Suffragists -- United States; Women -- Suffrage -- United States
Memorial meetings were held throughout the country at which women not
only paid radiant tribute to Inez Milholland, but reconsecrated
themselves to the struggle and called again upon the reelected
President and his Congress to act.
The most impressive of these memorials was held on Christmas Day in
Washington. In Statuary Hall under the dome of the Capitol—the scene of
memorial services for Lincoln and Garfield—filled with statues of
outstanding figures in the struggle for political and religious liberty
in this country, the first memorial service ever held in the Capitol to
honor a woman, was held for this gallant young leader.
Boy choristers singing the magnificent hymn
“Forward through the darkness
Leave behind the night,
Forward out of error,
Forward into light”
led into the hall the procession of young girl banner-bearers. Garbed
in simple surplices, carrying their crusading banners high above their
heads, these comrades of Inez Milholland Boissevain seemed more
triumphant than sad. They seemed to typify the spirit in which she gave
her life.
Still other young girls in white held great golden banners flanking the
laurel-covered dais, from which could be read the inscriptions:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his
friend” . . . “Without extinction is liberty; Without retrograde is
equality” . . . “As He died to make men holy let us die to make men
free” . . .
From behind the heavy velvet curtains came the music of voices and
strings, and the great organ sounded its tragic and triumphant tones.
Miss Maud Younger of California was chosen to make the memorial address
on this occasion. She said in part:
“We are here to pay tribute to Inez Milholland Boissevain, who was our
comrade. We are here in the nation’s capital, the seat of our
democracy, to pay tribute to one who gave up her life to realize that
democracy . . . .
“Inez Milholland walked down the path of life a radiant being. She went
into work with a song in her heart. She went into battle with a laugh
on her lips. Obstacles inspired her, discouragement urged her on. She
loved work and she loved battle. She loved life and laughter and light,
and above all else she loved liberty. With a loveliness beyond most, a
kindliness, a beauty of mind and soul, she typified always the best and
noblest in womanhood. She was the flaming torch that went ahead to
light the way—the symbol of light and freedom . . .
“Symbol of the woman’s struggle, it was she who carried to the West the
appeal of the unenfranchised, and carrying it, made her last appeal on
earth, her last journey in life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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