The Portland daily press., 1888-05-24
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
MRS. WaIIace's Address In City Hall
Last Evening.

Ben-Hur has been read and talked Of so
much that the announcement that the moth
er Of the author would deliver an address in
City Hall called forth an audience Of good
proportions and a highly intelligent one,
too.
Rev. Henry Blanchard, after offering
prayer, introduced Mrs. Wallace in behalf Of
the Woman's Suffrage Association Of Maine,
in a scholarly and appropriate manner In
speaking of the contest he said; 1--WE shall
be always patient, but we shall be always
persevering. The legislature Of 1889 will be
asked to give the ballot to the women Of
Maine, and we believe tits within their con-
stitutional power to grant it. We invite and
urge debate on these questions. We believe
in the justice of the cause and we think our
support is increasing. This meeting is the
initial one Of the campaign Of 1889, and In
the advocacy of this cause we are proud, in
deed, of our co-workers, and again invoking
the Divine blessing upon the speaker, | pre-
sent to you Mrs. Zerelda q. Wallace"
Mrs. Wallace has a fine, strong face,
marked with vigor, and she speaks in a
manner which Is bound, at least, to demand
respect. She said;
This question Of Iv6man suffrage will be a
disputed one until it is Settle" IN tne aiilra
tive. IL in the management OF rhr5-g great
country, where education Is almost uniSer-
sal and with the wealth of territory and 0p-
pOrtunity that we have, we make failure.
do not hesitate to assert that It Is because
the women have not had the right OF suf-
frage. In support of the natural right let
me quote from the word Of God; Male
and female created He them, and to them He
gave the province of ultimate dominion"
So take 1t that this is natural right and a
duty, too.
The objection is made that woman should
not have the ballot because she does not par
tcipate in the nations wars. Well, women
as a class do not fight. Some think the
government could be better maintained on
peace footing. Don't you think 1t would be
good to have an element in the government
that didn't fight? Applause.l But what
record did the women make during the war?
Don't let any man be so lacking In his sense
OF justice as to forget hvr record, We nursed
you, and we prayed that men could find some
other way to settle their disputes than blow
ing out each others brains. and cutting each
others throats.
Some object to giving the ballot to woman
on the score that she cannot govern. We
can govern. Some Of the ablest governors
in the land are women. There isn't man
in the world, but sometime has been govern
ed by woman. To-day the young men and
young women are governed Dy tne women
teachers In your schools In looking over
the papers, see that the idea Of American
nationality should be taught In our public
schools. How can that be done when your
schools are taught largely by those who have
no part in your government? How can you
expect the boys to honor the nation which
dishonors their teacher?
Suppose we take for granted that there Is
dirty pool Of politics connected with govern
ment: It is our business 10 clean up things;
We think IL was said Of man that he should
earn his bread by the sweat Of his brow. To
woman was given a better and h0lier mis-
sion. Dear sister, we cannot carry our share
of the worlds burdens with the disadyan-
tages under which we labor. We know that
the ballot is most potent in political and
moral reform. We can't do this unless we
are clothed with our rightful possessions. III
our business in the world is to make 1t bet
ter by the fact of our motherhood and w0-
manhood, we are only safe as man IS good.
1t took moral earthquake to wake up the
women Of this country TO the fact Of their
powers. 1t took an earthquake to wake me
up. When my attention was called to the
enormity Of the liquor ttaffic, 1 asked myself
If had no responsibility in the matter. The
question Of woman Is question OF growth
and enlightenment-nothing more and moth
ing less.
In closing she said, If you would get the
best results in society, you should throw
about woman the best conditions. IL she is
essential in the church and in the home, she
Is essential in the government believe the
women of the nation are to save the nation.
1t Is for you to decide the question. God
grant that you may decide 1t in the interest
of humanity and your own best interest