The San Francisco call., 1896-05-10
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Some Bright Papers and an Inter-
esting Symposium on "The
New Citizenship"

I've"
The crowd at the afternoon session was
the largest yet seen at any meeting of the
congress. Those who packed themselves
into the hall numbered about half the
multitude who failed to effect an entrance.
Women sat along the front of the stage
and on the reporters tables, their feet and
founces waving in mid-air, while one ad-
venturous young lady from across the bay
took an exalted perch on'the gallery rail-
ing, making, though she knew it not q
most remarkable festoon of herself,
letter from Mrs. Mary f. McRoberts
OF Leeds, Yorkshire, England, was read
by the president. 1t was message of
spirited congratulation to the women of
the congress, and an expression of hearty
sympathy with the cause.
Mrs. Harriet w. Russell Strong, the
planter and owner of the largest walnut
orchard in the world, thel only woman on
the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
and it is composed of 700 members, and a
mem Der of prominent literary society of
that city, had the first paper on the pro-
gramme for the afternoon session. She
departed entirely from the common theme
OF woman and suffrage and in a thought
ful and forcible way discussed "Rights of
Property and Rights of Persons" In part
she said:
speaking, that
possess or own. In the beginning of tradition
there was no ownership except in continuous pos
Half OF the property of this country is deprived OF
yoice-half Of the population placed in position
where they are powerless to speak for their prop
erty rights. Half the population of country is
tried and punished, deprived OF personal liberty
and property without due process OF law, in all
States OF our Union but three.
Mrs. Pages of Alameda gave a glowing
picture OF what the world would be after
woman should be accorded her rightful
position in the body polite.
A Mr.. Jackson said women were more
responsible than men for existing evil
conditions, since women had much to do
with the formation of the religious senti-
ment in man, which sentiment, he con-
tended, woman had allowed to become
perverted.
symposium on ''The New Citizenship
then took place, the speakers being Mrs.
a. A. Sargent, Mrs. John +. Swift, Miss
Conners and Miss Mills.
Mrs. Sargent said the new citizen would
never refer to politics as a filthy pool,
since through the endeavors of his kind
politics would have been purified.
"The new citizen would not stoop to
scorn his mother as an inferior being.
The sex line will not be the demarcation
between political classes. The new citizen
ship will bring about time when men
and men and women and women and
men and women shall be able to meet and
look each other in the eye without fear or
false shame"
Mrs. Swift quoted President Lincoln's
words as to government by and for the
people.
Are we to believe that the brave and gal
liant women OF past and contemporary his
tory are unfit TO be counted among the
people? Can they not be regarded as citi-
Zens OF this great Nation? 1t is said. I
know, that woman's dignity would suffer
at the polls, but l have faith enough in the
chivalrY of the American man, and l am
sure he would permit no ones mother,
wife or sister to be insulted at the ballot.
box.
"Chivalry would not disappear had wo-
man the ballot. In Wyoming woman suf-
frage is regarded as a matter Of course and
women have lost nothing by it. But when
bad man gets on the ticket the women
spot him and down hin every time"
Miss Mollie Conners. lady editor of the
Oakland Saturday Night, spoke next.
Among other bright things she said:
$50 you are going to get new suit, suppose,
and going 10 that congress across the bay 70 talk
'womans rights" said a suffrage infidei and
brother editor-a man rch in this worlds goods
and not poor in brain possession either. "Women
90 not have new sults'-they leave that for
msn-they have gowns instead you know. But
no new gown win 1 have. 1t was eaten up by a
iamlly OF hve children last week, likewise my new
spring bonnet. shall simply take my best Jacket
on from the peg and go my way to the fair. I can
aIouf
me know want, distress"
That is why the women VIII never make suc-
cess In q,,th the outer world-ther sympathies run
brother, who was healthy, wealthy and wise
We'll go your way to talk 'woman's rights'p
AS 10 the 'woman's rights that is an Old old
story, in the great cry OF distress rising from su
rights they have seen slowly drifting away from
them in this great republic and IL is question
Of woman's sympathy, 1t is finding ont first causes
and the remedy for existing evils. In touch with
the spirit OF the times is this movement for a new
citizenship, especially so, coming from the West,
the great suffering West which lies PROSTATE un,
der conditions pitiable in the extreme, In a land
which we have learned to believe great free, pros
perouA
When the man of the house fails in business the
women of the house are sorry for him; they give
him love, affection, symp thy, but they have lost
confidence in his financial ability, and when he be-
gins again they want share in the financial conn
overtake them That is the attitude Of the Anieri-
woman to-day. She has love, affection, sym
pathy for the American man. but she says TO him.
financially you have made the Nation failure:
you must let me help you in the time that is to
come; now, when we are struggling TO ouz feet, in
the midst of the deepest financial depression that
any country has ever known.
The American woman is the proudest woman on
earth-proud of her country, proud OF the men who
are the husbands, brothers and fathers ia It,
But from the background OF home she can
study; IL Is intellectual strength which she can
contribute 10 the new citizenship; she cast her
ballot understandinglY. she can rescue her nation
God grant that IN The day Of the new citizenship
will not see the Goddess or Liberty pros,rate at
the feet of the British lion but With eagle in hand
towering proudly above the American people
whose symbol she is. If the American wonla an
has anything say in the future it viii mean that
the British hon will keep his place, and that his
place will be on the other side OF the water. Never
again will he roar in American ears.
Miss Mill said:
1--WE hear much of the dreadful polls.
but am sure we have nothing to fear from
the chivalric honor of American man.
hood. l congratulate the people of Cali
fornia on the noble stand which this better
element among them have taken.'0
II voted once" said Miss Anthbny, in
answer to repeated calls. "In my own
city of Rochester fifteen of us cast our