The morning call., 1891-10-30
FROM THE LAND OF THE CAR.
a Letter From Russian Women to Presi-
dent Harrison.

a Letter From Russian Women to Presi-
dent Harrison.
Not long since there was received at the
White House in Washington a letter adj
dressed to President Harrison and bearing
the Russian postal stamp. The letter was
from a umber Of Russian ladies who wrote
to give vent to their feelings as to the status
OF women in the United States. The letter
Is as follows:
It's with amaZement and profound regret that
We tearu Of the despO,ic ale OF men over women
IN The one country TO which above all others The
world turus with hope, expecting progress
oward equal lights and privileges. And, fear
ing thatyOu are either Ignorant OF the laws which
iuiure your own cUuntTywOmen, or that you DO
not realize what a stHmbllng-b block such laws
will prove to Otuer nations, we herewith offer
our earnest TemOnstTance against their longer
continuance. We beg you, as head of the nation,
as The bright eXemplar 10 whom all your people
took for guidance. to use your powerful in1u-
eHce 10 nave these tyIannlcdl and degrading
laws removed from lie statute books which their
presence now disgtaces.
That America pays no heed to the plai0 word
Ing of IFS Constitution In deliberately trampllng
under foot tile liberty OF one hail of its people Is
not only cruel wrong To American women but
a most discOuraging hindrsnce 10 those who
WOTk fOi the attainment Of Constitution In
Russia. For why battle 10 procure cOnsttu-
lion gua autering rights if in those countries
which have constitutions rulers coolly disregard
Them?
Agaln,we beg you 10 remove from youTistaute-
books Law Which should make every man blush
with shame Tor tie ancestors who placed IL there;
mean the law which IN many Stale rObs every
woman Of her property and hands 1t OverGO her
husband, thus placing each wife practically at
The mercy OF her husband. Bad as Rus
sla may be and IS in many respects, she
has never sunk 10 this depth OF tyranny. In
deed you may seal ch the world over India,
Cuins, Turkey, and even sayag: trbes-withOuJ
finding parallel to this law in its mOnstrous In
justice and uureasOn. TO the women Of Russia
II seemed Incredible that nation calling Itself
civilized should uphold law which virtually
TObs each MA Tied woman OF financial indepen-
de1ce. But th- evidence placed before US
longer admits OF doubt. We have seen the petit
lions Of thousands OF women to the State or
Kentucky this winter, begging that they may be
allowed 10 retain their own property after they
marry, and The curt refusal Of the State OF Ken
tucky TO comply with this demand. Against tlis
outrage on individual liberty the women OF Rus
sa offer a most solemn aud earnest protest.
Again, we have learned with panied amaze
ment that, while women hOusehOders In Russia
have always enjoyed the right Of municipal
suffrage Legislature after Legislature (Of me1
calling themselves ChTistiarsD steadily refuse
10 cOucede this privilege 10 American women.
We beg your EXcelIeDcy TO consider what an evil
Influence this fact Will have In every part of
tie wife Of her income. and take from all house
holders voice In local afIairs-to rob aud gag
WOmen-What could be wUTse2
We say nothing OF the wiOngs against women
peTpetfaed IN yOur prisons, which nlfe prison
.ers out as serls under cruel masters. We kuOw
that Criminals are most difficult 10 deal with,
and HAT no system yet tried anywhere gives
satisfaction TO all IN crested. But oh, Sir, we
entTeai you, lie Just 10 your uOn.cTIminal women
II Obstiuc, ioIists here can point with sneer to
gross and deliberate tyl amy author lied by the
Government III America, what hope Is there for
Inc I'll Ure repubcanlZing OF Russia?
Praying your earliest attention TO these most
vital malt rs. we are, sir, with respect, your
obedieut servants