New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-29
NOTHING UNREASONABLE.
MISS DICKINSONs LECTURE.

Efgc-POpOslng organization was represented on the
platform apparently by half score Of literary and
society women, and half as many benignant and
potential men. 1t was an odd fact that there were
| perhaps twice as many men as women in the
audience from which we argue that the sterner sex
has stronger appetite for learning logic, and-shall
we say 1t Instrumentation than its counterpart. Miss
Dickinson who is always beautiful, and always well
attired, aud always sef-pOssessed was bright and
clever and amusing No platform orator excels her in
the feicitous statement of position and subsequent
effective marshalng of facts and ictions that seem
to sustain or defeat it, and really have nothing to do
with 1t. Her speeches all her own and all alike.
| She offers proposition, filings a little epthet at
| somebody rs If it were flower, quotes sentence
from another somebody, in deep tones obterates
still third somebody wickedy makes fun of great
journal, aTanges little bit of meIodrama and con-
yinces herself that the proposition is proved. We
all laugh at her sharp little dabs ut dignitaries
less We happen to be digntaries. and then frown;
We all applaud her quick wit, and her charm of
youth aud modesty and the judicious among us
greye that she just falls short of being great Good
things she says and true things; but the true things
are not always good, nor the good things always
true. And not even her pretty bits of pathos and
melodrama fill the gaps which the dropped
links Of her argument had made. woman whose
brave heart and clear purpose, and bright wit have
achieved so much, must soon be impatient with her
self that she has not achieved more Editors and re-
porters fell under the ban of her indignation last
night. II they reply only that her capacity is far
better than her work. and set her speech dOwnto BIO
read bya million critical eyes they have uttered their
defense. Miss Dickinson said:
ADDRESS.
criminal accused, arrested, arragned, tried, and
convicted has yet the right to speak for herself The
Ind Ia doc IN
Of law stops for moment to ask this prisoner at tho
bar whether she has any 90 show why sentence OF
death should not be pronounced upon her. 1t is not
unreasonable, surely, for me- who am criminal but
faithful aw-abdng citizen OF the Republic to demand,
act OF justice the right to defend myself who
condemned TO political DEATH 1t is unreasonable for
mo- who am one OF tho devoted citizens, you will
say, OF the Republic and consequently Interested In the
preservation Of Union III It's best welfare and in the
establishment Of peace eyerywheret is not unreasona-
bic for TO ask share In the council and right to
interfere with tho plans OF rulers. The fact
is plain that we have no right, no voice or choice
in regard to the representatives Iwho to vote
our taxes. Taxation without representation is wrong.
WOMAN NOT TO DE GOVERNED WITHOUT HER CONSENT
AS a moral intellectual responsible human being,
hold that the Government has no just powers over me
save those which gets by my own consent as moral
intellectual, responsible human being The Government
has no Just authority that which 1t thus
obtains But my own consent given 1t cannot be
reasonable for that this Government. by its
own showings, is a usurpation and dosDotsm. AS
person who forbidden 10 pursue happiness IN my own
way when not interfering with the rights Of Others
person who be robbed OF liberty without due
process Of aw-as one who be condemned to death
by an ordinance not assentod TO- and with assent never
asked or allowed say assert that deprived. as
American citizen, OF my rights. Being
so wrongcd and outraged, there can
be nothing unreasonable In my demanding reason OF
those who wrong and outrage-in my demanding that
they for the continuance OF this state OF ar
fairs When I demand the reason Il generally comes
back In the words 1--WE have the general feeling OF man
side The opinion Of the past does not sane
ton g." But the feeling ia not demonstrated TO be right
"A every speaker against knows the Editor Of THE
TRIBUNE knows perfectly WELL that IL is not In himself
but In Others because he don't l. but you aud
hard task think you would have 70 give reasons for this
iujustlce-reasons Of Justice and common sense
tits great deal easier fighting for good cause than
bad one. A would get To Heaven with half the
trouble that ho goes 10 hell.
TAKING A COURAGEOUS STAND.
There arc In this land, and women this plat
form, who believe that they wronged, deprived
OF their rights These having redress for their
wrongs not TO be put aside. The women who make
these demands, and the who support thom IN their
demands not 10 be traed with. When such men and
women as John Bright and Stuart Mil, Prof Huxley and
wendell Phillips, Mrs. Stanton and Mrs. Stowe-when
such and women these stand up for our rights,
look cut for heavy cannonade. You offer opposition
against the demand which l make when rise
American citizen; bat give fair warning that am not
70 be terrified by hard names unpleasant titles You
may call me nadei frceover strong minded, unseYed
but these names don't touch They fall to the ground
am proof against Them having the right on my side.
1 give fair warning again that the leaden bull
let OF SANDER, aud malice and envy, and
detracon fall away harmless from me, and the cause
which | represent tonight Nothing save tho silver
cartridges OF truth can hurt me.
DOES WOMAN WANT THE BALLOT
Yon say women as class do not want this right that
the women who do claim this right few singular,
ngmindcd exceptions 10 their class In saying this,
YOU demonstrate Of two things These women must
he host In themselves silent host must be back OF
them The pulpit knows, the press knows, everybody
knows that the majority Is opposed TO granting this
right aud they all crying out against u.s. Is it in &C
cordapce with prejudice with truth that you TO de
c,de the Justice OF causel VIII you say that the opn
ous Of many are TO DO consideredt The TRIBUNE says
and repeats-and because It much our friend It IS
| ali women demand the right, women snail re,
ccve it, and that until all women metz shall
Ia there any assumption herel one may very easily and
When women have exercised this right at the polls
and then renowned it, 1t will be right TO say they have
feno's some MEN ARE Drsr,sTErUL TO THE SPEAKER:
woman ia not to have these rights because 1t will
dstastefnl TO me. Laugher lyon are not TO vote or
take part in politics" says this man, because do not
| like IT," do not argue" say men, " but be wo,
IT. n'V We DO al to please yin, What DO you give
in turn 20 us This demand OF women
InSg,St Rat f6S sht Should Be Fabc& Absolute
power makes n good man selfish aud bad man brutal
Tbe mower that great enough 70 make or unmake laws
boud be dragged OF the darkness into the lace OF
The sun TO be held amenabe TO the laws when IL can
make or break. Applause.l The thunder OF tho hrst
cannon against Sumter did against slavery tha All
te EXAMINATIONS OF the speakers Of the land IL is true
That te one penstroke OF Abraham Lincoln dd more TO
btroy Slavery than all tho entreaties OF an army OF
retrners though they had spoken with the tongues OF