Evening star., 1936-02-09
Life of Susan B. Anthony
Held One of Inspiration
Continued From Third Pase.)

Negro called forth some opposition, to
which Miss Anthony replied: This
resolution scarcely makes the asser-
tioa that in a genuine republic every
citizen must have the right Of repre-
sentation. Governments derive their
Just powers from the consent OF the
governed. This Is the fundamental
principle of democracy as proclaimed
by our Revolutionary ancestors, and
before our Government can be placed
on a permanent foundation the citizen
must be particularly established. !"
Does not this statement include the
still disfranchised men and women of
the District of Columbia?
Miss Anthony raised most Of the
money for the expenses Of the cam
paign. The first installment, bearing
l00,0 900 names, was carried to the Sen
ate chamber by two Negroes. BY the
month Of August. 1854, the signatures
Of petitioners reached 400, 900. Charles
Sumner and Henry Wilson had writ
ten Miss Anthony many times that
the petitions formed the bulwark Of
the demand for congressional action.
Susan B. Anthony was the master
spirit whose entire time, energy and
experience was devoted unselfishly to
this cause. These pioneer women had
responded to the despairing call Of the
Nation in its hour of need and they
served as nobly as the women Of the
later generation responded during the
World War with It's aftermath of mis-
cry and death.
But the most disheartening fact was
revealed when that same Government
pushed their day of freedom back be-
hind the millions Of Negroes who had
just emerged from centuries of slavery.
They were told this is the Negroes
hour" These pioneer women saw an
other class of voter placed above their
heads and a period Of so years inter-
vened before the women's hour struck.
The work of the National American
Woman'S Suffrage Association was
taken over by the organization now
known as the League of Women Voters.
Miss Anthony was the first president
Of the former association and was
succeeded by such women Of clear
vision as Carrie Chapman Gait, whom
we still have with us, and the late DR..
Anna Howard Shaw, the only women
who ever held the office of president
during its existence Of so years.
Susan B. Anthony was more than
q great woman statesman. She was
the "personification of soul" in the
era in which she was destined to
serve the race. She exemplified the
individuality of a soul" The pur-
pose in celebrating the birthday an
niversary of great leaders is not mere
ly to eulogize personality. but it is
intended to teach the masses the great
esoteric values Of life, the great pos
sibilities for the unfolding Of the in
dividual qualities Of every soul born
into physical manifestation in this
plane of life.
Spiritual insight has been the pre-
eminent characteristic Of great lead
ers. How often the biographers of
Miss Anthony. the late Ida Hustled
Harper and Nanette B. Paul, LII. D.,
could trace in her writings and utter
anceS the invisible hand Of inspired
thought concerning supreme being.
To have ignored these values would
have been to impair their ability as
historians.
In the great field Of service to hu-
manity spiritual consciousness and
responsive imagination are required
to take an interpretative master. Spir-
itual vision gives stamina. endurance
and great elevation of character to all
leaders. May the sterling qualities ex-
pressed in Susan B. Anthony's life
Of outstanding service to her genera
tion be the eternal source of inspira-
tional light which shall shine un-
dimmed on the horizon Of all human
endeavor. The following poem writ
ten by Ada Van Loon Brandow-Mac-
Gee, coworker and friend of the au-
thor. very ably expresses In the Ian
guage of poetry, leadership:
leadership.
Adown the path Of the ages,
As links forged in eternitys chain,
Shine the souls on memory's pages,
Lifting man to the heights from
the plain.
AS gems out of darkest setting,
They gieam as the cons roll,
o, why do we in getting,
Learn not the lesson of Soul.
Let's pause and deeply consider
That It's those in destiny's chain,
Who shall eventually form the order
TIL rNTnYNaV ~r~ar~o 1