The National tribune., 1899-09-21

the Treasury Department. because the
financial policy of Secretary Chase had
made greenbacks legal lender. In the
callow youth of the greenback the large
sheets on which they were printed We're
separated by the use of scissors. Mems
adaptability for that work was equalled
only by that of sewing on buttons. and so
it dawned upon the mind of Gen. Spinner,
as a good business venture, to introduce
women into the great money Department,
and his argument ran, I'VE can hire them
much cheaper than men, and they use the
scissors much more deXterously;" and SO it
came that pair OF scissors cut the way for
firmer establishment Of her citizenship.
Since that time thousands OF women have
gradually evoluied from the knighthood Of
the scissors. and are filling positions Of
honor and responsibility in all the Depart
ments.
When the Spanish-American war brc ke
out and the Government appealed to the
thoroughly organized Society of the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution for assist
auce in equipping the hospitals Of the army
with trained nurses, the request was COM
piled with with such promptness and Wis
proving so successful and their ministra-
tions so acceptable, that the Government
opened the official doors and made women
nurses permanent adjunct Of the army
organization. ii thereby emphasized for the
third time in the face of calamity her
citizenship.
= have some pictures in mind that would
like to have a cartoonist bring out as a
81.
1776.-Deborah Sampson, who carried a
gun, enlisted as soldier and fought for her
country through the Revolution
Moll Pitcher, taking her husbands place
at the cannon after he was mortally
wounded at the battle Of Monmouth
The defenders of Peperill Bridge and
Uncle Sam with a smiling face a looker-on.
1S62.-Women, equipped with scissors on
Ie balcony Of the Treasury Department
ready to enter.
1S9S.-The white cap and apron brigade
In the army hospitals ministering with ten
der devotion TO the sick and wounded
The fourth picture would be Deborah
Sampson, with her gun; the Treasury
clerk, with her scissors, and Clara Barton.
with her line of trained nurses in Uncle
Sans employ. They have come up
against stone wall-Uncle Sam sitting
thereon; on the other side of the wall is a
ballot box-in large letters placarded over
it '"The Right of Citizenship" and line of
men ready TO exercise that right.
A sentinel standing on the wall saws to
the women: Thus far and no further does
your citizenship take you" Uncle Sam
sits with his chin upon his hand and queries,
I'm trying TO figure out who built this
stone WALL"
In the quarter Of century that have
lived IN Washington many changes of
opinion have been wrought in my mind by
this stone wall everlastingly springing up
between right and might. When Gen.
Arthur was President woman from Ken
lucky whose father was in the Union army
and whose husband lost his life in the
service OF his country, was made Post
mistress OF the city in which she lived. 1t
Is SAID that her reports were without flaw
Her duties were done conscientiously and
well. her father had died, and she was on
the wrong side of the stone wall A voter
and her place Were wanted.
On came the petitions to Washington,
and with them came the politicians For
seven long months the contest lasted The
Postmistress asked President Arthur one
day: What is the cause Of all this?"
You have no vote" was his candid reply
"lonly wish," he said, that they could find
come flaw in your work-so far they have
not"
The President did not hesitate to say
Whichever way he decided it would be
thought wrong. The Suffrage Congress
was in session, and the subject was dis
cussed from the merits of the case. The
papers took it up. This proved to be a