Year: 1876

ject, which has been set on foot at various
times previously, but abandoned without
trial, for 'ostensible reasons. But this
week two beautiful swains, having more
hardihood and cupidity, than their predi
cessors, took the iniatory step, by renting
room preparatory to opening up" theil
nefarious business, but finding outside
pressure to heavy for them, wisely con
cluded that discretion was the better
part of valar," and folded their tents like
the Arabs and as silently fitted away
The affair created quite ripple in the
hitherto quiet current of every day life
and numerous inexpedient measures were
talked of by the opposing force. Among
the rest it was amusing to hear our valiant
husbands assert that they would back ur
the women if they would turn out en-
naasse and tear down the building. II
was SO very funny Mr.. Editor, to think
that We poor weak women, who have not
sufficient strength in our puny hands to
drop bit of paper into the ballot-box
should be expected to arm ourselves with
hammer and AK, and advance on the
wooden forts, of King Alcohol with intent
to demolish, that we put our hands to
our eyes, and we-will we-smiled-
audibly, not that we are in sympathy with
the "liquor traffic; or that we fail to
comprehend, to what fearful extent il
corrupts morality and menaces society
For we are fully aware that while our
country is reeking with Klu-klux horrors
and political animosities, causing the
public heart to palpitate with fear in con-
temptation Of future possibilities; we are
harboring a more. subtle and dangerous
enemy; il more willy foe; pcstilence that
walketh in darkness, whose malarious
breath stiles the manlincss of manhood
obstruction that wasteth at MONDAY,
desolating hearts and homes all over
Columbia's fair land; a stupendous evil
which for successive generations has
withstood the combined wisdom of
Greece ana eloquence of Rome; A hydra
headed monster whose poisonous faDgs
are reaching after the idols of our homes
IL gigantic desp0t whc holds in his tight
ming grasp the fame of our fair republic
and the fate of her millions of people.


We trust we are not of the vulgar herd
who clamor for Women's Rights and
Female Suffrage We are not particular
ly anxious to enlarge our sphere for we
too frequently find more demands on our
time and strength than we are able to
meet; and we have thought indeed, that
to discharge all our social duties together
with our domestic ones, would require
even more than lifetime, but we have a
deep and settled conviction that with the
ballot we could accomplish one great good
and perhaps only one, that can be attained
in no other way. 1t was deemed expedi-
ent in the economy of the universe that
the son of God, should suffer and die on
the cross to redeem the world, from the
penalty of violated law. 1t was delegat-
ed to man to fight for the freedom of his
country and strike from the ignoble slave
the Yhackles of his bondage and send him
forth into the world a free man.


do we assume too much, if we assert
that it is reserved to women to redeem
her country from worse servitude than
man can impose; and achieve more
brilliant victory, than has yet been won on
the field of battle, and emblazen as with
a pen of fire ON the escutcheon of ourco
try, the one word temperance in great
burning letters whose effulgence warm
the hearts Of all nations, and cause them
to break forth in one ecstatic song? We
have deep and abiding conviction that il
must be so. 1t comes to us as if by in
spiration at the midnight hour, when the
Silly air is broken by the rude oaths OF
those 'who tarry long at the wlne.". II
forces itself upon us when by the light OF
the midday sun we gaze on the bloated
breathing wrecks of humanity so distorted
by their fearful indulgence that we can
but pause and wonder, if they were ir.
deed created in Gods image. And as il
in answer to the united prayers of a great
nation, it comes to us a comforting
thought at morning, noon and evening
and we patiently bide our time.


The rich deep soil of Iowa is pressed
by the feet of many noble woman whose
great philanthropic hearts beat in union
with our own on this momeutous subject
Women whose earnest self-sacrifcing
lives and comprehensive refined intellects
comprise the richest treasure of State
abounding in resources Women who
have suffered and still suffer by the fou
rum fiend, who utter no cry and give nc
sign of all their misery, save what we IN y
read in their pallid checks and stony eyes
Women who are not pleading for recogni
ton of social rights, but sit in their desol
ate homes, under the shadow of great
despail, watching for the incoming It'd,
that shall bring to their ears the roar Of
the advancing wave that is yet to leap up
on the farther shore and bounce irres;sti
bly, onward by winds of progress shal
bear them from the quicksands of ute
want to the green fields of happy life
Women noble and true, who are straininI
their ears to catch the sound of the tocsir
that shall marshal them forthin one grand
phalanx to conquer their insidious foe
Women some of whom no doubt are sicl
with hope deferred and goaded to despera
ton by therepetition of wrongs unredresseG
have gone out from their squalrid homes
to commit deeds of violence unseemly and
indelorous perhaps, but woman against
whom we prefer no charges and from
whom we have no better criticism, but
only words of pity and hope. But to
that other party, "lords of creation" self.
styled, who persistently stand between
than and fha ballot how tba;r ONLY, f;o;an,