The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-15


a good cause, but there are more times
when they would be cast for some |
hysterical, fool sentiment. If the |
women only realized It, this silly idea |
Of a chain Of prayers will indefinitely |
delay the franchise for which they |
have so long been clamoring. How |
any sane sman could conscientiously |
support a measure to give women the !
ballot II they are likely to do such
wild and wierd things as this, Is Inn
possible to imagine. 1t Is thous-
and pities that Frances Willard were
not still alive to use her personality
and rare good sense to save the or
ganization which she so loved from this
suicidal step. That she would protest
against such idiocy is as certain as
that she was a noble woman With In
tellect and judgment of surpassipg
greatness. That she has no successor
in the organization is all too evident.
1t is to be deplored that it's splendid
history should be thus marred. 1t is
great satisfaction to discover that
its main body and, indeed, most of the
state unions, do not approve such
| performance.
II It were not a serious subject, one
NOulu Slillit at lIlc apparent hob
of Divine intelligence in the presump-
| tion thus evident. How on earth
parcel of women can reconcile their
conception of the Lords power and
ability to understand human situa-
tions with their trivial and narrow in
depreciation of the country's needs,
passes comprehension. That 1t is
necessary for them to acquaint the
Divine Ruler with their version of
the crisis is as ridiculous as It is
| fanatical.
If William Mckinley were a Boxer
and the women of our land were in
! imminent danger of being subjected
to the atrocities perpetrated in China
there might be some reason in con-
certed prayer meeting in the interests
of his prompt removed II he were a
dissolute man; If he were weak and
| vaccilating; If he were erratic in his
views and unsafe in his judgment; If
he were anything but what he Is, the
safest, bravest, wisest man for the
country in these critical years,
there might be an excuse for
such an attitude. Being the man
he is, it we're more fitting that
all the pure-hearted women OF the land
dorp on their knees at night and
dawn to thank a kind Providence that
sent him to us for these times and to
beseech blessings and success for his
coming administration.
Some OF the best people in the land
are interested in the temperance
movement. Many are identified with
the woman's Christian Temperance
union and the Prohibition party. Many
and doubtless the majority, are con-
scientious and devout in their BELIEF
in the cause and it's ultimate triumph.
The chief ground for criticism is that
too many feel that they have been
miraculously endowed with monopo-
; ly of wisdom and conscientiousness
and that all the other people are de-
void of both qualities. This is unfor-
tunate. 1t is always disastrous to our
cause when we labor under the hal
lucination that all who differ from us
in views are eternally lost. or at least
thieves and robbers. We have to take
so many things on faith in this world
that 1t would be much better for all
concerned if we could only concede the
fact that those who don't agree with
us fully may be a trihe better than
bandits or anarchists. Some Of the
/ IdulCdl duNoCdltS Nuihot
D modify their ideas to meet this con-
ception.
1t was only a short time ago that
DR.. Swallow, of Harrisburg. the per-
ennnial Prohibition candidate for Of
flee, published a most scurrilous arti-
: Gle in his Methodist Review. which
4 should cause that sheet to be repudi-
8 ated by all Methodists. The article
in question should have come under
: condemnation as obscene literature,
; and aside from its character in the
way of language, should have been
. suppressed because of the attack on
a woman. The subject of the screed
!. was Mrs. William A. Stone, wife OF
l. the governor of Pennsylvania. The al
e legged excuse for it's publication was
s that she gave a reception and dance
at Mt. Gretna during the annual en-
| campment of the state guard. The
| vituperative remarks, the vile cpl
? | thets, the low illusions contained ir
? the column devoted to this harmless
: function would have been the stal
:. leader in the journals not seen or
{ library tables. 1t was almost beyonc
belief that clergyman and leader
of a noble cause coul1 have had q
vocabulary so profuse in terms mo-
: known to polite literature. 1t was still
y more incredible that he could thus at
s tack a lady whose graciousness ant
e hospitality are a pride to the state
a and whose social entertainments arr
L irreproachable in character. Fanati
s cism could go no further. but In thi'
e case it was mingled with the gall o
s disappointed ambition and hatred o
e the Governor and his friends, 70
n whom he has fought so valiantly. II
: this case he would have been entirel!
J. justified had he descended upon thu
e Methodist Review, and incidentally
= DR.. Swallow, and systematically ex
terminated both. 1t is by such attacks
and the "chain of prayer" for tn
! defeat of President Mckinley that tn
temperance movement, which has hat
| the respect and support of the bes
i people of the country, is losing 1t
position. To do such temperance worl
as the Mems union of the city Is &C
complishing, is the real mission o
the future and may be commended t
all organizations which wish to max
good their determination to reform
society. If we must have "a chain o
prayer" why not take up the matte
of rain?
SauCV BeSs