The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-02
WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE.

The Women's Bureau-Weekly Debate
CIamorins for the Ballot-womnn's Sphere
The Tribune Tragedy.
The usual weekly meeting OF the Woman's Suf-
frage Association was held Yesterday at the usual
nour, three O'Clock p. M-for the last time for the
present-in Packards Building. Next week the
society WIN assemble at the Han on the corner OF
Sixteenth street and Eighth avenue
The meeting was called to order by Mrs. BLAKE,
who acted as pro tenn. President This lady On ner
interesting speech OF some half hour or So took
occasion 10 defend the cause OF the women who, In
the recent Nottingham elections In England,
were accused Of bribery. She said that II
true It was fault not 70 be wondered
at, women, In the main, not pretending
to be better than men, but merely fully IS good;
that bad husbands naturally made bad wives.
but that the advantages gained by women being
allowed the ballot would In time exert o refining
influence upon men-as had women's influence
always done nom time immemoria-and would In
the end have the effect OF inducing better class OF
men 10 interest themselves In politics, and 30 solely
through the influence Of women, whether direct or
indirect, the country would obtain better class OF
men to Ill It's government ofices. The lady then
passed from that point to the reputation Of the
Islander 80 commonly thrown at the members OF the
society then assembled, to the effect that IT was
composed OF nothing but parcel OF unhappy,
dscontended wives, and bitter old maids,
TO which SANDER she, in common with many other
ladies, desired to give an emphatic denial, ana the
lady furthermore desired to state that to er per-
vorced vile in the entire society; but, the con-
trary, the majority OF the lady members OF the
Woman's Suffrage Association were happy, con-
tented wives, possessed OF a breadth and grasp OF
MUD, however which would not content itself
w.shln the traditional and restricted circle OF home
and home duties simply; that woman's duty ended
religious ones to her sisters at large IN
the world and to society;, and that with
with what would be considered such In
the opposite sexshe deserved that after and before
all her attention had been conscientiously given to
the sacred duties of home. Woman had natural
wish and right to I'LL up her necessarily many leisure
moments IN intellectual intercourse with Both men
and women OF kindred thinking IN social and sclen-
t1c meetings and elsewhere upon tho great ques-
tons Of the day. Mrs. Blake furthermore went on
to say in this connection that because these women
did do so, and take up the question 30 vigorously
OF wOman's rights Tor wr0nys) 1t was no argu-
ment In favor Of their own personal individual un-
happiness, but rather OF their broad and universal
charity IN that, though happy themselves they had
yet time and fellow feeling IN the midst OF that hap
pineSs and contentment OF mind to remember
the many who were not so fortunate and
to do all IN their present limited power Tor the bring
ing about Of the glorious end VIZ, the ballot by
mistresses IN the battle Of life. subject only to their
own voltlon, or. rather, the amended laws and gov
eminent In which that same individual vOlition
should have due and proper recognition. As well,
concluded the lady, In something like the following
words allege that Henry Ward Beecher's deep inter-
In slavery must have been the result OF personal
experience, that Henry Bergh's dislike to having
morse whipped comes from fellow feeling for the
brute, as that the women belonging to thus suffrage
association must be personally unhappy to feel that
others are 80. Mrs. Blake resumed her seat amid
storm OF amused applause only TO rise again q mo-
ment after to introduce Mrs. Wilbur to the audi
enC0.
Mrs. WILBUR read an able and lengthy paper upon
the elevatng influence OF the ballot and at its con-
clusIon
Professor WILCOX rose and informed the company
that he had lately returned from spain, and while
there he had much conversation with the priests
upon the subject of woman franchise, and had found
much sympathy and interest excited throughout the
country upon the subject The Professor wound up
his remarks by saying that he had strenuously urged
that body Of religionists to encourage the ladies'
throughout the country to take an interest in the
subject, and to finally obtain the ballot, as ne con-
cluded that the cause could have more efficient
aids than the Spanish priests, nor for the cause Of
the Spanish women be left In better hands-tney
themselves the priests) being strongly In its favor
Just before the Society's adjournment Mr.. POOLE
rose to offer resolution suggested by the late at
tempted assassination OF Mr.. Richardson at the
Tribune Office, in which was prop0unded and
discussed pro and OF women's right at least TO
o voice in the laws In which OF all others she was
most nearly concerned-eTyo, the Divorce laws.
Final action ana decision upon the resolution,
however, was laid over until next week. The meet
ing then adjourned.