Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-16

AVuy somerset ItduhlH, SIdpltii H.
B. Bagby. Rev. Rush Il. Shipper, DR.. Bald
win, DIR. Muir and DIR. Johnson. Just a mo-
ment before the exercises began Susan B.
Anthony, Rev. Anna H. Shaw and Mrs
May Wright Sewall of the Woman'S Ma
| tional Council came in and took seats on
the platform, which was the signal for a
hearty round of applause. During the wait
ing the great Moody Choir of 3O0 voices sang
Christian Soldiers" and other well-known
selections from the Gospel Hymns.
Opening Exercises.
The exercises began by the reading of
the 5Sth, 59th and Goth chapters of Isaiah
by Mrs. Katharine Lente Stevenson of
Chicago, who also offered prayer. Mrs.
Stevenson read a letter from Miss Willard
explaining the absence of that lady and
Lady Somerset, and expressing the regret
Of the managers of the great meeting that
the audience should be disappointed in not
hearing them. lit matters little what
voices are heard" said the closing passage
of Miss Wizards letter, ''or what voices
are silent. The polygiot petition is the
eloquent voice of this hour, and will be
wherever it is presented. Blessings on you
all. Lady Somerset earnestly unites with
me in this message" telegram was then
read from Miss Willard, which stated that
she would not start for Washington until
this morning.
Mrs. Leavftt's Letter.
"A letter Was dISO Iedu lIOA MIS-. AedNllt,
who spent many years getting signatures
in all parts of the world.
For seven years." said Mrs. Leavitt, Il
Travelled in every quarter of the globe and
nearly every country-in the largest cities
of Europe and Asia. and in the jungles of
the Congo and Madagascar; at the foot of
the great wall in China, and where the
Amazon and the La Plata roll their mighty
volumes to the sea; under the midnight sun
Of Nnr n o. nd foV
up the slopes Of the Himalayas; on the
diamond fields of Africa and the gold fields
of Australia; in the midst of epidemics of
cholera and yellow fever-alone, gray-hair-
ed when l started
"One item of my work was to procure
this petition you receive, to be translated
and put in circulation wherever l went.
shall never forget the cry Of the young
save my people from drink, but l cannot.
My hands are bound by treaties forced
upon me by England and France. l can do
nothing" Her predecessor. born into a
heather family, uttered the remarkable
words that have been attributed to nearly
every dusky sovereign: II cannot derive
benefit from that which Injuries my peo-
pie" She lived up to this saying to the
ed was set apart for her, but all of them
were stove on the beach where they were
placed"
Miss Wizards Address.
Miss Anna Gordon, who for eighteen
years has been the private secretary of
Miss Willard, was then introduced, and
read the address which Miss Willard in
tended to deliver had she been able to be
present.
In her address Miss Willard said:
Home protection is the keyword Of wo-
mans work. Manufacturers seek the tariff
for the purpose Of protection to industries,
adult and infant; trades unions are founded
to protect the wage worker from the ag-
gressions Of capital. and corporations and
ment of competition; but ten thousand
groups of loyal-hearted mothers and wives,
sisters and daughters have formed for the
purpose of acting in an organized capacity
as protectors of the home the tempted
youth and the little child.
''This polyglot petition is but our prayer
that tells purpose of our hearts that has
been wrought into plea before the nations
of the world. We expect to present this pc
tition to representatives CT every civilized
government. This cannot be done in the
usual form, because, when once received,
this Magma Charta of the home would be-
come the property of the various legiSla-
lures and parliaments and our plan re-
quires that 1t be conveyed from one to an
other. We are also aware that in a legal
and technical sense no government accepts
the signature of those outside it's bar
riers. We therefore prefer to make our pc
tition a great popular testimonial. We ex-
pect its presentatio will give added i'm
petus to legislation against liquor traffic,
the opium trade, the gambling den, the
house of shame.
Probably Twenty Million Names.
1.-THE Woman'S Christian Temperance