The times., 1898-04-05
COWARD SENTIMENT RERUKEr
A New York Woman's PIucJsy Re
sponse 40 IL Toast.

New York, April 4.-"P "Peace-at-any- price"
theories were most unexpectedly urged
at the annual breakfast of the Mary Ar
den Shakespeare Club at the Murray
Hill hotel on Thursday afternoon-and
urged with smoothness, plausibility
and seeming righteousness that half con-
yinced 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 Womens $
Clubs and a prominent member of the
Society for Political Study-whose most
recent act was a censure of the President
and an appeal to Congress-was one of
the speakers. She was replying TO the
toast: she hath done nobly for her
country
In the present crisis, she began, the
peace policy of the President cannot be
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 is the keynote of civilization
Ladies, l cali 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.
''All our wars" continued Miss Jones
warming to her theme at this palpabIe
encouragement, have been fought for
alien races The Mexican war was one
notable instance, the Southern war an
other. This would be yet another for
aliens-the Cubans."
This was an unlooked-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 lifted her
glass with a smile. Her hearers, half
daZed did likewise. The health was
drunk in uncertain stiffness. Only one
glass remained untouched Down the
room came one wOmans voice, ringing
with scorn.
Madam President" cried Mrs. Will
lam Tod Helmuth, impetuously turn
Diehl, II refuse to drink to that toastr'
The revulsion Of feeling was immedi-
ate. Mrs He!muth 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 effec
now.
II differ from the last speaker" Her
cIear-cut denunciation came without q
pause. Not for Il month. not for n
week-no. not for a mofnent-can Amer
lea afford to seem a coward. For war
or peace. | hold the honor of my coun-
try first"
deafening. The WOMEN awakened to the
gravity of the sentiment they were
about to countenance, and the reac ion
was enormous. Mrs Helmuth carried
the day by a large patriotic majority
1t was as if a threatened danger had
passed them by. The sensation of relief
almost unsteadied Them
"The quotation assigned to her" mur-
INJURED one of the women with an ad-
miring glance at the dauntless little
champion, 'is She Wears a Crown. And
| we can well assert it fits her"