for the hour of the political renaissance of the United States.
 I wish could describe the scene; the intense hush upon us all; the sense of a spirit breeding in the eair-invisible, heav- only, holy. wish could reproduce the picture of the dear woman on the plat form, who led the crusade. I wish that Mary Lathrop in her splendid prime could stand again before us as she stood that day, voting to take the position of ''lend- ing our influence and prayers" to the pro- htbttiOn party, and saying in her speech in effect what she said in that great cpl gram, Between right and wrong only one ground is possible, and that Is battle ground" I"wish that Mary Woodbridge in her womanly dignity might stand be- fore you to say, "The crusade fire burns the conservatism out of my Presbyterian conscience; my hand and heart are for this vote." I wish that Sarah Downs, oi New Jersey, were here, who was always brave and strong, and whose dying words a few years later on, were, as the heav. enly glory rested on her worn features "ProhibitiOn will triumph; blessed are they that shall have part in it's victory l wish could show you those quiet, gen. tie faces of the rank and file, who endure the contest without conquest, and who brave the hardness of the battle without renOwn. But that vision has been caught away from us; it is history's now, anG Gods. Whoever regrets that we took that step, do not Whoever has ceased to love the prohibition party under it's now duplicate form, h0Oe not. Who ever has words of elimination, recriminar anybody connected with it, l h00e not Applause.] Nor do believe that yor have. Let by-gones be by-gones Le the dead bury the dead.
 In 1884, when we took our position fol God in politics, or, as Mary Lathrop said "for gospel politics" the prohibition par ty had never mustered more than ter thousand votes, and even that was al they got at the previous presidential cleo tiOn for our splendid standard-b bearer Neal Dow. When we were in session herC in St. Louis,1 had a letter from tha sweet poet and friend of mine. the Quake Whittier begging me not to take this DO . sltion, in his own gentle words, far nor, persuasive than some scolding letters had received; a most brotherly lette ;t from Edward Everett Hale to the sam' t purpose, and a score more from name not less renowned, in the field of politics And the other delegates had letters an' 3 telegrams and personal persuasions a y we'll, but they answered, Here I stand can do no other; God help me, amen. .#. t't%,
 tl [Applause.] I :. Continued in rull.) ! 1FhSH ss4-l