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Living in an age of unparalled activity, the capabilities and resources of men seemingly unlimited— an age of revolution, crowned deeds swept in obscurity and liberty calling for a place in the halls of despotism, old theories as old dynasties, passing into oblivion, new views and new systems coming apace— an age when the public mind is agitated with intricate questions, when the legitimate rights and equality of the sexes are made the topic of the hour, when the dignity of woman is no longer assailed, her sphere of action, her capabilities no longer paralized to any extent worthy our consideration, it becomes us to pause, and ask not for the purpose of discussion but as the most simple and direct way of arriving at the truth, what part have we as women in this advance movement and what is our relation in national and civic affairs not only in moulding and shaping but also in securing the stability and permanency of the position once attained? Patriotism, as we understand its meaning consists of love for ones fatherland, devotion to its interests and welfare, the passion which aims to serve one’s country and to maintain its laws and institutions. One of the earliest writers has truly said that patriotism must be founded in great principles and supported by great virtues. In our autumnal meeting having the same subject for discussion, it would have been perfectly natural to think of America as the ideal modern country for an inspiration in feminine patriotism. From the early days, touched by the legendary glow when Evangeline found surcease from personal sorrow in giving her life, to soothe, to comfort, to help and to heal the sick world that leaned on her, remembering the Adams woman and side by side with them the humble pioneer mothers of the same day. In revolutionary times the mother of Washington and sister daughters of the revolution are still ruling the world by the cradles they rocked in that formative period. Coming down to our own great age when it became evident that to maintain a nation “so conceived and so dedicated” the moral life must be on par with the civic glory, Julia Ward Howe touched her golden pen and we read between the lines, “He hath made of one blood every nation.” But a greater slavery was projecting itself into the life of the country and when it came to find a voice it was Francis Willard who said, “We have been loath to think of heroes struggling and conquering in private, going to battlefields of their own souls, carrying on with wonderful patience and faith a warfare against the darkness within, conquering their own hearts and amid the acclimation of Heaven becoming Kings over themselves.” The message of personal integrity as the final solution of the public will, not in what we think of as temperance education alone, but in domestic, civic, and religious life is still the message of the womanhood of America, whether we find her organized as Jane Addams of Hull House, Chicago, the great federation of womans clubs, or the literary circle or needle circle of our small towns. The home sheltered woman is beginning to think of child labor, the emigrant problem, the working girls wage, shorter hours, safety devices, the public health, pure food, sanitation, red cross nursing along with domestic science, homes for the feeble minded, the industrial feature to be added to our insane asylums, and the arts and science along all legitimate lines, and many vital issues that seem to enlarge the border of her own happy home to include the community in which that home exists, enough such communities form a state and all the states constitute a nation. So that it does not need a prophet to see that what we give, is reacted and comes down to us in the form of law in proportion as our representative represents our ideals and convictions. Such would have been our line of thought a year age but today character, for character is principle and principle is true patriotism. This is indeed the mission of woman to teach that right not might is master and her mission will not be fulfilled until it can be said in truth of the world as has been sung of our own fair land. In happy times, the seat of innocence, where nature guides and virtue rules, where men shall not impose for truth and sense the pedantry of courts and schools. There shall be sung another golden age, the rise of empire and of arts, the good and great inspiring epic rage, the wisest heads and noblest hearts. Not such as Europe needs in her decay, such as she bred when fresh and young, when heavenly flame did animate her clay, by future poets shall be sung, westward the course of empire takes its way. The four first acts already past, a fifth shall close the drama with the day: time’s noblest offspring is the last. © Copyright 2010 by Mifflinburg Telegraph Weekly Newspaper Top of Page |
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