The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-31

things drift toward that point where
bloodshed will be necessary, l cannot
entertain such a thought. Nevertheless
I have been the most violent revolution
ist, and will be again if peaceable meas
ures fail in putting down the robber
class and restoring to the people their
rights, I have had my feelings so out
ragged by thoughts of the wrong done to
human beings that I wanted to see war.
Three months ago when it was discover
ed that women and children were starry
ing to death in this city, that their
fingers and toes were literally frozen off
of them, I was 1renzied and said, Every
effort of which | am capable shall go
toward influencing the people in the
work of retribution" But after awhile
a nobler thought came to me and with
it such unconquerabIe will-power that,
woman as l am, helpless, denationaiized
and nameIess, [ still felt the strength of
god. The thought was this: They
who can stimulate to bloOdshed have
the power to prevent bIoodshed. Right
here an awful responsibility fell upon
me which I can not get rid Of And oh,
how my heart warmed toward the race
when felt that l had the privilege to
help save it from the horrors of civil war
I felt Just like a mother whose child,
after having been racked and tortured
with protracted and cruel suffering until
its death would have been hailed as a
release, had suddenly passed the crisis
and gave promise of returning health
and whose love for it became intensified
tenfoId by the knowledge that now she
might keep it with her, safe and sound.
! forever-her wealth, her ineStimable
riches, her life, her joy, her child; and
who 8traightway began to see more
| beauty and goodness IN it than she had
ever seen before, and more hope in its
future.
am not surprised to find 50 many
people believing that nothing but war
will cut the ENHANCEMENT Of infamy we
call our government, until they discover
in themselves the will power that can
prevent it. When they have made this
discovery they can not escape from the
command laid upon their moral natures
and that command is to do all in their
power for a peaceabIe adjustment be-
tween the people and their masters.
I believe the present new party will be
our savior from war. am willing to
work for it and with it as long as | am
convinced that its aims are honest In
order to establish its honesty, in my
estimation it has got to prove itself loyal
to woman's demands. do not know
po8tiveIy,that this is the case, though
it's leaders are noble men who acknowl-
the Justice of our demands. 1t may be
that through fear of division or defeat
the convention that meets in July will
leave us out of their platform altogether.
Whether I espouse the cause Of this
party after that time will depend upon
the course it takes then. | mean to be
there. If | can get a declaration from
the delegates in favor Of universal srf
frage I shall still use my best efforts for
the party If not, simply won't, 10
not anticipate that the convention will
be sobbIed up by designing men, the
leaders in the movement being strong
and great as we'll as hOnOrabIe,) but if it
should be captured for base political
action, as some Of its oppo8ers suggest,
shall oppose it and fight it with the
strength of a demon. 7 can hate as
strongly as l can love- "HeII holds no
fury like a woman scorned.' mean 10
give new meaning to this adage, ifin the
formation of party for the assertion Of
race equality, one-haIf Of the race is
/ ignored am the apostle Of woman's
rights That is my mission first, last
and all the time. And though every
other issue before the people be crowded
back in the dismal past for another cen
tury l shall stand up for this one thing
restitution to my sex for the robbery and
enslavement of ages. l have written
this while being pressed for copy by the
printers, and in the fear Of delaying the
paper, But ought to add that so far
have had no cause of suspicion in any
way against the new party or those en-
gagged so earnestly in the work Of its
organization. I have confidence in it.