The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-24
woMAr's PEACE CONVENTION.

Election Of On,ccrs--Address by Julia Ward
Howe--Speech or David Dudley Field.
The first session OF the Womans Peace Cohven'
ton was opened az ten O'Clock yesterday morning
al the Union League theatre. The attendance was
rather SLIM aud among those present were Mrs
Jua Ward Howe, Mr.. Wilam Cullen Bryant and
the Rev. o. b. rockingham. The following were
nominated oillcers OF the conventlon:-Presiaent,
julia Ward Howe: Vice Presidents, william Cullen
Bryant, Lucrecia Mott, Henry Ward Beecher, George
W. Julian Rachel S. Rowland, Professor 7. s
Upham, Gerrit smith, Isabella Beccher Hooker, Rev
Abel stevens, Rev. o. B. rockingham ana Aliret
ii. Love; Secretaries, Mary r. Davis, 7. 3. Sanborn
Anna Rice Powell and Henry T. Child; Treasurer,
George Cabot Ward.
Mrs. HOWE then said that two questions are TO be
declded-nrst, whether peace congress should be
held In the coming year, and, second, whether IL
should be Gale q woman's movement Woman Is
a sympathetic agent COR the transmission OF truth,
and In every way adapted 10 the work. Whiie ask
ing the aid of CHRISTIAN men In the WORK t !, IN
each other by the hand ana use tneir hnuehoo Al
behalf Of peace. -. ,,,,ou., . ,orc
GRAFTON In favor OF peace, and was followed by MIS-
WiLborR Vice President OF the Woman's Suffrage
1's'' THE EVENING SESSION
commenced at eight O'Clock.
Mrs. JULIA WARp HOWE called the meeting to or
der She read letters from Mr.. william II. Furnace,
nj Philadelphia; Professor Thomas O. Upham, Rev.
DIR. Abel Stevens, Gerrlt smith, Madame Gas
marin and Harriet Beecher Stowe-all expressing
their sympathy Tor tle object OF the Convention. A
letter from Mr.. Jonn Stuart Mill was then read it
expressed doubt as TO the ACCESSIBILITY OF having
separate congress of women, such movements
ne says-are more prolific or words than OF actions.
Mr. DAVID DUDLEY FIELD next came forward ana
addressed the meeting. He sald-This Is meeting
THE INFLUENCE OF WOMAN.
Let Ms look at the end and ut the means by which
this object may be attained. The end Is peace-pcace
among the nations OF the earth. War sometimes Is
a necessity for we have yet arrived at the ad-
all circumstances. Italian unity Tor instance, coulu
never nave been attained without war; But we
ought 10 ind a remedy FOR war. common autho-
rty should be established, which VIII be 10 make IL
just diicalt for nations as for individuals to war
against one another. Is this merely visionary
scneme. or can such supreme council settle the
disputes between the nationss The speaker then
eited the United States as an example ne, for the
European nations, whence he concluded tnat
A COURT OF ARBITRATION
would be the panacea OF all the troubles and inter-
national quarreis OF Old Europe He therefore,
thought the object which the meeting proposes 70
attain reasonable one, which should meet with
universal favor. The next question that arises Is
whether the means have the tendency OF securing
the end. The means, SAID the speaker, are tle IN
nuence of woman. As woman suffers as nucn as
by it Is her duty 10 do all she can TO pre-
vent war. lie did not quite ike the idea OF
woman's congress be would pave glvent les less
pr etentous name. The MEANS therefore, he thought,
Mrs. HOWE then introduced an address, IN which
She depicted the horrors Oh war.
TIE PRESENT WAR
in France, said the speaker, cries out before high
heaven for something To check lis fearful and bloody
progress Men are not likely to take the necessary
steps against war, therefore women, who are non
conbatants outside the diplomatic bias, and the
mothers of ought TO stay this bitter destruction
OF human life. il 1t Is wrong and foolish for women
fight IL surely cannot be right for men to do so.
The address continued In this strain After the read
ing of which
Mr.. JOHN O'HARA, u gentleman from Ireland, de-
liyered Il lengthy grafton. He was followed by Mrs.
Mary +. Davis, who spoke very feelinglyon the sad
results OF war. The audience then requested to
append theil signatures 10 a document and to con-
tribute something handsome toward Mrs. howes
expenses. which proposition seemed TO chill the
audience
Mrs. HOWE then delivered closing address, after
which the meeting adjourned.