Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-12-03

4 Sio- but ~ NOuu gfthtil eiTtngiuen Inc
banks and materially increase the conf
dence Of the public in the result-Iad
Journal.
The Woman Suffrage COnven-
ton.
The Convention that assembled in Bos
ten TO consider the justice and wisdom oil
extending the right of suffrage to women
was significant as indicating the stage tina,
the discussion has reached, and the social
progress gained by the question. Tic
speeches and The occasion were oil second
airy importance. They were interesting
to be sure-able, Gear, cogent, attractive
now and then but they contributed moth,
ing TO our stock OF intelligence on either
the main topic or the subordinate points.
They were not particularly eloquent OF
particularly profound, The speakers trav-
ersed the weIl>worn field much after the
usual manner, uttering the familiar trusms
in the familiar way. To those who have
kept themselves informed on the progress,
of radical ideas during the last two de,
cades. there isnoihing new, no fresh state.
ment OF principle. no novel application OF
| truth. In fact, there was nothing new TO
say The question has been talked thread
bare in the little circle of those who have
been interested in its debate. The prlnci,
pie is Sd very simple that the statement off
it cannot occupy many minutes, and large
as is the field of illustration. that has been
pretty eirectusly cleaned. The advocates
of the cause are waiting for the listening
public ear, and the cordial public welcome
are waiting for response from the sobe,
intelligent, thoughtful men and women of
the community. The Convention was a
sign OF high recognition; not very de.
monstraiive sign. but still a sign. Ii WAS
as remarkable for the presence of some as
fo- the absence Of others OF course. the
old rank and file OF agitators were there.
There were Garrison, and Fred. Douglas.
and the Rev. S. L. Nav, jr, and the Eos
tiers, Abby Kelly, and Stephen s, L. ".
Higginson. James Freeman Clarke. John
T. Sargent, and last, though by no means
least, the swcet~voiced Lucy Stone BLACK
well, whose advocacy OF this cause has
kept her young for many years. These we
should look for, and others of their coodlv
company, Wendell Phillips, for instance.
one OF the earliest. bo!dest, and trues,
champions of woman's claim 10 every RIGHT
and every privilege enjoyed by the strong
er sex. But there also was Julia Ward
Howe, who frankly avowed herself n new
convert, confessed that size bad written
much against the cause she was there 10
countenance, and acknowledged that fbe
rise OF public sentiment in regard 10 the
suffrage, and especially the extension Off
TO tue negroes, had borne her preylous
convictions away. There was David A.
WATSON, essayist and preacher, a philo
sophica' radical, man who in private ard
public has been pleading very earnestly
for rational against indscfiminate suffrage.
contending stouily that reason should he
supreme. in white men and black i'm male
and female but cordially admitting the
element Of nationality in women. maintain
ing their claim 10 exercise il fully. an.
predicting that 10 four years the suffrage
would be bestowed on them. He wanted
pure minds 10 make the laws, and cxhorted
women to persist till they could contribute
their portion to the ruling virtue. There
was Henry Wilson, who has reputation
for political sagacitv. Mr.. Wilson des.
clared that for more than twelve wears he
had been persuaded that women were en-
titled to the ballot, and as soon "a the en-.
hanchisement Of the negro was made com
plete and secure, the question of her right
would come up and would be answered in
the way her warmest friends desired. The
ncgr0s claim was foremost, and should he
decided separately on its own merits. but
the woman's claim was as good. only SUBJ
sequcns in time Mrs. E. c. Stanton was
not present; neither was Miss Susan b
Anthony /; nor does the report mention
The Revolution, or its high supporter
George +. Train. The discussions were
grave. The temper was subdued. The
resolutions were bold. The sharp coptro>
versy that preceded the adjournment of
the Convention turned on the quite subor
dinats question whether the movement TO
enfranchise women should be pressed
along with the movement to enfranchise
the negro, or as separate measure Both
parties in the dispute were equally DESTROYS
that women should enjoy their full pre-
rogafiye at the earliest practicable moment.
On the main question there was no diyis.
ion. On the extreme positions all seemed
agreed. kind Providence never falls to
provide some amusement on these occa>
siens. Daniel Pratt, the Great American
Traveller, performed admirably the part of
buffoon. and one DIR. Barnes, we think we
remember him-played the character of
lunatic to perfection. These two person.
ages saved the meetings from too serious
monotony, By throwing the admirable bah
ance of the speakers into strong relief.
For Q wonder the male sex was not reviled
indiscriminately; nor was the female sex
indiscriminately exalted. The ballot re-
ceived its full dues as an engine of political
and moral Influence; but it was not eulo-
gized apart from good sense and virtue.
In these respects the meetings disclosed a
great superiority above other meetings of
the same class. -...e., "a
The presence Impractical organizers was
also conspicuous. An association was
formed with Mrs. Howe for Presideutress.
and thirteen Vice Presidents, whose names
are guarantees of work to be done speedi>
ly; And work will be done. Committees
will be appointed; money will be raised
Members of Congress vii! be addressed
petitions viii be signed ard distribute d:
political enginery will be put Ia reonisi.
ton and IL the women 90 not carry their
point, 1t viii be for the reason that Society
is not so well educated on tie subject as
by this time 1t ought 10 be. As Mr.. Henry
Wilson said, the question will not have a.
be pressed in the teeth of the Opposition
that confronted the advocates of African
Emanoipatien- Il has only 10 be present
ed to the heart, the reason, and the con-
science Of the people. This NAV REQUIRE
patience and time, but Il will not REQUIRE
either force 0r ov1da c3fx IT,. >~..<-F .--...