You may remember Mary E. Lease from her iconic historical quote: “Raise less corn and more hell.” But who was she really, besides the speaker of this quote? Let’s find out.
Lease was born on September 11, 1850, in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, as Mary E. Clyens. She became a schoolteacher, and moved to Kansas at the age of twenty to continue her teaching career. There she married Charles L. Lease, a had children. She moved around, from Pennsylvania to Texas to Kansas, but her story is not one connected to a single place. It’s connected to the politics of the whole country
Lease was not a happy woman. Why? The government. In the rural areas she lived in, particularly in Kansas, she saw farmers in debt and poverty stricken people living on the streets, and wondered how such a rich country had so many poor people. Her experiences had taught her that her skills in public speaking could help her make a difference. So she began to speak out, and louder.
Lease was a tall, powerful woman with a booming voice. She did not back down, she spoke from the heart, and she was a formidable opponent. The populist party wanted her, as she spoke their same language, that against greedy businessmen and for the poorer and working classes. During the late 1880s and the 1890s, she spoke in many different places, on the road making speeches at events all over the country. However, she was still largely involved with Kansas and the farmers revolt there.
Lease, in the end, made over 160 speeches for the populist party. And she was criticized mercilessly, especially about her status as a woman. Many who opposed her referred to her as unwomanly, untrained, or even like a harpy. Despite the constant criticism, Lease pressed on and continued sharing her opinion about the unfair legislation the government enacted, and their favor of big business rather than citizens.
When the populist party fizzled out, the Queen did as well, stepping down from her throne and into a less political lifestyle. Lease divorced her husband, and was able to move to New York and get a fair amount of money through lectures, taking her out of her life of poverty and into a more comfortable one in her old age. Her children moved to New York as well, and she was able to spend much of her time with them. Lease died in New York in 1933, at the age of 83.
Lease is quite the interesting character. Her outspokenness as a woman was harder to find in these times, especially considering how powerful she was, the Queen of the populist party, some called her, the champion of farmers. As history moves towards modern times, we see more women popping up, challenging the status quo and becoming heroes in their own right. Often they are criticized not for their words, but for their gender. But Lease let no one stop her. So, everyone, let’s learn from Lease. When we want change to happen, use our voices, press through hardships, and raise a little hell.
Sources:
http://www.acatholicmission.org/mary-elizabeth-lease.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Elizabeth_Lease
https://www.nonfictionminute.org/the-nonfiction-minute/mary-e-lease-queen-of-the-populist-tornado
https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/mary-elizabeth-lease/12128
Lease was born on September 11, 1850, in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, as Mary E. Clyens. She became a schoolteacher, and moved to Kansas at the age of twenty to continue her teaching career. There she married Charles L. Lease, a had children. She moved around, from Pennsylvania to Texas to Kansas, but her story is not one connected to a single place. It’s connected to the politics of the whole country
Lease was not a happy woman. Why? The government. In the rural areas she lived in, particularly in Kansas, she saw farmers in debt and poverty stricken people living on the streets, and wondered how such a rich country had so many poor people. Her experiences had taught her that her skills in public speaking could help her make a difference. So she began to speak out, and louder.
Lease was a tall, powerful woman with a booming voice. She did not back down, she spoke from the heart, and she was a formidable opponent. The populist party wanted her, as she spoke their same language, that against greedy businessmen and for the poorer and working classes. During the late 1880s and the 1890s, she spoke in many different places, on the road making speeches at events all over the country. However, she was still largely involved with Kansas and the farmers revolt there.
Lease, in the end, made over 160 speeches for the populist party. And she was criticized mercilessly, especially about her status as a woman. Many who opposed her referred to her as unwomanly, untrained, or even like a harpy. Despite the constant criticism, Lease pressed on and continued sharing her opinion about the unfair legislation the government enacted, and their favor of big business rather than citizens.
When the populist party fizzled out, the Queen did as well, stepping down from her throne and into a less political lifestyle. Lease divorced her husband, and was able to move to New York and get a fair amount of money through lectures, taking her out of her life of poverty and into a more comfortable one in her old age. Her children moved to New York as well, and she was able to spend much of her time with them. Lease died in New York in 1933, at the age of 83.
Lease is quite the interesting character. Her outspokenness as a woman was harder to find in these times, especially considering how powerful she was, the Queen of the populist party, some called her, the champion of farmers. As history moves towards modern times, we see more women popping up, challenging the status quo and becoming heroes in their own right. Often they are criticized not for their words, but for their gender. But Lease let no one stop her. So, everyone, let’s learn from Lease. When we want change to happen, use our voices, press through hardships, and raise a little hell.
Sources:
http://www.acatholicmission.org/mary-elizabeth-lease.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Elizabeth_Lease
https://www.nonfictionminute.org/the-nonfiction-minute/mary-e-lease-queen-of-the-populist-tornado
https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/mary-elizabeth-lease/12128
I thought that this was very informative and interesting. I think that Lease is a good example of women entering the American Political Sphere and she's a really interesting trail blazer. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteI like how this article takes the story of a woman who was unhappy with her failing government and showed how she used her voice to make real change. "Raise less corn, and more hell!" is such an iconic slogan for the Populist movement.
ReplyDeleteI find the most interesting aspect about Lease the fact that she broke away from the Populist party as a result of the conflict between her feminist interests and the general feeling of the Populist party. In particular, according to *Wikipedia*, Lease wanted to focus on women's suffrage on one of the Populist conventions, which conflicted with Kansas governor Lewelling's goals for the Populist party. As a woman, Lease would inevitably bring her battle to the issue of woman suffrage, and I think that it was this aspect which resulted in her ultimate fallout with the Populist party.
ReplyDeleteI love how you addressed the fact that people thought Lease's speeches were "unwomanly". This really shows how the idea of the domestic sphere was still very prevalent in this time, as Lease was criticized for trying to have an active role in a political party. I also really like how you connected Lease's outspokenness with many modern feminist leaders, and showed the connection between her time and the present.
ReplyDelete