Page:Heroines of freethought (IA cu31924031228699).pdf/281

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ERNESTINE L. ROSE
273

dices should throw them off the track. This is called, by many, good, worldly philosophy, and it may be, but I can give no other name than ignorance, or moral cowardice, which hinders far more than it advances the progress of the race.”

In 1855 or '56, Mrs. Rose made a short visit to England and France, where she renewed her acquaintance with many of the leaders of opinion in both countries, and formed many new and appreciative friendships.

For a number of years after her return to America her health was so poor and uncertain that she was obliged to forbear taking much active part in the reforms so dear to her. But she had the happy consciousness of having done much of the hard pioneer work which had helped to make those reforms practicable and attractive, And she was not forced into quietude until the shackles had fallen from the black race forever, nor until public attention was at last so widely awake to the wrongs inflicted