New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-01
NEW ORIEANs eRRPUBLIOAN SUNDAY, MARCH i ISIS

mentis restored upon a basis which will
secure and guarantee for all time perfect
equality of right at the ballot box and be-
lore the courts; but while we are doing
This one great essential thing we should also
bear in mind the equally paramount living
truth, as taught us by all history, viz: That
no free republican government can long
stand II any considerable portion of the
intelligence of the country are prescribed
at the ballot box, and excluded from par
ticlpation IN the law-makiug department.
Nor would see immortal and blessed
woman longer cast off and prescribed in
the matter OF franchise; nor in any other
matter over which government, either civil
or ecclesiastical, has any control or direc-
ton for the amelioration of the condition
OF manklnd in common. Perhaps she
might not want to vote; many of them
might refuse or tail to exercice the priVi-
lege II granted them; but men do the same
thing, and the argument is as good on the
one hand as on the other. For myself |
would tain see universal Suffrage, regard
less alike of color and of sex, become the
hand-maid OF universal freedom. At least
l would make no general test or qualifica.
ton but love of country, as shown through
obedience to government. Such are nv in
dividu@l private sentiments publicly ex-
pressed, but | do not ask my party to in
dOrse them. As member of the constitu-
tio1al convention moved to strike out the
word "male" in connection with the right
or privilege of franchise. The PROPOSE
ton was referred to the appropriate COM
mittee, but no report was ever made. /
understand the reason Of this failure. |
am thought too fast in this respect for the
locality fnot fer the age in which live.
And it may be true that every locality of
this government is not yet prepared for
such display Of liberality, for such a
practical application of JUSTICE. 1t is a
lamentable fact that men are too prone to
linger in the cause of the right, and the
living patent fact that they are much more
so than women is a plain, palpable, self
evident proof that they are at least no na0e
entitled to vote. Woman, as q general
thing, has much keener and more accurate
sense and perception Of right, and much
more nerve to meet the issue than man.
She is in every conceivable sense less sell
fish and more incorruptible than man. Her
influence in the private and social walks of
life is felt to degree which alone holds the
world back from great retrograde into
wreck and ruin; and there isno good reason
why her influence at the ballotbox and in
the public walks Of life should be less re-
deeming. l for one am quite willing to
give her fair and patient trial.
Fellow-citizens, | might prolOng my re-
marks to greater length /; bat you are stand
ing and already weary, and there are many
others to speak after me. / will only add,
that | stand before you now, as l have ever
stood under all circumstances and in every
trial, the friend of liberty and the friend of
humanity. And in regard to the great and
much vexed question of political and civil
equality, l have only this to say: The
American flag, the simple and beautiful
emblem of liberty, greatness, and glory, is
the flag of my country. respect, revere,
and even worship it. only desire that its
destiny shall be my destiny, and its immor-
tality my immortality and when die, the
greatest and grandest funeral honors and
rites 1 could ask would be to have it as
winding sheet" unwept, unhonored, and
unsuDg," it may be-but thus to sleep, under
the sod CT my native land as one who
never disgraced his name nor forfeited his
birthright Of liberty by seeking to destroy
the country which gave him birth and
disrupt the government which ever fostered
and protected him. And, my friends, the
man who fights under that flag, and swears
by it, and keeps his oath, is my brother and
my friend /; and the woman, be she white or
black, who pays her political devotions at
its sacred shrine, will ever find in me a
| friend and protector who never knew fear.
TAT the close, and during the delivery
of this address, the speaker received earnest
and prolonged aPplause.l