The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-05-06
W G. r. U.
Tribute to Miss Willard.
By Mrs. siurtcnani-Pcci.

By Mrs. Sturicnani-Pccf.
Standing as we do under the shadow
Of orr bereavement. IL Is most natural
Ia think Of Francis Willard rs she was
Of reform. There are times In the build |
ing Of u moral structure when the death |
OF single individual is national calam-
ity. In the death Of Francis Willard
such u calamity has bcfallen MS. for we
hold her second To no individual reform
cr In the world. Truly civic warrior
has fallen We pause in our grief 10
measure the loss 10 humanity. to com
pass the vacuum in the tanks OF those
who battle for the principles that under
lie individual and national character.
Her keen sense OF Justice her uucOmpro-
missing loyalty to principle her vigor OF
thought. her powerful cloquence made
her the Charles Sumner Of the period.
Like him she never swervcd from her
PURPOSE. like him she never compromised
prnelrlc on The alter OF expectancy, like
him she gave her life 10 humanity.
Their goal was not money or fame. but
Justice. In her strength Of moral char
acter she was Sampson with the gentle
ness Of n lamb. This with courage 10 do
what was right. and TO oppose what was
wrong made her the safe. independent
leader that she was. For her to know
The right WIS tn do H. This character
isiic was rendered conspicuous when She
chose the ,i-spiScd temperance work in
preference To the tempting "iI'rs that
were made her from other sources. At
the time when she mndr her choirc shr
received two important letters. One Of
fcred her the principalShip Of young
ladies school with handsome salary.
the other the presidency Of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union of Chicago,
without salar, or experience. but with
strong faith This was in 1871 when cur
work was in its incipiency. with her
brilliant attachments and opportunities
few would hive made such choice
She entered the open door. She says re-
gar,ling the change: ono words can nd
rQuatrly characterize the change wrought
10y the decision. Instead Of peace was
to participate In war; instead Of the
sweetness of home | WIS to become n
wnndrrrr on the fncc of the earth; instead
of Libraries was 10 frequent public halls
aud railway ears; Instead of scholarly and
cultured men | was to see the dregs of
the saloon. the gambling houses aud the
haunts OF shame" She SENS 10 have
been led by u divine hand. taking this
important step at the right time and in
the right direction. Her unerring judge
mcnt. her br,dth NJ comprehension. her
intcll"ctu Il and spiritual intuition, made
her drrlomnt aud statcswoman.
Edward Everett Hale SAYS of her an
rual messages to her constituency. that
the, are better worth reading than the
messages of the presidents of the United
States for the same time.
Miss willard aggressive In legislative
rcform- prolns in plans To accomplish
and ibufld higher aud better for the ma
iius md the world Only mind mould
ed In The die Il -talc>woman could have
carved out such work as she has left be-
hipdher. Scarcely u state mr. territory
In bhe union hut within the last sixteen
years has contributed to her noble record
as statrsweman some statue of reform.
She had remarkable grasp Of practical
aud neutrality-suspicious. Cader her lead
ctShip "A rraud ,rganis,sl constituency
dwell Ia r,,VN hatrahls q,arcs Of the
globe In Asia aus,Afriea. ,n'tse cois-
IN fields of Australia. nf lie rea,tiacs 81
the Amazon aud lhe La Platte iu sws-
den. Norway aud Finland, iwthc jungles
of the Congo and Madagascar. women
weep today hecause their leader and
SiatcSwomau has rallcn. oft times the
nation has stood with uncovered head in
respectful honor for men whose life work
and deeds did not compare with those OF
Miss Willard. Opposed by friends IN,
foe. Against the strong current of pub
lie sentiment. she bedt her way and gain
ed prominence accorded To few in ANY
country. To both men and women ni
both continents She has been revelation
p TODAY many uilliou hearts brrath
? prayer of Thanksgiving that France
a Willard has lived. She made lifc's path
= WAY Surcr and raSicr for every woman
g and purrr aud cleaner for the ,.miHion
FRET coming.