The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-11-27
rae n. We. n. u. convention.

The National W. c. T. [. convention
lust held in Boston drew together crowds
almost unparalleled. Some one said truly
that it was a cheering sign when the cco"d
TRYING to get into a womans convention
stopped the horse-ears in the street. People
came an hour before the doors were open,
only to find both the broad staireases lead
ing up to fremont Temple already packed
with a dense, impeuetrable mass Of wait
ing humanity. 1t was a good natured
crowd, however, which laughed and made
Jokes aud sang hymns while waiting.
1t would be impossible even to give an
outline of the proceedings. They are re-
ported in full in the Daily Union Signal
The reports from tie numerous depart
ments must have opened the eyes Of many
persons not in sympathy with the principal
specific object OF the VIC. T. I. to the
immense amount of good it is doing in all
sorts of humanitarian lines.
The assembling of so many earnest, in
telligent and philanthropic women from
all parts of the United States, and even
from the ends of the earth, was a pleasant
and inspiring sight, Lady Henry Somer-
set was an object Of especial attraction and
seems to have won all hearts. The great
hall was a picturesque spectacle, bril-
liantly decorated with flags, and sprinkled
with notices ranging in sentiment from
tie grim righteousness of Old Testament
texts ~denounciug evil-doers. to ihe sweet
spirited words Of Frances Willard, exhort-
ing ali women TO be as good ,natured as
sunshine. bat a persistent as grayitation.
The great banquet in Music Hal, with
Mrs. Livsrmore presiding, might have
made one think ores self at she annual
Suffrage Festival, except hat there were
more people in the galleries.
One of the ~pieasautest features, to the
present writer. was the warm applause
with which every expression of equal
rights sentiment was greeted during the
convention. The resolution in favor of
woman Suffrage passed By a unanimous
vote. Mrs. Tberese y. jenkins. National
Superintendent Of Franchise, presented
a large and beautiful white silk flag, with
the one star of Wyoming, and the motto,
s'Primus litter Pares'-First among
equals. Twenty-four States had cortrib-
uted to The purchase OF this franchise
flag. Her report as franchise sup%erlntend-
ent showed a large amount of good work.
Joseph Cook, in his address at the banquet,
made an emphatic plea for municipal wo-
man suffrage on ar educational qualiica-
tioa, ana also (Which many of us would
think extreme) for compulsory voting.
Next day a huge placard was added to the
notices in fremont Temple, bearing the
words: "No Sex. no Shirks, no Simple
tons in Suffrage Miss Willard, in her
annual address, advocated woman suffrage
on an educational qualification as the only
practice Die remedy for the notorious mis-
government of American cities.
One woman asked another. as they stood
in the surging crowd that filed the vesti-
bule of fremont Temple, why cannot
we have audiences like this at suffrage
meetings." The other answered, in the
words of Lucy Stone: because it is SO
much easier to see a drunkard than it is
10 see a principle" Nevertheless, multi
tudes of women who began by seeing oniy
the druukard are learning through the W,
c. T. L. to look beyond him to the prin-
ciple. For this reason. if for no other,
all advocates of equal rights have cause to
say, God bless the W. c. T. U.t'-4ltcs
Stonf BLrcknsu-