Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-14
GRAFTON,
Delivered at Prescott, July 4th, 1870,
by Rev. III. Stone Richardson.

Delivered at Prescott, July 4ths 1870,
by Rev. III. Stone Richardson.
Mr. President. Ladies and Gcntlemcn:-We
are assembled under the auspices OF the lnde-
pendent order of Odd-Fellows, TO celebrate the
day of our national independence. After hav
ing accepted your invitation to address you.
found myself somewhat embarrassed with
the inquiry What shall be the theme of
my Oiation7 decided. however, that though
solicited to speak by the members of this or
der, my subject on this day. and TO this great
mass of the common people must be. ''Our
Country"
shall not attempt. any eloquent descrip.
ton of the American Eagle" nor shall l en-
deavOr to interest you with any discussion OF
the peculiarites'of the british Lion" 1t may
perhaps be the opinion OF some present. that
within the last ten years. the characteristics
somewhat changed. We might discover by
too close an examination, something "bugg-
ardish' about our grand Eagle.-something
decidedly wolish about the old Lion. Leav-
ing these animals bound together by the great
submarine cable-about the only bond that
binds them-we express the hope. that for
many coming generations they may live 10y
inely divided. uniledly separated.
ought perhaps to say. at this point. that
during my preparation for this occasion, it
was suggested. that select as my theme to-
day, +" IVomGRs Rights" l could not accept
the suggestion; but / will assure these intel
ligemi, christian. representative ladies of the
great West. who are here present, to whom
We are indebted for much that renders this
occasion bright, aud cheerful, and happy-to
whom we owe all that makes our Country
1.-THE land of the Free" our fre-side "the
home Of the brave" and our hearts, her
lhrone,- that l consider the question of
" IVOmen's Rights" as of vast importance !;
aud at the proper time aud place, should be
glad to express i'm full my opinion in relation
it.
will say here and now. that my experience
with wOman's rights, has been OF such char
a ter, that seriously doubt my ability, 10
speak upon this subject at any time without
great fear aud trembling. "Woman's Rights!"
I heard last winter n gentleman say in pub
lie lecture that Submission was native TO the
woman's character. deny it! am frank
to say. that in my experience the boot has
alv avs been on the other foot. Ny first ex-
perieuce when was sixteen and at school,
will illustrate the fact. Mary and !. were
very dear friends. She was all the world TO
me. Alas MaTv's parents were old time
quakefs, and before 1 could visit her at her
home. it was imperative. that | ask her faith
er's consent. One fatal evening, | had accom-
panied Mary home. and. being lett alone with
the old gentleman, was trying TO get courage
10 ask, If, during that tsrai of the school,
might occasionally visit his daughter. i felt
snmeway, that If could sctisper the question.
very low. / could get along with it, but these
young ISen will appreciate my appalling
tear. when ] inform them, that the good old
quaker was as deaf as an adder. and | knew
that every soul in the house, must hear every
word | said.
But Mary had requested me 10 ask him,
and had submitted This was my first sub
mission.) / began the terrible question:
"Mr b if you have no objections | would,
during this term. be pleased to call OCCASION
ally upon Maryl'
Imagine if you can my CONSERVATION when
after shouting this wish at The top of my
voice. the old gentleman inclined his head.
bent his hand around his ear. and replied Il
did not quite understand thee" was in the
deepl / must swim or dIei Again 1 COM
nenced-"Mr B If you have no object
ions"-just here the conviction, hat Mary and
Mary's mother. and doubtless all the people
in that vicinity were hearing me. shook the
last sand of courage from nv heart and L con-
cluded the sentence in about these words
emo objections / would during this term,
occasionally fish IN your mill pond"
He heard, aud answered dcti6era'e'cy-
Thee is at liberty To do So" / do not re-
member all our succeeding conversation. but
/ know that after submitting the question,
again in some fDrm. received his fnal an
swer. "1hee IS quite too young"
My second experience of submission was
OF this character; l had submitted to the
now Mrs R in all things. Even to fhe
tone of my voice. the cot of my coat-but
I 70 e al
tiOn-whether she wOnld have me that too
young" was dagger that would not out );
yet the question must be asked. l remem-
Der the evening. We were walking-"her
and me"-along the country road. when.-I
remember the very spot.-we came 10 a
bridge. aud for a moment we stopped upon it.
Under that bridge ran meadow brook more
than foot deep. While we stood silently
gazing down into the water. happy thought
possessed my whole being. and grasping the
now Mrs R by the arm, and holding her
forward over the gulf-it was more than three
feet down TO the stream. / cried out. will
you have me [! Answer yes or both togeth-
er we plunge 10 rise no morel' "I'll have
voui"-fell like music on my heart. From
that moment, my life has been one grand sub
s,;ssion. The fact is. have been disciplined
up to the point of giving every woman her
rights, just as soon as she lets me know what
they are, and demands them. l do however
ia sist, that with her new rights granted, she
shall accept the new responsibilities and OBJ
legations among which. are all the prelimi-
naries to courtships. and the making of all
prOposals.-though made on The brink of
yawning CULTS, aud subject in every case TO
the good 9uakcr's answers: 81 did not quite
understand thee" or ''tlee is quite too young"
We trust that these remarks clearly indicate
the opinion of your speaker upon this great
question of Woman's Rights.
Mr. President, the oil Romans had an AL
tar of Vesia, upon which, they kept a fire
continually bCrning.-a symbol TO them, CT
donistic union. This day--four score and
fourteen years old,-is TO every true American
citizen, an Altar. yet more sacred. upon
which. we trust. the fires of patriotism may,
be kept burning forevermore. A symbol 10
us not only OF domestic, but of national union
The principles upon which our nation is
established. are ours, Just as the. air we breath
{ is ours Just as the fragrance and beauty of
these prairie flowers. is ours just as the light
of heaven-shimng full and free and bound
less upon the earth, is ours yet these princi.
pies were purchased with noblest blood they
were torn from the grasp of England, with
aueasrres Of gold and life--with earnest pray
els and yet more earnest blows. The stabili-
~ of this nation does not rest upon accident
at foundations The impulses of orr Fathers,
were all on the side of humanity. on the side
of the common people. They had nerves and
honor enough, 10 act on their convictions :;
courage auough TO cross weapons it'll the in
vadeFs, and they were wise and true and no.