Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-03-14

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CONTINUED from first paee)
alone. but always in coalition. Mans
greatest contribution to civilization Is
the well organized, strong, and protect
ing state.
Let US be clear on one poIntI It Is
not my meaning that the home, az
have just presented il, isperfect every
where. II such were the case. then
verify humanity has reached its goal,
and further reforms and improvements
would not be needed. Naturally I'm
aware of the fact that the majority Of
homes are not perfect, and that many
are. bad. But the good and happy
homes do exist; we have seen them, We
have lived in them. Wemay not have
had them ourselves, perhaps, but we
can bear witness to their existence.
They are no mere dream. Women can
create them in poverty and in affiuence
in lowliness and in refinement. They
are to be found in kings castles and
in cotters' huts.
Now, as to the states these our
greater homes, SO difficult to build, con-
structed with so much effort, WATCHED
by SO much blood and SO many tears.
bnilded by the help of the strongest
characters, the boldest minds lis there
or has there ever been one that has
satisfied all its members? Are they
not always in the midst of continuous
reform work? Does one not desire
even to-day to reform and reconstruct
them from the bottom up? Do they
not present constant reasons for dis
content snd bitterness?
In the .'Nardesta' Of Runeber e,
Catherine of Russia says to her friend,
the Countess Natalia, apropos of her
home:
what happiness is yours! To be
able to extend toward all helping
hand; to be able to meet all needs, ere
ating a little paradise Of joy and bliss
only with the hearts desire. =
Catherine was woman, but here she
does not speak as woman hut as regent
of the greatest kingdom on earth. She
knew what every statesman knows;
that the state can enforce order and
procure defense; yet she was permeat-
led with the feeling of its limitations,
and its helplessness in many ways.
Where is the state in which there are
no unprotected children wherein no
budding genius is crushed. but where
all its young are lovingly murtured
Where is the state that gives to all
its aged poor the protection and respect
due those who are nearing the end of
this life ? Where is the state that pun
ishes offenders only with the idea Of
correction and development Where is
the state that utilities every talent,
that gives, and in which the unfortun-
ase receives as much thoughtful con>id
Grafton as do the most favored?
Where is the state which does not
embody alien people it cannot care for?
Where is the state which gives to all
the opportunity of living their own
lives, SO long as they do not disturb the
harmony of the people? Where is the
state wherein none of its members may
go to waste in idleness. drunkenness,
and in shameless living?
| Perhaps you will answer that this is
not the business of the state. 1t stands
| for law and order. But ii such is the
case, why does it NEEDLE with allthese
other matters? 1t does go because it
knows that the state which docs not
create happiness cannot prosper. It is
essential to its welfare to be beloved by
high and low. The state must be a
promoter. of comfort, security, educa.
tion, culture, and enrolling; for to it
mankind must look for the realization
of their hopes.
Nor has the state been remiss in
making great enough demands upon
humanity itself; but thus far, for some
reason, TIE state has been unable to
enforce these demands.
There is one thing more to be con-
sidered. / have been bold enough to
state that the home is woman's Gre
alton. But / did not say that she alone
created it. Fortunately for her and
for all of US, she has ever had the man,
with her. Master and mistress have
sat side by side. Had the. woman toiled
alone she could not have solved the
problem. The home would not have
been in existence; either as a dream or
q realIty.
But In the creating of the state, man
has stood alone. Nothing has impelled
man to take women with him into the
Hall of Justice, into the Civil Service
Department, into the House of Com
merce. He has forged his way alonR
Think how long he. alone performed
the duties Of physician! He still pre-
pares his own meals at the barracks;
he coaches at the the boys school. He
has taken upon himself the hardest
taskc. and he has not been afraid of
work
But has he succeeded? Witness the
: 4 Il :