the cruel
wrongs done their sex, we clearly trace its course through the
centuries, moving slowly but majestically onward, gathering
momentum with each century, each generation, until just before us
lies the golden sea of woman's full liberty.

Mrs. Catt traced the progress of the ages until it culminated in the
demand for political rights for women, told of the beginning of the
Alliance and said: "Today, seven years later, our Alliance counts 26
auxiliary national associations. Are these evidences of a wave rapidly
receding? It would be more in accordance with facts should we adopt
the proud boast of the British Empire and say that the sun now never
sets upon woman suffrage activities. The subscribing membership in the
world has increased seven times in the past seven years and it has
doubled since the London congress two years ago. Even in Great
Britain, where the opposition declared at that time very confidently
that the campaign had reached its climax, the National Union, our
auxiliary, has tripled its individual membership, tripled its
auxiliary societies and doubled its funds since then, and twelve
independent suffrage societies have been organized. The membership and
campaign funds have likewise tripled in the United States and every
president of an auxiliary national society has reported increase in
numbers, funds and activity.... No human power, no university
professor, no Parliament, no government, can stay the coming of woman
suffrage. It is a step in the evolution of society and the eternal
verities are behind it.... Of the 24 nations represented in this
congress the women of 15 have more political rights than they had
seven years ago."

Mrs. Catt paid high tribute to the Scandinavian people and eulogized
Fredrika Bremer, Sweden's great pioneer. In speaking of the progress
in this country she said: "Municipal suffrage has now been extended
to married women and eligibility to office to all women. Organizations
exist in 170 towns, some of them north of the Arctic Circle; there is
a paying membership of 12,000 and 1,550 meetings have been held in the
last two years. Two political parties espouse the cause. Women may
vote for town and county councils, which elect the Upper House of
Parliament, and thirty-seven are serving on these councils." She
referred eloquently to the honored Selma Lagerloef and to Dr. Lydia
Wahlstrom, the recent president of the National Suffrage Association,
who had