The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-27
BLUE STOCKINGS BANDED
MRS. STANTON FILLS THEM WITH
ENTHUSIASM.

Supreme Sovereignty Declared the
Birthright of Woman-Spread of the
Suffrage Movement Since It's Incep-
tion in 1854 Plea for Unity OF
Action.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-The lnterna-
tional Council of Women was formally
opened to-day in Albaugh's Grand Opera
House. 1t was the assembly by the Ma
tional Woman's Suffrage Association of the
United States to celebrate the fortieth an
niversary of the first women's rights couven-
ton. Notwithstanding a cold drizzling
rain which has fallen incessantly since yes
terday afternoon, the opera house was
probably half filled with an audience com
posed almost wholly of women.
At 1890 O'Clock Susan b. Anthony, Vice
President, called the council to order.
Upon the stage were seated 100 or more
delegates from the National Women's
Rights and kindred societies in this and
other countries.
SOME OF THE PROMINENT PARTICIPANTS
About thirty associations of this charac-
ter are represented in the council, which is
probably the largest gathering OF notable
WOllleu III bilb history Vi bulN Npuibi y
Among the ladies seated upon the stage
were Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan b.
Anthony, Lucy Stone, Matilda Joslyn
Gage, May Wright Sewall, Clara Is.
Colby, Elizabeth Boynton Harbert,
Julia Ward Howe, Clara Barton, Frances
E. Willard and many others who were pio-
neers in the cause of woman suffrage.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton delivered the ad-
dress of welcome and reviewed at some
L., -. ,..rt th, fp.aa NOVA
ment.
REVIEW OF THE WORK.
In the course of her address she said:
We are assembled here to-day TO celebrate
the fortieth anniversary of the first organized
demand ever made by women for the right of
suffrage. The initiative steps were taken in my
native State. In 1SiS two conventions were
held in central New York, and the same
erty bill passed the Legislature.
Other conventions were soon called in Ohio,
Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and other
States and one after another adopted advance
legislation. Thus started the greatest move.
ment for human liberty recorded on the page OF
history a demand for freedom to one-half the
entire race.
ECHOED AROUND THE WORLD.
The keynote, struck in this country in lS4S,
has been echoed round the world, as to-day to
celebrate our fortieth anniversary we have
representatives in person or by by letter from
nearly every State in the Union; from Great
dsb Britain ,0da Pran09 Denmark TaAnd and Norway
1t has beed our custom to mark the passing
years by holding meetings Of suffrage societies
on each decade, but for this meeting we decided
upon the broader recognition OF all the reform
associations that have been the natural out
growth of the suffrage agitation IN the old
world as well as the new.
A POPULAR MOTTO.
1.-THE world is my country and all mankind my
countrymen' is motto that cannot be ecnoed
and re-echoed round the globe too often to keep
our sympathies alive TO the veal and woe OF
the human race In welcoming the represen-
tatives from other lands here to-day we 90
not feel that you are strangers and
foreigners, for the women Of all nationalities
suffer from artificial distinctions of sex and
have universal sense Of injustice that forms a
common bond of union. II is with great salts
faction that we also welcome here to-day rep
resentatives of our own countrywomen from
thirty different associations OF moral and phil
anthropic reforms.
WANT THE BALLOT.
81 think most of us have come to feel that a
voice In tine making Of the laws is Indispensable
to achieve success that these great moral strug-
giles for higher education, temperance, peace,
the rights of labor, religious freedom, interna-
tional arbitration are oil questions TO be finally
adjusted by the action of the government and
without a direct voice in the legislation woman g
influence will be eventually lost. When in the
history of the world, was there ever before such
aSSe mOlage or able, eduCaJe0 WOHlen, Cele-
brated in so many varied walks of life, and
feeling theft right and ability to discuss the
vital questions of social life, religion and gov
ernmenti
THE FUTURE MYSTERY.
When we think Of the vantage ground woman
holds to-day, in spite Of all the artificial OBJ
stacles she has surmounted, we are filled with
wonder as to what the future mother
of the race will be when free TO
seek her complete development. thus
far women have been mere echoes OF men.
Oar laws and constitutions, our creeds and
codes and the customs OF social life are all or
masculine origin. True woman is as yet n
dream of the futurei just government, humane
religion pure social life await her coming. Then,
and not till then, will the golden age OF peace
and prosperity be ours.
OBJECTS OF THE COUNCIL.
In calling this council we anticipated many
desirable results Aside from the pleasure OF
mutual acquaintance in meeting face TO face so
those from foreign lands, we hoped 10 secure
thorough national and International organiza-
tions in all those reforms in which we are
mutually interested. To come together for a
week and part with the same fragmentary so
cieties and clubs. would be defeat of one half
the purpose OF onr gathering.
rHonoUC II ORGANIZATION NEEDED,
Above all things that women need to-day in
their reform work is thorough organization,
and t. this end we must cultivate some esprit
de corfs OF the sex, generous trust in each
other Difference Of opinion on one question
must not prevent us from working
unitedly in those on which we agree. Above
all things let us hold our theological specula-
tions Of future life in allegiance 10 the practical
work OF present existence, recognizing all sects
alike and all religions-Jew and GENTLE, Catho-
lie and Prote,tant--to be held equally sacred in
their honest opinion
A mRTHRTGHT TO SOVEREIGNTY.
The solitude Of every human soul alike in our
moments Of exaltation and humiliation, in our
highest Joys and deepest sorrows, into which no
other one can ever fully enter, proves our birth
right to supreme sef-sovercignty. As in all
great emergencies Of life we must
stand alone and for final judgment rely on
ourselves We cannot overeStmate the neces-
sitv for that liberty by which we attain our
highest development ard that knowledge that
flts Us for self reliance and self protection.
INTRODUCING THE DELEGATES.
At the conclusion Of Mrs. Stanton's adj
dress. which was often interrupted by ap-
plausa. Miss Anthony introduced 10 the
audience In the order named tho delegates
from Norway, Finland, France, India,
Ireland, England and Canada. Each one,
as INTRODUCED, was greeted with hearty ap-
plause of welcome, to which brief responses
were made.
A committee on permanent organization
was appointed, which will report later in
the week.
The Opera House was completely filled at
the evening session. which was opened by
prayer by Rev Annie Fl. Shaw.
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR WOMEN.