The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-01

long winter evenings but TO think
About the only recreation we had was
reading the poets, the historians and
the New York Tribune, and about the
only amusement we had was attend
ing lyceums and debating societies.
where men and women Joined in the
discussion OF questions that lay at the
foundation OF good government IL
was there that the question OF slavery
man suffrage. and we solved both Of
those questions at the same time.
Then came the great civil war. and
II was necessary 10 solve the question
OF slavery with the sword. Their II
was. as Lincoln said. that II became
necessary that all the wealth piled by
the bondsmens' two hundred and nifty
sunk" and until every drop Of blood
drawn by the lash. should be paid
with another drawn by the sword.
and after the war was over. anc the
question OF reconstruction was In pro-
gress. the partially aroused conscience
OF the nation extended the right or
suffrage to millions of Ignorant men.
who. by reason OF hundreds OF years
OF bondage could hardly discern their
right hand from their left: but con-
ferring upon them the right OF sur
frage broadened their minds and en-
larged their souls. and by reason OF
their added responsibility. caused them
to become better men and better citi-
zens: and now I'm the south the spirit
OF education has gone forth. the
schoolmaster Is abroad in the land.
and those who have had time TO study
the great questions. and who had the
desire to be informed know that a
greater. enlightenment and broader
view OF life, and q higher conception
OF human duty and responsibility. not
only 10 God. but to man. Is causing an
upward and an onward movement: but
will never be smooth and progress
sive and constant, while the nation
exists half enfranchised and half dis
franchised, any more than it was pos
Gentlemen. this is an age OF great
fever and excitement BY reason OF
the greed and the cupidity of man.
potent laws. the great commercial
spirit OF the age has ridden the re-
public almost 10 n fall. The spirit OF
but i believe that behind that spirI,
walks the spirit OF peace an5 the
spirit Of reason, and that all ques.
lions will be solved In a way that Will
make for Righteousness: and l believe
that TO solve these great questions II
will require not only the best reason
| Of men, but united with IL the greater
and the finer inspiration OF women.
This Il not a question that can be
| hippantly cast aside by a jeer or Q
| joke. We are dealing with a question
! that lies at the very foundation or the
4
and women have considered this aues.
/ ton, while the thoughtless have beer
pursuing the ignis fatuous OF pleasure
and IL will go through the world Just
as the spirit OF abolition went through
| the world. During the days when tbs
| question OF slavery was being agitat.
| ed much to the disgust OF the advo.
| Gates OF vested rights. william III
dience In the state OF New York upor
\ the irrepressible. conflict between free
dom and slavery, and man I'm the au.
dienee interrupted MIN and stated tina
go through the state OF New York. nnt
| the reply OF Seward was, Yes, m.
friend. II will go through New York
because Il will go through the world
equal suffrage. IL may be that tn,
puny hands OF some OF the member
OF this house may be lifted to oppos'
IL, but those hands will be as inef
fectual 10 stay the coming waves N
| was the voice of King Canute to stay
1.-THE rising tide of the sea.
II may be that some OF you vii
make a stand against IL, and tina
stand may cause a temporary back
set but you Will be as lnenectuaf q
stay the onward march OF progress a
! chance and fate combined TO wreci
| the fortunes OF their former kine :
| and the time will come when you
| like he. Will be standing rpon thu
eiSsped behind you. gazing out upor
the sad and solemn sea" for the spirit
OF human progress IL never backward
| Like the rising tide Of the ocean, q
NAV at times appear to recede. bu
\ through alT the centuries Its move
ment IL onward. for as the great poe
4 said.
/ one increasing purpose runs,
4 And the thoughts OF men are wideneC
| .f as the process OF the suns"
| n may not be known TO all OF yoi
that the state Of Michigan was th'
irsf to establish IN esystem OF co
! education In I've great university
! when that question was first talkes
1 OF the opposition TO II was as grea
(. as the opposition now is among Ger
4 tain people TO equal suffragc " wal
/ argued that n women should becom'
4 Graduates of colleges they would los,
| their womanhood. OF course. Thought
1 ful reople knew then that such n Gle
| was foolish. hut IL was urged witt
Just as much force and Just ns mt'ri
| unreason ~ the claim Is now beinf
mnde against equal suffrage " wa
! claimed that II would not do for meT
aad women 20 associate together tus
as though they had not been associat
Ting together in ell the relations Of lff'
\ since the morning stars sang toScthei
/ for iov. ~ was -cirimed that the,
4 would lose their gentle grace IN thct
studied Greek and Latin ard nathe
MATES These people who talked "
I aotten that ptuc4ted- vorcr-Ar@
| The libraries OF the world with poetr,
4 and song had caused the canvass "a
Dalow with forms OF beauty and life
had held the chIsel which summones
from rhapeless marble statues which