The Portland daily press., 1888-03-27
WOMEN FROM EVERY CLINE
Gathered In Council In the City by
the Potomac.
Formal Opening of the Convention
Yesterday Morning.
Mrs. Stanton Speaks on Woman's
Rights and Ambitions.

Mrs. Stanton Speaks on Woman's
Rights and Ambitions.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-The Interna-
tional Council of Women was formally op-
ened today in Alburg's Grand Opera House.
The council assembled at the call Of the Ma
tional Woman Suffrage Association Of the
United States to celebrate the fortieth an
niyersary of the first woman's rights con-
vention. The opera house was half filed,
the audience being composed almost wholly
OF women. At half past ten, Susan b. An
thony, the vice president, called the council
to order. Upon the stage were seated
hundred or more delegates from thirty or
more National Woman's Rights Associations
or kindred societies, in this and other coun-
tries. The council is probably the largest
gathering of notable women in the history
of the country. Upon the stage were Eliza
beth Cady Stanton. Susan b. Anthony, Lu-
cy Stone, Julia Ward Howe and many 9TH
ers, the pioneers in the cause of woman's
suffrage. The hymn, "The Promised Land"
was read by the author, Mrs. Herbert. and
sung ny u AdJCh was buCn
offered by the Rev. Antoinette Brown Black
well. Then Elizabeth Cady Stanton deliv-
cred the address OF welcome, reviewed at
length the history of the suffrage movement
She said:
''The world is my country and all mankind
my countrymen, is motto that cannot be
echoed and re-echoed round the globe too
often to keep our sympathies alive TO the
veal and woe of the human race. In welcom-
ing representatives from other lands here
today we do not feel you are strangers and
foreigners, for the women OF all natiOnalities
in the artificial distinctions OF sex have that
universal sense OF injustice that forms
common bond Of union between them 1t Is
with great satisfaction that we also welcome
here today representatives OF our own cOun-
try, women from thirty different assOcia-
tions of moral and pbilanthropic reform.
think most of us have come to feel that
voice in the laws is indispensable to our ac-
tive success, and that these great moral
struggles for higher education, temperance,
peace, rights, labor, religious freedom and
international arbitration, are all questions
to be finally adjusted by the action OF gov
ernment, and that without direct voice in
legislation, woman's influence will be event.
ually lost.
''The question Is continually asked, If
women had the right of suffrage, how would
they vote on national questionsP' | think
we might venture to say that the women on
this platform would all be opposed to war.
As to the much vexed question of the fisher
les, they would say, in view of our vast At
in extent, do let Canada have three miles Of
ocean II she needs it. If the cod Is the
bone Of contention, as it is the poorest of all
fish, let the Canadians eat it in peace as long
as we have oysters, shad, bass, and the deli
cate salmon from our western lakes and Cal
ifornia.' As to the treaty with Russia to
send back political prisoners to be tortured
in her prisons and the mines
of Siberia, our verdict would be no.
America must ever be the great university
in which the lovers of freedom may safely
graduate with the highest honors, and under
our flag find peace and protection. As to the
international copyright, we should no doubt
say, let us have law to that effect, by all
means, because it Is fair and honest More
over, since we now have our own historians,
philosophers, scientists, poets and novelists,
and England steals as much from us as we
do from her. it is evident that sound policy
and common honesty lie in the same direc-
ton. As to the 0verfiowing treasury, that
troubles the conscience Of our good Presi-
dent, our wisest women, would undoubtedly
say pay the national debt and tighten the
taxes on the shoulders of the laboring
masses.
''As to the amendment of the constitu ton
now asked for by the body Of the clergy and
ogy in the constitution and introduce relig-
ious tests into political parties and plat
forms, in direct violation of article six,
clause three of the National constitution, 1
think the majority in our women suffrage
associations would be opposed to all such
amendments as would destroy the secular
nature Of our government, so carefully
guarded by our fathers in laying the founda-
tion Of the republic. This freedom from all
ecclesiastical entanglements is one of the
chief glorles OF our government, and one of
the chief elements Of its success. We can
not too carefully guard against all attempts
at retrogressive policy in this direction. IL
there is one lesson more plainly written
than another on the institutions of the old
world, it is danger Of union between
church and State, of civil and canon law, of
theological Especulations in the active
affairs of the government. II the majority |
would vote thus wisely on the fine questions,
they may show equal wisdomon others that |
may come up for further legislation"
In the evening, Miss May Wright Sewall Of |
Indianapolis read paper on THE Higher |
Education for Women in America" followed |
by half hour talk on THE Women of In
dia," by the Pundita Ramabai Sarasvati.
Several other papers were read.
when in the history of the world |
was there ever before such an assemblage of /
able and educated women, celebrated in so /
many of the varied walks OF life, feeling |
their right and ability to discuss vital ques-
tions of social life, religion and govern
ment? When we think of the vantage |
RrOQQu woman UOluS LOudys III SplI6 Oh LH6 Il
artificial obstacles she has surmounted, we |
are filled with wonder as to what the future |
mothers of the race will be when free to |
seek their complete development. Thus far |
women have been mere echoes Of men. |
Their laws, constitutions, creeds, customs |
and social life have all been of masculine |
origin.
"Woman yet dreams of the future. just |
government, humane religion, pure social |
life, await her coming. Then, and not till |
then, will the golden age of peace and pros
perity be ours.
"Above all things. women need today in |
reform work Is thorough organization. |
To this end we must cultivate an esprit de |
corps of the sex and a generous trust In each |
other. Difference of opinion on one question |
must not prevent us working unitedly in |
those on which we agree. Above all things,
let us hold theological speculations of the |
future life in Obeyance 10 the practical |
work OF present existence, recognizing that |
all sects alike and all religions-Jew or Gen |
equally sacred in their honest opinion. The |
solitude of every human soul, alike in our |
of exaltation and humiliation, in |
our highest joys and deepest sorrows, into /
which no other one can ever fully. enter, |
proves our birthright to supreme self sove-
reignty. In ali the great emergencies Of life
we must stand alone and for final Judgment
rely upon ourselves. We cannot over est1- /
mate the necessity for that liberty by which |
we attain the highest development and that
that fits us for self reliance and
self protection.
Mrs. Stanton's address was often interrupt
ed by applause. Miss Anthony then intro /
duced to the audience, in the order named,
delegates from Norway, Finland, France, In /
dia, Ireland. England and Canada. Each
one was greeted with hearty applause, to |
which brief responses were made A COM
mittee on permanent organization was ap-
pointad 10 report later in the week.