Page:Women and war, an appeal to the women of all nations.djvu/10

 8 "No sweeping condemnation can be passed on war," says a clergyman in a recent book, "The Reproach of the Gospel." Thus is the gigantic evil fatally obscured. Thus does the church strive to glorify "War's red rain!"

is due to the laissez-faire of ignorance and irresponsibility. They, with some exceptions, were like "dumb driven cattle." Until they awoke to their lack of education, they were accustomed to look for their guidance to their religious teachers. Those failed to guide them into the paths of peace-making. Now they have begun to think for themselves their outlook is enlarged, their ideals are more cosmopolitan. They demand a freer social activity, as well as a richer inward development. They are awaking to their responsibilities as life-preservers as well as life-givers. Led by noble women like the Baroness von Suttner on the continent of Europe, by Julia Ward Howe in the United States, and by Ellen Robinson in England, during the past thirty years their voices have been heard urging women to awake, to lift up their voices in a "world-wide protest" against the cruelties of war. The world awaits the help of women, but

to her duties and powers of making peace. Yet the great movement towards political equality with men is arousing her and preparing her for this urgent work. The time is coming when Ruskin's words to women will be untrue—"You are the people who glorify the fighting man." As the Women's Movement for political emancipation is international in its scope, and in its ideals, so the demand of women for a more reasonable and lawful way of settling disputes between nations must come from all lands. Different though women of divers countries may be in religion, temperament and language, they