The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-06-03
THE POTENTIAL MOODFOR WOMEN

a PAPER READ ~ MRS. ISABELLA LANING
CANDEE, AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE ILLINOIS SOCIAL SCIENCE AssoCIA-
TloSS, CHICAGO OCT. 8, 1878.
In the front ranks of the army battle
ing against crime and corruption, against
Ignorance, weakness and despair, we find
the mothers, wives and daughters of the
nation. They are the private soldiers who
take no part in commanding, but yet are
the strength and sinews of the land. In
what good workare the skill, the labors of
and tie prayers of women wantingl How
many weary and desparing lives have been
frightened and redeemed by her magic
healing, her brave and tender spirit? With
what unwTering faith and self-sacrifcing
devotion las she helped to swell the great
wave ofTenperance reform that has swept
across our country from Name to Texas,
from Oregon to Florida, cleansing the foul
places, clearing besotted brains, brighten
ing dull eyes, lighting the sparkling fires
on cold ard desolate hearthstones, bring
ing food and ralment to the furnishing,
shivering little ones, and hope, strength,
and gratitude too deep for words to the
worn and vretchcd wives and mothers of
the incorporate. History bears record to
the power of devoted womanhood. What
It may and can accomplish has been demon
strated in the earliest records of the human
race, from The history of Deborah, the aged
prophecies, who from beneath her palm
tree judged the nation of Israel and in
person led its hosts to victory, a victory
consummated by the valor of the Kenite's
wite--of the noble Esther and devoted
Ruth, to the sanity Mary "last at the cross
and first beside to tomb down through
the intervening ages upon which we cannot
dwell, to our own times, which have pro-
duced such brilliant galaxy of noble and
talented women who have given their lives
to humanity and fulfilled an exalted desti-
ny, that the names of Harriet Martincau.
Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Barrett Brown
ing, Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, Maria Mitchell, Cornelia Chisholm
and hosts of Others in the ranks of science
art, philanthropy and heroism, thrill us
with gratitude and pride that we are also
women and such glorious heritage to
boast of, such divine mission to fulfill
for ourselves and for the world. We can,
we may, do grand deeds, for those who
have preceded us have opened the way,
those who are now our leaders, whose sill
vcred hair tell of earnest strife and rich
experience, and whose lives are evidence
of rare fruition and blest realization. stand
before US with cleaning banners floating
above their consecrated heads and call up.
on US TO fill up the ranks and press on to
victory over sin and shame and misery and
despair. There are some things women
must do, and upon her wisdom and courage
and steadtostness of purpose depends the
future Of society The home is the birth.
place ofthe nation. When it is stainless
the nation will be pure, Every father and
mother in the land will assent to this pro.
position. How many will help to make
the nation pure through the homes!
The true home is heaven upon earth
1t is one to which the husband and father
is intensely and entirely loyal, to which he
gives his faithful and untiring labors, his
fond and unremitting care; delighting in
the society of his wife and children above
all other' where he can find refuge from
the veXations and wearing cares of business
and n.the atmosphere ofpeace and sweet
content strengthen himself for the battle |
which must daily be fought for his loved
ones 1t is one in which the wife and mother,
secure IN the loyal love of her husband
and the reverent affection of the children,
rclgns queen; walking hand in hand with
her husband in all things, his trusted friend
and counselor, the partner not only of his
joys and sorrows, but of his inner life and
asplrations freely rendered without the
asking her rightful share of income and
feeling the glad sense of security and
strength that comes alone from mutual
confidence, forbearance, answering fidelity
and deep abiding faith. 1t is where the