Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1888 — WANT THEIR OWN WAY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WANT THEIR OWN WAY.

The International Woman’s Council at Washington City. The Most Distinguished Gathering of Woman Suffragists Ever Held. Entertaining Addresses by Prominent Leaders of the Movement. (SPECIAL WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.] The International Council of Women has been in session here during the week. It was called by the National Woman Association of the United States to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the first woman's rights convention. The sessions were held in Albaugh's Opera House. There were

in attendance about 290 delegates from National Woman's Bights Associations or kindred societies in this and other countries. About thirty associations of this character were represented in the council, which was probably the largest gathering of notable women in the history of this country. Susan B. Anthony called the council to order. Elizabeth Cady Stanton delivered the address of welcome, and, after reviewing at some length the history of the sufirage movement, she said: “In calling this council we anticipated many desirable results. Aside from the pleasure from mutual acquaintance iu meeting face to face so many of our countrywomen, as well as those from foreign lauds, we hoped to secure thorough national and international organization in all those reforms in which we axe mutually interested. To come together for a week and part with the same fragmentary societies and clubs would be the defeat of half the purpose of our gathering." Mrs. Stanton made the startling announcement that if the rights of women were not to be obtained by just and fair means the result bo that they would join hands with the Anarchists, and the scones of the French Revolution would be re enacted. This dread threat, when first uttered, was received in silence on the part of the audience, instead of being greeted with applause, as were most of her climaxes. But to the outside public it would appear that the bomb has not been so quietly received. J. D. Cammou of lowa, a prominent member of the Grange, has prepared an urgent protest against the dissemination of such principles among the woman-suffragists. At the conclusion of Mrs. Stanton’s address, which was often interrupted by applause, Miss Anthony introducsd to the audience, in the order named, delegates from Norway, Finland, France, India, Ireland, England, and Canada. Each was greeted with heartv applause, to which brief responses were made. The first paper of the congress was read by Mary Wright bewail, of Indianapolis, on the subject of “The Higher Education for Women in the United States.” At the conclusion of Mrs. Sewall’s address Miss Anthony introduced Fundita Bammbai Sarasvati, a native Indian woman, who was dressed in native costume. She spoke extemporaneously for half an hour upon the subject of “The Women of lu-dia," and received the close attention of the audience. She said that in the olden times in her country women we e completely under the control of their husbands and but few were allowed to be educated, and these of the Brahmens or priestly caste. Only a few were allowed any educational advantages. According tothe teaching of their priest, an Indian woman could only reach heaven through complete and perfect obedience to her husband. Since 1878 about half a dozen native women had graduated with honor from the universities. Calcutta had taken the highest ground in the education of women. A great.change is being wrought. What India needed was women teachers. Mrs. Louisa Beed Stowell read a paper upon the subject of “The Typical Woman of This Century." She said that the typical woman of this century was, in the earlier portion of it, seated on the schoolhouse steps listening to the recitations of the boys. She had left the steps, had nearly finished her crusade against college doors, and had not only entered the colleges and universities but baa in manv instances taken the instructor’s chair. “Temperence” was one of the topics discussed by the council. Of course Miss Frances E. Willard was the lending speaker on this

subject. She had among her audience Senator and Mrs. Palmer, Senator and Mrs. Sabin, and a goodly number of other Congression al people, and her talk was jwarmly received. Miss •Willard's happiest sentence was that in which she declared that the granting of woman’s rights would in no wise

FRANCES E. Willard imperil the happiness of tne home circle, since woman carried -with her wherever she went, under any and all conditions of life, the essence of home, which was to her a God-given dower which nothing ever could or would eradicate or eliminate. One of the most taking addresses so far made before the council was that of Prof. Bena A. Michaels, of Evanston. 111. Her subject was “Co-education, ’’ and in the limited time at her disposal she only sought to discuss the social phase of it. The underlying thought, drawn from experience of college life, was that the girl mode her home wherever she was, even amid books, and that no amount of educational training or culture would unroot these home instincts. The women of the West were eulogized even beyend their sisters of the East, and a neighborly tribute by Prof. Michaels to the esteem in which Frances E. Willard is held met with a hearty response. Leona M. Barry read a paper upon “What the Knights of Labor Are Doing for Women." She said: “We are building around our working girls a wall io defend and proteetthem from the humiliations which heretofore they have been subjected to. There are no better law supporters, no more loyal citizens, true to the law of their country and their country’s flag, than the organized working men and women of to-day. They do not demand revolution; but they do demand reform. They do not ask it by the power of physical or brute force or strength, they do not ask’it by the destruction of life or property, they simply ask it at the hands of the law-making bodies of their nation.” Hulda B, Loud also delivered an address. She said that she was beginning to question why if it was right for her to vote, to speak, and to hold office in the Knights of Laoor it was wrong for her to do so in the state? Woman’s recognition was slow on account of man’s selfishness and female timidity; and then, besides, office has not add never will have the attraction for a woman that it has fora man. The Knights of Labor is the grand

educational force among the masses which protects capital and monopoly from the results of their folly and crime." An address which met with a warm response was that of Miss Clara Barton, fresh from the relief work at Mount Vernon, IIL Miss barton is called the American Florence Nightingale. Her name is beloved by many a veteran of the war, to whom she brought comfort when wounded on the field of battle, or when languishing in prison, and is honored in Europe, where she served during the Franco-Prussian war as an active member of the Society of the Red Cross of Geneva. The paper was interesting as a comprehensive outline cf the work accomplished by the Red Cross Society, and at its close Miss Barton was loudly applauded. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe's paper on “The Power of Organization” was distinctly Bostonian in tone and remarkable in the coming of the word “demotic.” In speaking of the Suffrage Association of Massachusetts, between which and the present International Council. it has been rumored there was lack of sympathy, Mrs. Howe said that she hoped to see the two organizations unite in their Efforts, and that much Sood would result from this combination. A appy phrase applauded by the audience was that the watchword would then be to make home the college, court, church, and sanitarium of all true women. Mary F. Eastman, President of the Association for the Advancement of Women, began her able address by quoting from Oliver Wendell Holmes, “Blessed are those who say good things for us." Rev. Amanda Deyo, of the Universal Peace Union, told of the movement which had given rise to that.organization. The society had, she said, twenty-five branch circles in the United States. Mrs. M. Louise Thomas gave an account of the famous Sorosis Club, its organization, object, and growth during the twenty years of its existence. Mrs. D. G. Croly (Jennie June) followed Mrs. Thomas, and gave a passing allusion to the Sorosis, of which she was one of the original incorporators. Mrs. Croly said that her first appearance as a speaker was thirty years ago, when by invitation she attended a convention for the purpose es discussing some contemplated change in the matter of dress—a woman's hoopskirt at that time measuring four yards in circumference. Her own dress to-day was a braided skirt of clay-colored broadcloth, with draperies of seal brown ottoman silk- One of Mrs. Croly’s pet organizations is the Working Woman’s Guild of Philadelphia, which has now a membership of 700. composed of women engaged in manual labor Usances E. Willard spoke of the suffrage work. She illustrated her idea of organization at once in an object lesson. “Do you see that?” she said, holding up her open hand with the fingers spread wide apart. “And do you see that?” and she closed her fingers and put her Clenched fist up in an attitude worthy of John L. Sullivan. She went on to speak of the power of taking hold of hands, the accumulating power of organization. It took a great many years, she said, for women to come out in perspective far enough to have an International Council. Miss Anthony introduced Mrs. Marella M. Hill, of Dover, N. H. Mrs. Hill is a little woman, 82 years old. She is bright, and het hair is still black. Miss Anthony said that Mrs. Hill was one of the first women to engage in organized efforts to elevate young women. Mrs, Hill represented the Free-will Baptists. She spoke for some minutes, telling of her denominational organizations, and especially those that helped young women. The legal conditions of women were discussed at length by the council, the ablest speaker

being Mrs. Alice Scatcherd, whose address was on “The Legal Conditions of Women in the Three Kingdoms.” Mrs. Scatcherd is a delegate from Leeds, England. She divided her discourse under three heads—“ The Industrial Property Bights," “Bights in the Family,” and “Personal Bights"—and gave a fine address, which was listened to with interest by the audience, who were nevertheless put to the blush by her plain speaking, for Mrs. Scatcherd was much in earnest, and believed in calling a spade a spade. In enumerating the different clauses of the English law relating to women, Mrs. Scatcheri said that previous to 1882, when the Married Women’s Property oct was passed, no married women could open or keep a bank account without the consent of her nusband. The address of Mrs. Lily Devereux Blake, of New York, on “The Legal Disabilities of Women” was an able one, treating of those things in America of which her successor spoke in regard to the English laws. One point advocated was that when women transgressed the laws and were up before the tribunal to have justice meted out, they should be tried by a Judge and jury composed of their paers—women. Miss Alice Fletcher, who is Special Indian Agent under the Severalty bill, read a paper on the “Legal Conditions of Indian Women,” which went to prove that the generally accepted idea regarding the Indian woman as a slave to be bought and sold without rights or position in the tribe was a wrong one. Miss Anthony introduced a native woman, the Princess Viroqua, a Mohawk by birth, whose portly person was gorgeously appareled, and who rightly gauged her audience when brought forward by saying that she knew they would rather look than hear her speak. Over a petticoat of black velvet, heavily incrusted with crystal beading, was worn a short polonaise of scarlet satin glittering with a border of spangles and dangling crystal fringe. Around her neck were ropes of crystal beads, while a giddy little yellow bow confined the lace of her corsage within its prescribed limits. Her head was innocent of ornament and with its short, bristling, black hair looked like the broad sides of a globular doormat. “What Shall Be Done With the Neglected Rich?” was the subject of an address by Frances E. W. Harper, who was proud to announce herself of African parentage. In a

plain worsted gown, without an attempt at furbelow or ornamentation of any kind, the mulatto woman stood up before the crowded house and delivered her discourse with such telling effect that after the opening lines perfect silence reigned. A clever view of her subject was stated when she said that the class of persons to whom her disc urse had reference were those of “plethoricpurse but attenuated souls.” Another interesting discourse was that on “Police Matrons," delivered by Mrs. Busan H

Barney, National Superintendent prison, jail, police, and almshouse work of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. The gist was an urgent plea for the appointment of a woman at every station-house in order to inspect and minister to such unfortunates at their own sex as>hould be from time to time brought in. Esther L. Warner maue an address on “Women as Farmers." Prof. Rena A. Michaels spoke on “Women as Educators," Lanra C. Holloway dealt with "Women in Journalism,” and Sarah Hackett Stevenson read a paper on “Women in Medicine * “Women in Law” was the subject treated by Mrs. Ada Bittenberger, who is her husband’s partner in law. The Rev. Ada Bowles spoke of “Women in the Ministry," and said that women should be allowed to share the pulpit equally with men. Other addresses were made by Mrs. Martha 8. Fields (Catharine Cole) of the New Orleans Picayune, representing the Woman's International Press Association; Mrs. Amelia Hadley Mobl of Washington, D. C., representing the National Press Association, and Matilda B. Carse, who spoke of what a few women have accomplished in the financial world; Rena A. Michaels, Ph. D., dean of the Woman s College of the Northwestern University, who spoke on “Co-education;” Cora A. Bennson, A. M., LL. 8., Michigan University, and fellow in history, Bryn Mawr College. who chose for her suoject “College Fellowshiu for Women;" Martha McLellan Brown, Vice President Wesleyan College, Cincinnati; Phrebe Couzins, of Missouri, the first woman United States Marshal ever appoint ad; and by

Matilda Joslyn Gage, Mrs. Lucy Stone, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, and many others. Gossip of the Council. Dr. Mary Walker has made herself such a blooming nuisance that she has been tabooed w thout regard to age, sax, or previous standing. It is said that Belva Lockwood has also made some sour grapes remarks. Belva was ignored in making up the programme, and this was done purposely. The reasons were that she was too sensational and cared little for the cause of woman sufirage except to advertise herself. Mrs. Bessie Starr Keefer, of Toronto, gave a good, breezy address. At the ont-set she gave her reason for being a Canadian, which was that she was able in Canada to obain the university education which was fifteen years ago denied to her in this her native country. United States Phoebe Couzins, of St. Louis, was the handsomest woman among all the delegates Upon more than one occasion Miss Anthony was obliged to rise and use the gavel somewhat sharply to obtain a cessation from talking in the audience. Miss Helen Taylor, who is John Stuart Mill’s step-daughter, did not attend the council, and her letter explaining why she did not keep her appointment has disturbed the ladies a good deal. When Miss Taylor agreed to cross the Atlantic to counsel with th*u ’Oman suffragists of America she did not know that Mrs. Ashton Dilke had been invited. She does not like Mrs. Dilke, and she is surprised that the American ladies should receive her. Mrs. Stanton’s exact words, which have created so much comment, were as follows: “I have often said to the men of the present day that the next generation of women will not stand arguing with you as patiently as we have for half a century. The organizations of labor all over the country are holding out their hands to women. The time is not far distant when, if men do not do justice to women, the women will strike hands with labor, with socialists, with anarchists, and you will have the scenes of the revolution of France acted over again in this republic.” Dr. Mary Walker received her increase of pension not a moment too soon. Since the Woman's Congress repelled her advances she has become so emphatic in her gestures that she has ruptured at least a dozen pairs of suspenders. Susan B. Anthony declares that the reason she never married was because she didn’t want to be any man’s relic. “No man,” she proudly exclaims, “shall put me as a relic on a gravestone.” Evidently she never consider the possibility of the other party outlasting her. Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a conspicuous figure in the Council, is 72 years old. She was the chief agency in calling the first “Women's Rights Convention” in this country, which was held at Seneca Falls, N. Y., in 1848. It was fcnen that she introduced the famous resolution that the intelligent world has been debating ever since: “liesolved, That it is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise." As a result her father (she was then unmarried) actually consulted friends as to the propriety of placing her in an insane asylum.

SUSAN B. ANTHONY.

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON.

LILLIE DEVEREAUX BLAKE.

PHCEBE W. COUZINS.