The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-02-28

sentation; the right to worship God according
to the dictates OF their own consciences But
| when the charter OF universal liberty was
| wrested from Great Britain and a new fabric
| was created on the bed rock of liberty, frater-
nifty, and equality, there went mp a superstruct-
ure upon which was written the subsection of
sex and the enslsvemeBt of a race. The bed
| rock shall endure until the heavens melt with
| fervent heat; in the whirwi..d of Almighty
| wrath the superstructure went down never TO
| rise again.
When God takes the side Of woman she has
| the right to call halt.
Standing hero to-day we demand more
| patriotism and less politics; more institutions
10 prevent crimisal-m making and fewer to
| punish: more money for training schools, and
less for the police courts: more power in the
| hands of the keepers of law, and less in the
hands Of law breakers.
The first declaration of independence came
from the pen of woman long before the
Mechlnburg manifesto, long before the Liberty
Bell at Philadelphia proclaimed independence
| in the name of the Continental Congress
Let us separate" wrote Abigail Adams to her
husband in the Continental Congress when
King George proclaimed all the Revolutionary
forces rebels who would not lay down their
arms; Abigail Adams, who had the immortal
honor to be wife Of one President and mother
OF another. Her letters were published in
France, and who knows but they fred the
French heart to come to the rescue of Wash
ington at Yorktown, or watered the seed that
blossomed into the overturning of 1882 Great
Britain recognized tho influence she had
welded, and George III. and his Queen re-
fused to have her presented 1t court when she
went to London with her husband, John
Adams, the first Minister from the United
States. Nor did the spirit of this woman
patriot spend itself in protest. To her. indie
pendenee meant equality, the triumph of hu-
man rights.
II long to hear you have declared an indie
tendency" she wrote to her husband in the
Continental Congress, when il was slow to
grasp the issues of the hour. "And, by the
way" she said, in the new code of law which
suppose it will DO necessary to make, de- |
sire you would remember the ladies, and be |
more generous than your ancestors have been.
Why not put it out of the power of |
the vicious and the lawless to use Us with |
cruelty and indignity with impunity"
Docs anyone suppose that if tho advice Of |
this woman had been followed the daughters |
OF the Revolution, pure, peaceabe, law-abiding, |
going about doing good, would to-day have to |
open ranks and stand with bowed heads, while |
hords of untaught aliens. outlaws paupers,
contract laborers sloughed off by the spewing |
ferment of decaying Old-world monarchies, |
knowing neither our laws nor our language. |
march mp to the polls to the inspiring spirit Of /
q glass Of whisky. and vote, as they often do,
ior the immoral, corrupt, for-5aIe-chcap dema-
gogs that vote away the honor aud liberties of
the Republic?
1t was of his mother John Quincy Adams
thought when he stood up in Congress to main
tain the rights OF women TO join in political
petitions when he uttered those memorable
words: II say that correct principle is that
women are not only justified, but exhibit the
most exalted virtues when they depart from
the domestic circle and enter uDon the concerns
Of their country, OF humanity and God"
As citizens of the Republic, let Us teach
patriotism. Let Us teach il TO our children at
Dur knees, as the mother OF Alfred the Great
taught her son, Of whom it is said He legis-
lated with single eye for the good of his
people," Let Us teach ii in our schools, as the
of chvalry were Taught:
Valor-To be clean, strong keen of eye. firm
Of hand, stout of WILL Loyalty-Fidelity to
rust. faithful to duty. punctual in engage
nents. Courtesy-Not only ceremoniOus po-
iteness. bnt modesty, forgetfulness of SELF
are for the feelings and opinions of others
unficence--Disdain Of pecuniary rewards
election of the theory that mOney-gettiDg is
he chief end of man. ready to relieve want
md reward merit, bospitable. liberal, generous
Let the Stars and Stripes proclaim patriotism
rom every schooIhouse. Let it blaze it forth
n every school-room.
Let US take our stand on the supreme nights
4 perpetual Union, and looking down over
he grassy graves of a million and q half of
eroes, sacrificed in fraternal strife through
he mistakes and shortcomings of our Revolu-
lonary sires, pledge ourselves anew 10 patri-
tism with