Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-26

. WASHlNGION, ID. e,
are ..rsngers and foreigners, for the women OF al
natohalitiea In Tho ARTIFICIAL distinctions OF neY
have a universal sense OF Injustice, that forms 8
common bond of union between them
TEE BONDAGE Or woNIN.
Whether our feet are compressed In iron shoes,
our faces hidden with vetls and maskR whether
yokcd with cows to draw the plow through rs
furrows or ciassed with idiots lunatics, ana GRIM
inals In the laws ana constitutions Of the state,
the principle IS the same FOR the hum1lfations Of
A difference In government religion, laws, and TO-
ciai customs makes but little change In the rela-
tive status OF woman TO the elf-constituted gov
tons Is the rule OF her being. Through suffering
we have learned the open sesame to
OF universal signincanoc, more subtle than
that used In the busy marts OF trade, that should
be called the motner-tongue, by which with
know the experiences OF each other in the varied
forms Of slavery. With the spirit forever tn bond
age Win 'e eeer Sa Wsnt nn nSS r n golden
the dfeary deserts OF lfc friendless and forsaken
Now that our globe is girdled with railroads
your hearts is known to US Long ago we heard
the deep yearnings OF your souls for freedom re-
sponsive to ourown. Mary wolstencraft, Madsmes
Bremen, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and George
Elliot have pictured alike the wrongs OF woman
Though divided by vast mountain ranges, bound
less oceans and plains, yet the psalms or our lives
have been In the same strain too long, alas! In the
minor key; for hope deferred has made the brayeSt
hearts sometimes despairng. But the same great
oversoul has been our hope and inspiration. The
steps OF progress already achieved In many coun-
tries should encourage US to tune our harps
TO songs OF victory. IL is with great satsiac-
tion we also welcome here to-day represent atiyes
OF our own countrywomen, from thirty different
associations OF moral and phlanthropic reforms.
Although all these are the natural outgrowths Of
the demands made, and the basic principles laid
down by those who first claimed equal, civil and
political hight, Tor women yet this Is the first time
we have met on the same platform to advocate the
same measures In carrying On the varied reforms
In which we are mutually interested. think most
OF Us have come 10 1eel that voice In the laws Is
Indispensable 10 achieve success; that these great
peace, the rights of labor religious freedom, In.
ternational arbitration, are all questions to be
finally adjusted by the action OF government, and
withouba direct voice In legislation woman's in
fiuence will be eventually lost.
Experience has fully proved that sympathy as a
civil agent is vague and pOwerles until caught and
When every prayer and tear represents q ballot,
the mothers OF the race will longer weep In vain
over the miSeries OF their children.
The active interest women are taking in allsthe
great questions Of the day is In strong contrast
with the apathy and indifference IN which we
found them half q century ago, and the contrast
IN their condition between now and then is equally
marked.
CHANGE IN PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
TnoSe VINO 1naugurated the movement for
woman's enfranchisement, who for long years en-.
dured the merciless storm Of rdlcue and persecu-
tion mourned over by friends ostracised In social
life scanddlZed by enemies, denounced by the
pulpit, scarined and caricatured by the press, may
wen congratulate themselves on the marked
change IN public sentiment, that this magnificent
gathering OF educated women from both hemis-
pheres 50 triumphantly illustrates.
In the great national and state conventions for
education, temperance, ana religion. even thirty
years ago, wolnan's voice was never heard The
battles fought by the pioneers IN the suffrage
movement TO secure a fOothOld for woman on these
platforms have been eloQuently described many
times by susan b. Anthony, Lucy stone and An
tOinette Brown and hope during this council they
Will be rehear,ed once more for the benefit OF those
who, while holding the vantage ground they Sc
cured are afraid or the principles Dy which 1t was
gained. The protracted struggle through which
we have passed, and our labOrs not yet crowned
with victory, seems to me III review like painful
dream, In which one strives TO run and yet stands
stil incapable alike OF escaping or meeting the
impending danger The civil and political position
OF woman, when first understood its real siynln-
canoe, was enough to destroy all faith In the vital
ity OF republican principles. Hall century ago the
women OF America we're bond slaves, under the Old
common law or England. Their rights or person
ana property were under the absolute control OF
fathers and husbands They were shut out OF the
schools and colleges, the trades and professions,
and all Offices under government; paid the most
meager wages In the ordinary Industries of life
and denied everywhere the necessary opportunl.
ties for their best development. Worse still,
women had no proper appreciation OF themselves
% iaOloIS III CINNAMON. pcuSNiHs >tu-uenldi d
higher virtue than Self-develOpment, they ignO-
rantly made ladders OF themselves by which IaUh-
ers, husbands, Drothers, ana sons reached their
hlgnest alnDitlohS creating an lmpassaoie gulf
between tnem anu lnose they loVeu that no mag
Netlc chordS Vi aHectlon or gratitude could span.
Notnlns naore common iorty years ago IMAM 10 see
Ine SUNS VI q iaiiliy euuca.eu WINE the daughters
remained in ignorance; husbands at ease Ia the
ienel ciIc,e' IN HniI III tneii wives were unpfe-
pniu " inss. Linz .iie ioohoM SINS IN inc par
aoie: Women oVeIs wnoIS ~ serving otilefs Io1got
W hooP .noa Wv aupo o, ,.s ano burning, anu
.,no SaU. ioaS'S Vi nio "eie Spfeao W lhein
'n E uuoiS WI 9muv. o,,o, g., ..u. 49,
rn,a ~ narso "o nn enJUy III measure tneir
caatrsc 9s ,,s and anu & ney can make
yesito au ~ hscnne ,nioIoS Inc inarrlage
Io 20 r "nen ~ u.oottoS nVois aoe. NOV hoSt
y, n an IoSse' 49, ~ opon " sninS anu tne1 aie
irAt ,,e ~ eno IL liz ori al tn9 piontaoie
,nonI Th,v re ~, va n rG onueI Ho.oin-
dncInrc e4itnrs nrn5eDsOrS in Iou, sls M @
io'eiS LA 'ho puipi's'
woAANs POLITICAL STATUS
Their political status Is SO far advanced that
they enjoy all the rights of citizens I'm two terri
,ortas ,orn,o,noI sn,r,I,a a., 90 -,
'oiio'. Anunioipa, suniaso III ohe s.a'e ana
sGn0oi sunrage age, IN MAJ. Ine states OF the Inion
mere Is great record OF the work achieved
In the past halr century, but we do not
ntenu 10 rest our case until all our rights are Sc
cured. ana noting the steps OF progress In other
countries, on whlcn tnelr various representatives
are here 10 report, We behold with satisfaction
everywhere general uprising CT women, demand
Ing higher education and an equal place In the
Is highly Significant, In It's promises OF future COM
bined action When, In the history OF the world,
was there ever before such an asSelnblage OF able
educatedwOmen ,celebrated1n so many varied walks