“The sword of murder is not the balance of justice. Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.”

Rejecting violence as a false instrument of justice and power · Mother's Day Proclamation (1870)

• Truth
• War

“From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. Disarm, disarm!”

A stark expression of the earth’s suffering and the urgent demand for peace · Mother's Day Proclamation (1870)

• Nature
• War

“We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”

Extending maternal care beyond national boundaries · Mother's Day Proclamation (1870)

• Love
• War

“Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.”

A powerful maternal appeal against militarism and the corruption of compassion · Mother's Day Proclamation (1870)

• Motherhood
• War

“Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears!”

A summons to women to oppose war and act from humane solidarity · Mother's Day Proclamation (1870)

• Hope
• War