The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-22

Tho W0man's Rights Convention ~ Boston.
The Womans Rights Convention, which
was held last week at Boston, was largely
composed Of the same long haired, eccentric,
fanatical persons of both sexes who used to
figure conspicuously in the anti-slavery con-
ventions before the war. Among those pre-
sent were several Of the most noted agitators
of the abolition movement, including William
Lloyd Garrison, Mrs. L. Maria Child, Lucy
Stone (whoss husbands name is BlackwelD,
Mrs. DR.. Hunt, Rev. Mr.. May, Rev. Mrs.
Olympia Brown and other female divines, Mrs.
Abby Kelly Foster and her husband, the
irrepressible and eloquent Fred Douglass,
Hon. Mr.. Sewall, Hon. Henry Wilson and "a
lunatic named Barnes, who believed that he
had the Holy Ghost within him." But with
increasing years and experience some Of the
maddest of these early agitators have acquired
also more practical common sense and more
modesty than they formerly manifested. At
least two speakers admitted the very patent
fact that it is folly to expect every act in the
present movement to be done with absolute
wisdom or only by saints "We must not
expect" said Senator Wilson, 'sthat everything
said or done in this or any other cause should
be wisely said or DONE" Notwithstanding all
the nonsense and exaggeration, the confusion
of ideas and the Utopian dreams which char
acterized some Of the speeches made at this
Woman's Rights Convention, number Of solid
facts and forcible arguments were adduced
in favor of woman's right and duty to vote.
Several sensible practical suggestions were
offered. Thus some of the more thoughtful
and cool-headed speakers deprecated the bitter,
antagonistic spirit in which not few advo-
Gates of woman's rights attack and abuse the
men. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe declared, Zone
of the things that have always regretted most
in the advocacy of the political rights of women
has been the unkind things that were said of the
other sex. do not like to hear those things.
! do not like to take part in the abuse of my
father, grandfather, great-grandfather or
uncles. do not even wish my husband to be
limited at as Satan behind the scenes. If we
look around in this assembly we shall be con-
vinced that the friends of man are the
friends of woman" Rev. Colonel Higginson
insisted upon the advantage and propriety Of
''being charitable to each other" adding, 1--WE
must expect our friends te make mistakes,
and (perhaps with a sly allusion to the lady edi-
tors of The Reoosution) 1--WE must expect them
sometimes to train in strange company" Mode
ration in the demands of those now enlisted in
the cause was likewise recommended as likely
to insure greater ultimate success than ex-
orbitant demands.
The justice of increasing the wages of work.
ing women, and even of graduating payment
according to the quality and quantity of work
done, irrespective of sex; the necessity for null
tiplying the means Of procuring an honest live
lihood now open to women; the propriety Of
placing women on school committees, ''for
which they are admirably adapted !" the mani
fold evils of which the imperfect education of
women is the source the hardships to which
the legal dependence of married women sub
jects them, particularly in the State of Massa-
chusetts the ''self-evident truth that the con-
sent of the governed is necessary to good gov
ernment"-a truth which ''men don't recog-
nize,' said Lucy Stone"-the denial of the
ballot to women who have come to the age of
discretion, who pay taxes, who have not been
convicted OF crime and who are sane and in
telligent, while it is conferred upon the igno-
rant emigrant, and in certain States upon the
negro just emancipated from what Mr.. Sum-
ner styles 'the barbarism of slavery"-all
these points were brought before the Conven-
ton and urged with no little eloquence and
power.
The immediate result of the discussions and
deliberations of the Convention was the organ
ization of "a permanent association for the
wise, systematic and efficient advocacy OF
woman suffrage and its kindred civil and politi-
cal rights" The name bestowed upon it is
"The New England Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton" The majority of the audience at the
Convention were women, which may partly
account for the adoption of the constitution OF
the new association, in spite of the arguments
of Fred Douglass and Senator Wilson in favor
of ''the more vital importance of negro suf-
frage first for certainty, and then female suf-
frage afterwards, il possible" One Of the
resolutions introduced by Rev. Mr.. May is a
hint to the politicians that although the advo-
Gates of woman suffrage propose the formation
OF no new political party, they still conf
IDENTIFY expect ere long to hold the balance OF
power, and 80 to use 1t as to make the en-,
franchisement of women the most direct path
to political preferment.' Young and aspiring
American politicians Of all parties must now,
therefore, study the question of 'woman's
rights" which in England has secured the
advocacy of so profound philosopher as Mr.
Mill and so experienced statesman as Mr.
Gladstone.
THE MAYoRALTy ELECTION. The Mayor
ell - xs..X r..