The evening times., 1898-04-04
COWARD SENTIMENT REBUKEC
4 New York Woman's PlucLy Re
IN TOnzf.

New York. k.April A." Peace-at-any-p price
theories were most Unexpectedly urged
AT the annual breakfast of the Mary Ar
den Shakespeare Club at the Murray
Hin hotel on Thursday afternoon-and
urged with a smoothness, pl1uSihility
and seeming righteousness that half con-
WINGED the hearers.
But for the pluck of one brave little
American woman the Organization would
have gone on record as indorsing safety
even at the cost of the nations name.
Miss Anna Maxwell Jones. secretary
Of the State Federation OF Womcn's
Clubs and a prominent member Of the
Society for Politicsd Study-whose most
recent act was a censure OF the President
and an appeal to Congress-was one Of
the speakers She was replying 70 the
toast: she hath done nobly for her
country"
In the present crisis" she began, the
peace policy of the President cannot he
too highly commended. We should sup
port him in that attitude We should
help him with all our belief in his good
faith. In this age diplomacy can accom-
plish everything without appeal To arms.
DIPLOMACY
Ladies' | can upon you TO drink the
health of the President of the United
States.
Every woman in the room rose at the
word. and every glass was drained and
there was a pervading air of enthusiasm
as they resumed their seats.
"AI our wars" continued Miss Jones.
warming to her theme at this palpable
announcement, have been fought for
alien races. The Mexican war was one
notable instance the Southern war an
other. This would be yet another Tor
aliens-the Cubans.'
This was an unooked-for argument.
The women waited in silence for what
was to follow.
More than this" the speaker went
on rapidly. I'VE should not for any
cause war with Spain. She gave us
our country. 1t is better to appear
cowardly for two or three months than
to be plunged into disastrous war for
an indefinite time. And now. ladies'
have another health to propose
christina. Queen Regent of Spain, and
President Mckinley
Miss Jones soft Southern accent was
never more persuasive. She hfteu her
glass with a smile. Her hearers. half
dazed. did likewise. The health was
drunk in uncertain stiffness. Only one
glass remained untOuCneu DONn tHc
room came one woman's voice, ringing
with scorn.
Madam President" cried Mrs. Will
lam Tod Helmuth, impetuously turn
ing to the chairman, Mrs. Anna Randall
Diehl, "I refuse to drink TO that toast.
The revulsion of feeling was immedi-
ate. Mrs. Helmuth was leaning for
ward. her hand on the table. looking
her challenge at them ALL AS former
president of Sorosis; as present head
of the State Federation. her leadership
had been too often felt to fail of effect
now.
II differ from the last speaker" Her
clear-cut denunciation came without a
pause. "Not for a month, not for
week-no not for a moment-can Amer
ica afford to seem a coward. For war
or peace. I hold the honor of my coun-
try first.
The applause that greeted her was
deafening The women awakened to the
gravity of the sentiment they were
about TO countenance. and the reaction
was enormous Mrs. Helmuth carried
the day by a large patriotic majority
IT was as if a threatened danger had
passed them by The sensation of relief
almost unsteadied them.
THE quotation assigned to her. muir
INJURED one of the women with an ad-
miring glance at the dauntless little
champion. sis She Wears Crown. And
we can well assert it fits her