Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/836

 82O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE served at the Kurhaus, followed by a fine concert arranged in honor of the guests. Later came a special display of fireworks with a closing piece which triumphantly flashed the words "Jus Suffragii" across the sky. Mrs. Catt was in the chair at the first afternoon session and Dr. Jacobs welcomed the conference in an address given in per- fect English during which she said : "When so strong and energetic a body of earnest women meets to deliberate on this greatest of modern world problems the impression can not fail to be a powerful one, for the vision must arise of the beauty and glory of future womanhood, of women who have obtained proper place and power in the community, which shall enable them to infuse their love, their moral perceptions, their sense of justice into the governments of the world. We believe the moment has now come to show our country the seriousness and extent of our movement and its determination to gain political equality for women in every civilized land. With the greatest appreciation we see among our visitors many high officials, who have not hesitated to answer our invitation favorably and to give us through their presence a prom of sympathy with the work we do. We wish to welcome these gentlemen first of all." Aaining one country after another Dr. Jacobs mentioned the particular achievement of each during the past two years and extended a special welcome, saying: "May your presence here contribute to augment the public interest in the movement for women's enfranchisement in our country." The address of the international president, Mrs. Carrie Chap- man Catt, was a masterly effort and should be reproduced in full. In beginning it she referred to the suggestive coincidence that the opening day of the Congress commemorated the anni- versary of the signing of the immortal Magna Charta and said : "At no time since the movement for the enfranchisement of women began have its advocates had so much cause for self- congratulation as now. The Alliance met in Copenhagen twentv- two months ago and in the brief time since then the progress of our cause has been so rapid, the gains so substantial, the as- surance of coming victory so certain that we may imagine the noble and brave pioneers of woman suffrage, the men and women