Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 6.djvu/877

 THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE 86l she gave a scathing review of the situation in the United States, where it had been so long withheld. She paid eloquent tributes to Susan B. Anthony, a founder of the Alliance, and to Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, who had helped to found it and had attended every congress but had died the preceding year. She pointed out to the enfranchised delegates the great responsibility that had been placed in their hands and through it the vast power they would have in re-creating the world and said : "I believe had the vote been granted to women twenty-five years ago, their national in- fluence would have so leavened world politics that there would have been no world war." Among the many objects for the Alliance to accomplish she named the following: (i) Stimulate the spread of democracy and through it avoid another world war; (2) Discourage revolution by demonstrating that change may be brought about through peaceful political methods; (3) Encourage education and enlightenment throughout the world; (4) Keep the faith in self-government alive when it fails to meet ex- pectations. Methods for achieving these results were suggested and it was impressed on the younger women that this would be their task, as the older ones had practically finished their work. This address of surpassing eloquence closed with these words : God's order will come again to the world's stricken, unhappy, much-suffering people. It will come because the divine law of evolution never ceases to operate and the destiny of the race leads eternally on without pause. So much sacrifice and sorrow as the war has cost the world can not have been endured in vain. . . . As I view world politics the only possible hope for the happiness, democratization of all governments. There can be no democratiza- which excludes women and no safe or sound democracy which is not based upon an educated, intelligent elect orate. Nor is it enough to establish dcm in individual nations it must be extended to world politic. 1 lie old militarism must go and with it the old diplomacy, ith ; treaties, distrust and intrigues. No League of, m aholNi ar unless every government in the world is based on democracy. In our home countries we should urge support of every move- ^n of popul.. :tion, foster every ag< which helps nun and women to think for themselves, promote every endeavor :itain honest elections, judicially conducted cam paigns and high ideals in ; -:d parliaments, for democracy ceeds when and where in .ind intelligence are gi
 * >erity and permanent peace of the world lies in the thorough