The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-02-21
1000 600 NAMES.
Monster Petition to Be Pre-
sented to President Cleveland.
MISS wILLARD'S ADDRESS READ
TO the w. {. Y. L. Convention, In Which
She Describes the POlygIot Document.
She and Lady Somerset Ill with the
Grip Convention Proceedings.

WASHINGTON, Feb. lG.-Both Miss
Frances Willard and Lady Somerset
have been detained in Boston by an at.
tack Of the grip, but are expected here
today to attend the w. G. T. U, con.
vention. Consequently Miss Anna Cor.
don read Miss Williard's address.
At the close of the reading of the ad.
dress Miss Belle Kearney delivered an
address to men. She was followed by
DIR. Lunn of London and Mrs. Baker,
the national treasurer OF the union.
The latter held that man had no right
to mark out wOman's sphere in the
world, Adam was asleep when Eve
was made, " said she, land it was not
thought necessary to wake him up to
take his advice in the matter" Papers
on other subjects were also read.
kilograms of regret were read from
many persons, who were unable to be
present.
The principal object Of the gathering
is to call TO the attention of CON
gress and the president, as strongly
as possible, the immense polyglot petit
ton which has arrived in Washington
after journey round the world and
which, il is asserted, bears the sigma
lures of more than 3,000,0 600 people of
all nationalitiss This monster peti.
ton bears the motto: For God and
Home and Every Land" 1t is headed:
"Polyglot Petition Of the Worlds
Woman's Christian Temperance
Union" and is addressed to the govern
ments of the world, as follows:
"Honored Rulers, Representatives and Broth,
eTs:
1--WE, your petitioners, although be-
longing TO the physically weaker sex,
are strong of heart to love our home,
our native land and the worlds family
of nations.
1--WE know that clear brains and pure
hearts make honest lives and happy
homes and that by these the nations
prosper, and the time is brought nearer
when the world shall be at peace.
1--WE know that indulgence in alcohol
and opium and in other vices which
disgrace our social life, makes misery
for all the world, and most of all for
us and for our children.
1--WE know that stimulents and
opiates are sold under legal guarantees,
which makes the governments partners
in the traffic, by accepting as revenue
q portion of the profits, and we know
with shame that they often forced by
treaty upon populations, either ignorant
or unwilling.
1--WE know that law might do much,
now left undone, 10 raise the moral
tone Of society and render vice difficult.
1--WE have no power TO prevent these
great iniquities beneath which the
whole world groans, but you have pow.
er to redeem the honor Of thenations
from an indefensible completely.
"We, therefore, with the united voice
Of the representative women of every
land, beseech you to raise the standard
Of the laws 10 that Of Christian morals,
to strip away the safeguards and sane
tions of the state from the drink traffic
and the opium trade AID 10 protect our
homes by the total prohibition Of this
curse of civilization throughout all the
territory over which our governments
extends"
Miss Williard's interesting address
gave review of the work Of preparing
the monster petition. She gave the
names Of some OF the most prominent
OF the women who went to far parts of
the glove TO gather signatures. having
been occupied in the work for years,
and then said in part:
"The signatures came 10 hand in 30
languages; they are Of all sorts and
sizes, and were 10 be trimmed and pre-.
pared for mounting as compactly as
possible. on intermipable webs Of mus.