Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-04-21
WOMAN TO THE RESCUE.
4 Plea from q Mississippi .WO-
man i'm Behalf of the
Worlds Fair.
Correspondence Of The Clarion. |

| Correspondence Of the ClariOn.l
/ Much has been written, and more
has been said, in condemnation of the
Legislature, because, in it's wisdom(?)
it saw fit to deny to the State it was
supposed to represent, the means of
exhibiting her possibilities, side by
side with those of other States at the
Columbian Exposition. That the Mis-
sissippi, like the Arkansas, Legisla-
| ture, did not represent the wishes of
| the people, has been plainly demon
strated by the storm of Indignation
and denunciation that has been let
! loose by press and people on the heads
of the offenders Then let Mississippi,
! like Arkansas, wipe out the stain that
/ has been left upon us? The press of
the State is already bending its energies
| in that direction, and with the co-ope-
ration of the people, can accomplish
great things.
We do not hope to be able to raise a
very large amount. because werwomen.
more than the men, realize that with
cotton at five cents a pound, money is
scarce article. But we do hope to be
able to raise enough to show to the
world that this goodly State of ours
has other things within her borders
than fields of the fleecy staple. If we
can do this, perhaps, at another time,
her fame abroad will not hang on a
few cents difference in the price of cot
ton, nor depend upon a Legislature
with vision so contracted as the one of
1892 1t is States like our own that
need to make a display at the Exposi-
70 o4t ha ifol -
develop their splendid resources.
In the heat of disappointment and
humiliation, condemnation of the ac-
tion of the Legislature was bitter and
freely expressed, and / must confess
that [ listened to with all pleasure, for
felt that it was merited. / still think
so, but second thought has taught me,
that we must not judge the body of
Mississippians by the actions of few
Representatives According to their
lights, they did the best they could.
Now, according to OUR lights, let US do
the best WE can, and come to the assist
ance of the men who have the pride of
! their State at heart. It was not our
right to vote on the question, or the
result would have been different. But
| it is our privilege to work for the honor
of the State that has been to her daugh-
! ters, a most generous, tender mother.
In special remembrance, we should
hold the free gift OF Industrial educa-
ton. held out to her children-the first
gift of the kind ever bestowed upon
woman, and we should make her re-
joice because of her generosity. Our
shoulders may not be so broad, nor our
! fingers so skillful as those of our hus-
bands and fathers. but we certainly
possess a wonderful amount of enthus-
iasm, and have a remarkable gift of
changing on" without which all their
strength and skill avail nothing.
Women have been accorded high
place in the management of the exposi-
ton. It is the first time in the history
of the republic, that woman has been
recognized as competent to attend to
any sort of public business, by the ma
tional government, and women in Mis-
sissippi should merit this distinction,
along with her sisters from other
States. Let us, then, organize, in each
county in the State, and go to work,
bravely, Systematically and with hon
est purpose to give the best that is
within us, to the undertaking. Then,
when in the dawn of 1898 the Mississip-
pi exhibit stands out boldly at the ex-
position, when the world gazes in ad-
miration at its splendid possibilities
and when the passing years shall have
determined it's lasting benefit, through
it all will be seen the hand of woman
like the hand of Rosalind, "Fair be-
yond comparison" and strong as it is
fair, when her honor or pride is at
stake. A MISSISSIPPI WOMAN.