The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23
THE CAUSE OF WOMAN.
FIVE GREAT CONVENTIONS OF
WOMEN HELD LAST WEEK.

womsn. the Daughters Of the Amert
can Reyolution, the National Woman'i
relief Corps, and the National Con
uss Of Mothers Have All Met
: Tbs convocation Of talent up on Capito
Hill In Washington 10 not monopolizing The
oratory this month, a a be proved BY
five great conventions Of women. The
sufrrsgists led the procession, as they have
been doing for the past fifty years. They
were followed by the National Council Of
Women. which Ia very near OF kin. and BY
the Daughters Of the American Revolution.
who stand for every patriotic thing except
the one their ancestors fought for. and thi,
one Il the keynote Of the suffrage move
mont. Next came the National Woman'i
Relief Corps which represents practical
aud applied patriotism; and an appropriate
finale will be afforded by the National Con-
gross Of Mothers, which considers ways
and means Of supplying necessary material
for the conventions Of the future. This
year It Is to exhibit IN incubator at work
as one solution Of tho question.
The suffrage convention Is over and the
press Of Washington says IL was 'one oil
the most brilliant and successful ever held
Those who are accustomed to dismiss this
subject with the assertion that interest
IN IL Is on the wane' should read the reports
Of this seven DAYS meeting-a thousand
present at the day sessions. many moro
at night. people standing in the aisles and
out Ia the ~vestibule, delegates present from
almost every State In the Union. and from
nine foreign countries. over five thousand
dollars subscribed IL o.e morning.. A few
years ago not an orthodox church In that
city would open it's doors TO a womaa SUI
frage convention.
This one was held In the Presbyterian
Church where DIR. Talmage preached until
lie gave up a regular pastorate, and whose
minister for many years was the Prov.
Byron Sutherland, a bitter foe to the en-
franchisement Of women: and its pulpit
was 6lled on Sunday by the e Anna
(iarlin Spencer, one Of its most ardent
advocates. L. IL an indication of waning
Interest that delegates came to this con-
yention from Australia, Russia, Sweden,
Norway. Turkey, Germany. England. South
America. Canada, and that a committee
was appointed to arrange for an inter-
national woman suffrage association Il
Is an impaired vision hat sees In these
and the other signs OF the times a deoreas-
ing interest In this vital question.
In his most cordial address OF welcome
the Hon. Henry b. +. Mcfarland, President
OF the Board OF Distrio. Commissioners,
said: In common with the majority of
Intelligent men l think you have won your
case on the argument. Equal suffrage
IL equal Justice, and there Is no reason
why such women as you should be classed
for any purpose with idiots and criminals.
NUlzx,o- 81. ,.sortt ~ 80 ~. tnt,lt..N
women OF the country ask for the ballot
they will get it. All that the legislators
want to know is that the women In general
task for it and It will be promptly given
them"
Yes, In our minds eye we can see them
falling over each other In their haste 10 do
this. One does not get a very good idea Of
the average Legislature by living in Wash
ington. Mr.. Mcfarland would be sur
prised to learn that there are more petit
tons for woman suffrage in the vaults of
the National Capital than for any other
Legislative action. not even excepting the
emancipation Of the slayes. But to ex-
pect that n majority OF the people will
petition for this or anything else 4, 70 ex-
was submitted by the Congress or any
State Legislature on request Of a majority
or even a respectable minority. There is
not one precedent for requiring that a
majority Of the women must ask for the
ballot before II is granted. There was very
little demand for the removal of property
qualifications by those who would be bene-
fitted. Practically zone of tho negroes
asked for the franchise. The Indians have
literally had it thrust upon them. But
here are many thousands Of the best and
most intelligent citizens-better fitted in
every way than any class which ever has
been enfranchised-who have been plead
ing and working for this privilege for years.
only TO be told thet they can have It when
a majority Of all the women in the United
~States-about seven Million shall ask for
It, but until that impossible day they MIST
continue 10 be classed with the idiots and
insane.
Equal sufrsgc ia equal justice. You
have won on tie argument. il Is your right,
hut we meH a.s no, goicg To let you have
1t till a majority o. ali the womer got down
on their knees and hold up their hands
and beg for II "a n dog does for a bone!'
The fathers o: these .TeE denied the right.
Tho sons Conccoe this but refuse TO grant
il. The gre ldsons will near the plea for
justice, though but one woman shah make
it,
The President OF the National Associa-
ton. Mrs. Chapman Gait, closed an address
which is seldom surpassed on the floor of
tho United States senate, with these pro-
phetic words:
yet. before the attainment OF equal
rights for men and women, there will be
years Of struggle and disappointment,
We, OF a younger generation have taken up
the work where our noble and consecratcd
pioneers left II. We, in turn are enlisted
FOR life, and generations yet unborn will
take up the work where we lay il down.
SO. through centuries, if need be. the educa-
ton will continue, until a regenerated
rare Of men and women, who are equal be-
fore God, shall control the earth. 49, God
give US wisdom and courage 20 face the
disappointment and struggle and, above
I'll, God grant US patience and tolerance
for our opponents
The National Council Of Women, which
is now In session, was founded ia 1888, at
the close OF the first International Women's
Congress ever held, which took place in
Washington. This was a arranged by Mrs.
stanton and Miss Anthony when they were
in Europe and was called under the auspices
of the National Suffrage Association. A,
It's close a permanent Woman's Council
vas formed on a plan formulated by Mrs.
May Wright Sewall. Frances Z. Willard
was its first President, Clara Barton Vice
President. Mary Lowe Dickinson and
Mrs. Sewall have served as Presidents.