The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-17

what would seem its natural developments.
Since the day OF Deborah in biblical history and
wanting notable Illustrations OF woman's in
fuence In government. This has been some
times for III. Excepting only Deborah. as APP
pointed under the tbeocratic system. these ex-
amples have been mainly or women who ruled
the state or influenced IL by virtue OF their in
serited royalty. When royalty was an accident
OF birth IL was not strange that a woman 10 whom
the accident came should take her place upon
the throne. When the people rule. as under re-
publican institutions, IL might be supposed that
women would. without controversy. be Included.
IL Is one of the anomalies OF so-caIled popular
sovereignty that the fact OF sex Is a dis
box has naturally .precluded party
participation into natl nal politics. When a
woman Is asked TO aid in this or that party she
Is very likely 10 reply that IL makes no difference
10 her which party Is in power, since the law
which each party claims to administer has not
conferred upon her the dignity of citizenship.
Other women who have strong political con-
vlctions believe IL undlgniied. they being pOliti-
cal interiors, TO attempt political action under
existing dlsqualihcati0ns. Others, being ignorant
OF the Influential questions involved I'm party
politics, do not care anything about II. sttll other
women. as well as men. have no earnest purpose
IN life and exist only on the surface OF its joys or
bend under the weight OF Its sorrows. These
classes OF women, and another large class who
are burdened with family cares. to whom each
day brings q full measure of responsible activity,
so that brain and heart are taxed to their utmost.
shrink from political study which might possibly
involve political responsibility.
But there are women acquainted with history
and students OF political science who are con-
scious OF their patriotic devotion To the country
or their birth or adoption, and who know the
principles upon which the government rests and
the policies which make for its well being.
These women are not degraded in their own
estimation, nor DO they lose in their own self
respect because some ignorant man, with a vain
glory in citizenship. to which his masculinity
alone entities him. sneers at the expression OF
their political opinion when some boy, with the
his hand. saws: "What do women know about
rOliffoal - n n &c A had haitian HaaD nnf 81
politics."
Intelligent women know there is being worked
out on these shores the greatest experiment OF
human history: that the problem OF government
must be soly ed here il any where; that it Is being
solved under natural conditions most hopeful;
that an immense territory. boundless resources
and a healthy climate AFFORD facilities not any
where else possible; that heterogeneous pOpu-
lations bring divers opportunities as we'll as
hope of every mother for her children and chill
dren's children, Is conferred In the success OF this
experiment.. Women have no separate interests
from men. No woman can afford TO withhold
her active influence from the principles which
sustain good government. She should do the
best she can in the day and the generation where
God has put her. Thus 1t comes 10 pass that
many women are In this year of our Lord en-
gagged in political study and political work.
What can women do firstl she can become ac-
quainted with the political history of her own
country; she can see how a few principles have
agencies which in the past and in the present
bless or curse communities; she can know by
actual study and observation the measures
which are benefiting all classes OF citizens; and.
more. she can teach her sons and daughters. and
In the social circles where she moves and the
communities I'm which she resides, she can stir TO
activity the sluggish and tone mp toward right
eousness the careless.
1t is too late in the century to inquire what
will be the effect of this work upon w0man her
self. This nerveless foreboding has ceased to
have much influence in adjusting woman's rela-
ton to any new school of study or field of effort.
i heard once of a woman who whined feebly
from among her soft pillows that she had no
taste for charitable work; that she did not enjoy
work among degraded women-as though what
one had the taste for or what one enjoyed was
the standard of obligation-but there are not
many such now. at least not many who have In
telligence and energy enough To be successful In
any other undertaking. America - producing
through popular education and the breath OF
liberty a robust woman, not less beautiful but
far stronger than the lly-like. gentle. clinging
creature the poets wrote of a century ago. And
this robust wOmonhOod asks, first, what needs
TO be donel' and next. 'How best can l help TO
do it," It is this womanhood that We to-day call
to political study and political work. This study
and work will ennOble and dignity woman her
self, and by this much will make for righteous
ness I'm American civilization.
Speeches were made by Hon. job p.
Dolllver. Mrs. Stuart Coffin. Mr.. Clarkson
and o. III. Still. Cards were distributed
for signatures bearing the following:
II am wilhng'to be enrolled with others
for the purpose of giving my influence to
support the Republican party"