Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-03-25
ST|RONCPLEAFOR
WOMkN'S RIGHTS
Forum Hears Stirring Address
by Mrs. George ". Cook.
WANTS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

Part Which the Daughters Of Men
Have Taken In World Movements.
LincoIn's Proclamation Only Finished
What Harriet B.eeher Stowe Had
Begun In "UncIs Toms Cabin"
BY w. H. cRAICHEAD.
Harrisburg, Pa.-The Peoples forum
In this city has won an envtable place
among literary organizations by bring
ing before its members from time to
time some Of the most distinguished
men and women of the race to deliver
lectures and addresses. Among those
who have favored the forum in this
capacity are Professors George w.
Cook. Kelly Miller. w. Bruce Evans
and DIR. w. E. B. Du Bois.
At the recent meeting of the forum
Mrs. George w. Cook delivered a stir.
ring address on ''The Daughters of
Men," which proved to be strong plea
for the rights of women. Woman's
part In the history of civilization was
fully outlined and her well earned as
well as inherent right to the ballot in
sisted upon. In part Mrs. Cook said:
women took a part, but the historian
rarely dwells upon the incident SO signifi-
cant in itself and important to be re-
called by all womankind. The incident is
but typical OF what has been taking place
In tho world throughout all ages and
among all peoples. Wherever great
deed has been wrought. wherever the
march OF progress has been least dis
turbed. wherever Individual thought and
action have made the world better. tho
daughters of men have ever been at work
Even primitive woman. while her better
half was yet only huntsman or fsh-
erman or bloodthirsty warrior. built the
nre prepared the meals and In her lonely
cave. or hut laid the foundation for the
refined domestic life and perfectly ap-
pointed home which are part of our
present day civilization
Even religion would lose half its signif-
cance II the feminine character had no
part In Its composition. Pharaoh puts to
death the infant life of n nation. but his
daughters head bends low over the ark
OF bulrushcs. and Moses is saved to lead
the children of Israel from the land OF
bondage.
Eve indeed offers TO Adam the fatal ap-
pie. and Eden Is lost to man. but Mary
becomes the mother OF Jesus. and the
new gospel of peace and good will In Of
fct I'd to all the world.
Mrs Cook cited many of the prominent
figures of history. Senlramis. Zenobia.
runners OF the women of the nineteenth
century. Coming down to our own times.
she declared. Abraham Lincoln's pen
only finished In the emancipation procla-
nation what Harriet Beecher Stoves had
begun in Uncle Toms Cabin
Strange and sad AZ Il may seem. II is
yet true that the daughters Of men
through all these ages have been the VIC
Tins OF man made customs and traditions
and subordinate to man made statutes
and governments. While her work and
self sacriHcc made luminous the history
OF civilization. her long borne subsection
In ono OF the darkest pages In all tho
great volume. All that women ask ls
equality of opportunity. II Is = cruel and
class from progress and development that
might be theirs.
Mental development and the full enjoy
ment of the exercise of all tho privileges
OF citizenship were surely never meant to
belong TO one half Of the rnce TO the ex-
cIusion of the other half. while the happi-
ness to be found In a life OF action and
usefulness Ii incomparably superior to
that to be had In Inactivity and ignorance.
Not only is II injustice to women them
selves to withhold from them their rights.
but It is also an injustice to the large
class OF individuals who are governed by
the ballot and affected more or less ia
vorably according to the intelligence and
conscience of those who are voters No
halfway measure will aufYice. School SUI
frage and municipal suffrage are all very
we'll. but suffrage on iden.ically the same
ground that man holds It Is the demand
OF this long robbed half of society.
So long ms inequality of rights controls
the relation of men and women many an
other evil is bred The industrial. legal.
social and even the domestic status OF
women all suffer from Its baleful infiu-
ence. Women themselves have been slow
TO grasp this truth but no thoughtful wo-
man should fail to perceive that never
before the law. never In the Industries.
the trades and the professions. never even
in the home except as the goodness OF In
dividual man gives II them. will they be
accorded fair play until they obtain the
ballot.
No better argument can be offered In
favor Of woman's suffrage than results
where the system already obtains. South
Australia, New Zealand. Wyoming. Colo
rado Idaho and Utah have none OF them
become demoralized under this natural
system, but. the contrary. seem to
flourish as the green bay tree
Would that the women of my race be
not one whit behind the women OF other
races In Joining the vanguard who will
blnze the path for others to follow II
In always the few--the rex: age makes
them the immortal few-who lead In any
great reform.
Let us have no fear for the final out
come of the woman question. The cause
for which we plead IL so right and so Just
that It II very sure of victory.
Stewart Gets Liberian Judosship.
Friends of Counselor Il. McCants
Stewart in the United States. especial
" those in South Carolina and New
York, will doubtless be glad to know