The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-14
THE WOMAN'S COLUMN
What Women Did to Establish
Freedom, Equality, Justice.
Progress Made by the Women Journalists Of
the Pacific Coast-About the Inequality
of the Law-Thrift.

Editor Womdn's Column, Morning Call:
Not every ohe is iit to vote, and as govern
ment is for the public good, to insure the
greatest happiness to the greatest number,
''the incompetent and the unworthy"
the infant. the idiot, the lunatic. the
criminal. should be DISTINGUISHED after in
competence or guilt Is proved; for the ig
norant can learn, the evil behave; but to
withhold right from any one except for
public good is TO put dynamite under the
rights of all, is to strike at the tap root of
this American Government. And who
earned our freedom? While the forefathers
were wooing liberty with pike and spear,
what did the foremothers? Some, like the
women OF the Adams, Lee and Otis families,
urged that what is just is right. therefore
safe. They defended the duty of protecting
inalienable rights and asked that their own
be recognized. By their firesides
IT WAS SAFE FOR MEN TO TALK
Republic and 'self-goverment" They
cheered the downcast patriot, and sent
enemies on the wrong track. AS meSsen-
gers, they risked life, like Emily Geigers;
they destroyed home and property lest it
might aid the enemy, like Rebecca Motto;
they became spies like Lydia Darrough;
they served the cannon, ike Captain Molly;
and fought as soldiers, Ike Deborah Lam
son. They did much more, they worked to
feed their children in lonely frontier cabins,
in peril from Indians, Hessians and wild
beasts Without their help victory was i'm
possible. They nursed the soldier, trained
his children, clothed the Continental army,
they conserved the nation and furnished
much OF the material destroyed in war;
alone, unarmed, uncheered they fought the
heaviest battles of all. What was their re-
ward? Not one political advantage more
than the King had granted. They too could
say, when you sing of Italy free, let none
look at me-" Their liberty still slumbers in
THE HEART OF THE DECLARATION.
The lessons Of this day are the sacred
ness OF human freedom, the wisdom of
trusting the abstract right of being true 10
our foundation principles, freedom and
equality; and, like the fathers, of having
firm reliance on the Supreme Ruler of tine
Universe" ready like them tp advance these
immortal truths with our lives, our for
tune and our sacred honor" No nation
outuves the principles on which it is
founded. Venice was great by her COM
lnerce; when her commerce failed she was
suDlugated. Napoleon founded great EN-
pire on force; when force failed his empire
cIumbled. Egypt, Greece and Rome lost
their virtue, and overthrow followed. Our
nation Is founded on justice and equality;
If we tolerate injustice, corruption and
legalIZed vices. our fall Is equally sure, and
over our grave viii be recorded. Trait
ors to their principles" We talk of ex-
pediencies, and because of it we are men
Rced by gigantic evils that drain us of prop
erty, strength and virtue; but the fathers
trusted in the perfect right. BeSet by traitors
within and foes without they succeeded,
confessng that their dependence was in
divine providence Their laurels are our
richest legacy, and it behooves us to remem-
Der that 10 establish justice and 10 promote
general welfare" was this nation iuauglr-
ated that the fathers invoked the Supreme
Judge of the Universe to guide them, and
that if we ignore their principles and their
guidance, we undermine the foundations of
their and our nation.
-4uOisi, 1891 G