ers to state her case,
introducing her as Miss Leonard, of New York, President of the
parasol-makers.

Miss LEONARD advanced to the front of the platform, and appeared
to be much embarrassed at fronting so large an audience. The
hearty applause with which she was greeted assuring her of a
kindly reception, she became a little more at ease, and in a low
tone of voice spoke as follows:

_My Worthy Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen:_ I was not
prepared to meet an audience like this. In consequence of
being oppressed by our employers we were obliged to leave
their employ, because we can not earn our bread.
Consequently we held a meeting up stairs to-night, and
knowing that you were here we thought we would let you know
that there are hundreds of women suffering, not for the
ballot but for bread. I have never wanted the ballot. I
believe it belongs to the men who have it; but I come to ask
you in the name of humanity if there can be any society
organized that will repress the unscrupulous employers and
let the public know they are oppressing the poor girls. Men
are strong; they can get together and ask what they want;
they can organize in large bodies, but the working women are
the most oppressed race in the United States. I am thankful
to you, gentlemen and ladies (I should have put the ladies
first), for giving me your attention. I don't intend to
detain you long, because your meeting is here for a
different purpose, but I hope you will give me your
sympathies. I can not make you an eloquent speech, for I, as
a working woman, have had to labor eighteen hours a day for
my bread, and therefore have had no time to educate myself
as an orator.

HENRY B. BLACKWELL said: This audience is composed mostly of men.
I have a word to say to men especially. Why is it that labor is
oppressed and that working women and working men are in some
respects worse off than ever before? I answer; because our
Government is Republican only in name. It is not even
representative of men. The primary meetings which nominate the
candidates and control the policy of parties are neglected by the
voters. Not one man in fifty attends them. They are control