Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-11

IEoF
that self-governmeut and "home rnle' are
safe and possible, proved so by a nation OF
65, 600, 900 of people.
Lord Salisbury says: The Americans
have a senate, l wish we could institute it
here, marvellous in its strength and efic-
iency. = = = Their supreme court gives
a stability to thor institutions, which, under
the vague and mysterious promises here, we
look for in vain.
Such writer's and historians ms Sir Henry
Maine, Froude and Matthew Arnold, have
all commented on our democratic institutions
in most complimentary terms. Indeed the
whole tone of English writer's and travellers
has entirely changed since they amused the
world with the ridicule of our people fifty
years ago. 1t is the duty of the republic as
viewed from this standpoint, that | urge the
women of this nation to defend and maintain.
You have an equal share to this rich in
heritance and il is your duty to vindicate
your rights. Would that / could awake in
the minds of my countrywomen the dignity
of this demand for the right
of suffrage; what it is to be
queens in their own right; intrusted with
the power of self government, possessed of
all the privileges and immuuities OF Ameri-
can citizens. The ballot is the crown of
honor and the scepter of power in n repub.
lie; by it our social, religious aud political
relations are all regulated. Are not the cdu-
Gated women of America as capable of weld
ing this power as Victoria of England, and IS
not individual sovereignty in u republic as
exalted as i'll a monarchy What American
woman would scorn the position Of Bfitain's
queenl And yet the position of an Amcri-
can citizen is prOuder far, III the duties of
self-government are fully discharged. Who.
ever heard of an heir apparent to a throne
in the old world abdicating his rights be.
cause some conservative politician or aus
tere bishop doubted women's capacity TO
Governi When l hear American women, de-
scendents of Jefferson, Hancock and Adams,
say they do not want to vote, | feel that the
IlAAl - o NlN .A.vn1n A,p .V IlN.NA ,,ttat IntyA
long since ceased to flow in their veins. When
L heard that a body of Massachusetts wo-
men had actually been before their leglsla-
ture to beg that the women of the state
might not be enfranchised, l blushed for my
sex.
In the year 1716, when our fathers sent
forth their declaration of rights, booming at
the mouth of the cannon, it was heard round
the world, electrifying the lovers of liberty
everywhere and making every crowned head
tremble on his throne. And when later they
oissued our national constitution reasserting
the broad principles of justice, liberty and
equality, 1t was the coronation day of our
virgin republic. Then government and re-
ligion clasped hands. Luther's inspiring
motto in the reformation, individual rights,
individual conscience and judgment, was re-
asserted, and has been echoed and re-echoed
through the last two centuries.
Thus was humanity dignitied, all caste and
class, all bills of attalnder, all royal preroga-
tivcs abolished, and the oath administered 1 in
old Independence hall pledged the right of
self-government to every man and woman
under our flag. The time has fully come
when the principles of our government must
be indicated. The moral necessities of the
hour demand the direct influence of the cdu-
Gated women of this nation in government.
The recent presidential canvass shows that
men are quite ready to avail themselves of
woman's help III emergencies, and
she is equally ready to give it
There were women speaking on
different platforms for different parties
throughout the campaign. Women march
ing in the professions, too, carrying flags and
banners, some adding enthusiasm to public
meetings by playing on musical instruments
and singing Quartettes. Their pens have
been busy, too, discussing the merits of differ
ent parties and questions under considera-
ton. There has never been a time IN the
history of our nation when women mani
tested so much interest in an election. If all
this interest could have been represented in
votes the republicans and prohibitionists
would have had larger majorities, and a far
greater number of women would have been
aroused to their duties as citizens.
| do not say that the possession of the
ballot will revolutionize the nation and trans
figure womanhood instanter, but it is the first
step in that direction; it is the outpost to the
temple of learning and power. To abolish
all invidious distinctions of sex will inspire
woman with greater self-respect, and give
her opinions new weight in public affairs.
IL ulSLllJ NOb'iil IL w u III oolo lltN
lessons of reverence for the mothers of the
race, for those who nave gone to the very
gates of death, to give them life and immor-
tally.
Thus far we AVE had a distinctively mas
culine civilization based on the idea that So
cicty is constructed for the best interests of
man alone. AS he has been the dominant
power thus far during the reign of physical
force he has naturally in all his arrange
ments consulted his own tastes and inclina-
finnl nns hnCt 1npD1 nnthnritiaG fro m
Blackstone down to Kent and Story, all take
the ground that man and women are not to
be judged by the same moral code. This
idea runs through all our laws and judicial
decisions in all cases in which man and
woman as plaintiff and defendant appear in
our courts, and the popular sentiment III So
cial life reflect these decisions.
Such are the sentiments (referring |
to those of Kent and others) and opinions of
men who are quoted as authority on this
subject, and yet these "high priestesses of
humanity" while their profession is consid-
cred a necessity, have no protection in
church or state, under the canon or civil
law. Though the victims of men, they are
bounded like wild beasts by men from one
shelter to another, dragged into the courts, |
taxed by the state, robbed of their property, |
by society at large and left to
perish on the highway.
While the women of wealth and position
who shed tears over George Eliot's por-
of such wrongs in Adam Bede," and
in HaWthOrne'S 'SCarlet Letter. Shun the |
victims of our social system, they |
the destroyer to their domestic |
affairs.
Alas the cheapest article of IN to-
day is womanhood. A vast organized com |
pany circumnavigatiug the globe has "a profit |
able business buying and selling young girls
in every market of the world, and like cattle |
the prices rise and fall according to the de-
now east, now west, now north, now
south, according as the tide of emigration
tends, or as new sources of wealth are dis.
they form a recognized fraction of
the army and navy, alike in peace and war,
When the terrible revelations were made in
three years ago, the world was
with the iniquities in high places.
was but a rift IN the dark clouds that
all wonanhood, giving. casual OBJ.
but a hasty glance into the world Of
misery and crime, Speaking of woman's
standpoint of this dark problem, one remedy
| see is thorough education of our daughters
for self support. and financial independence.
Open to them all the higher advantages
and opportunities Of life: free access to the
universities OF learning, the trades and pro-
fessions, the positions of profit, honor and
distinction. Let US reverence the woman
who honestly earns her own bread, rather
han her who lives in luxurious ease on the
tolls of another. Virtue and independence
20 hand in hand. Alexander Hamilton said
LOng ago, 'GiVe a man q right over my sub