The daily worker., 1927-05-25
NINE. SUN GREETS THE
WORKERS DELEGATION
Speech of Madame Sun Yat-sen at demonstration
of 10000 women in Wuhan, called to welcome
the international Workers Delegation.


Comrades:-You are here as representatives of the
oppressed classes of the West of the working classes
India, America, England and France You have come
to bring message of understanding and cooperation to
the oppressed people of China You come to COM
rades and comrades welcome you.
would like express to you today the appreciation
of China's women for the encouragement support and
wise counsel you are bringing to us.
wish to speak to you a few moments in the name of
China's women. You, who familiar with the burdens
and problems of the oppressed WILL know, be able to
comprehend the extent of the expressions borne by the
women of China.
Everywhere, where women and men are suffering
from expressions, it is the women who suffering
most. Working women share with their men the eco
nomc oppression of their class But this is not the ex
tent of their burden In addition to the expressions
economic exploitation which make the problem of keep
ing alive perilous gamble in most lands suffer
from other bondages They deprived of political
rights. Social laws discriminate against them, giving
men indulgence but women sometimes almost unendur-
able hardship Women, partly by laws, but often
by customs are kept in rut of small duties,
forced to lead restricted starved lives.
The struggle of is manifold 1t is against eco
nomc exploitation which often even among the poorest
classes, grinds down the than the men,
Even where wages of men meagre that life is
almost impossible, often get still less. So their
struggle is to work with the for better chance in
life and sometimes against the men, for equal chance
in life.
Their struggle is for equality in many fields in wages
in the rights of citizens, in social relationship.
is not easy be woman and perhaps it is harder
to be in China than in any other place in the
world. Our economic expressions have been greater.
We have been completely disqualified politically. Edu-
cation has been reserved almost entirely for the men,
and socially life has been more crcumscribed more
bound by the customs which have been designed make
free life the unique heritage of men, and an unfree
life the heritage of women than perhaps in any
land
Today Chinese women are emerging To the outsider
it seems wholly miraculous, but although we who are
working for the emancipation of Chinese women
nze the miracle that makes this rebrth possible at ALL
at the same time recognize the stupendous difficulties
involved. The whole weight of traditional forces are
against traditional economic forces traditional inter-
national forces, and in addition traditional social and
family forces 1t is not easy to be leader of Chinese
women today We beset not only by the obstacles
in the way of national and economic emancipation but
also those great obstacles of criticism personal attacks
the open disapprova of the conservative classes who feel
that womens life should be spent it has always been
spent either in the drawing the kitchen of the
house of her lord.
We of China, however, are fortunate in one
respect The Kuomntang which is leading is deter
mined that oppressions the oppression of all ex
plotted peoples and classes shall end Our program for
emancipation receives complete support
But the task ahead of us is great. In it, individual
must be forgotten, merged
into common struggle. It is a time in China when
great lberatng movements that above and beyond
personalities taking shape and Chinese lead
from Canton the birthplace of the revolution to
Peng the stronghold of reaction are throwing them
selves whoeheartedy into the battle rid both China
and women from the bondage that has kept them en-
shaved for centuries.
You delegates from the worOngmen of the West, we
know, have come to help in this task. You bring to
Of cooperation from the exploited millions
Of other lands.
wish to tell you in the name of the of China
how much we appreciate your coming, how much we
expect to profit from your help and advice and to ask
that you take back to the workers and the women Of
your homeands the greetings of the women of China
SEND I'M XOIIR I LIvNERc