The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-12-16
From the Milwaukee News Dec. s.
The Cleveland Convention.
Letter. from Lille, Peckhana-----NattonoI
Wona071 Suffrage Association.

Letter from Lille Walton al
Woman Suffrage association.
Ed. News THE late convention held
in Cleveland, to form second National
Woman's Suffrage Association, was so i'm
portant a one, SO grand in its action, SO
rich in It's results, that l crave room in
your columns for a short account Of it to
be read by our friends in Wisconsin. Not
being one of those who called the con-
Vention, though by mistake my name was
on the call, being at the outset very doubt
full of the wisdom OF the action, repre-
senting no though they made
me delegate at large anxious only for
the good of the cause, I claim to have
been an impartial observer. The city was
crowded, the hotels overflowing, beds
made up in the parlors and corners of
rooms. Twenty one states were repre-
sented-sone of them sent delegates from
every congressional district Lucy Stone
opened by reading the first circular issued
last summer by the friends, and then, on
motion, the names of those on the call
were read The morning session was
chiefly taken up with business matters,
appointing committees on credentials,
permanent organization, and sending let
tiers. Carriages were offered to carry the
8 delegates about the city, Col. Hig
ginson remarking, that it was new
experience to us. to have carriages
offered, save to get US out of their city.
Mrs. Curtin very clearly presented our ar
guments Mrs. Julia Ward Howe made,
as usual, most beautiful speech, written
with classic elegance. [ regret that time
and space will not allow me to quote part
of it. !
The afternoon session was opened au-
spiciously by inviting Susan B. Anthony
onto the platform, where she sat all
through the convention. The popularity
of this convention in woman suffrage an.
nails was that it was only and strictly a.
delegate convention, only delegates being
allowed to vote or even to speak, one poor
man attempting it, being ruled out of or
der by the chairman, Col, Higginson, who
by the way is the very best presiding
officer ever saw. Stephen s. Foster
struggled IN vain to have a mass conven-
ton, and went down undera vast ma lori
ty like the taylor's wife in the classic IA
Bile holding his hand up to the last. Mrs
Phebe Hanaford, minister from Massa
chusetts, (having charge OF two churches)
told US that she had just come from Anti
och college where she had placed her
son hundreds of miles from home, as a
protest against Massachusetts colleges
which would not allow women inside
their walls This is real loyalty to thel
principles she processes, and if the great
army of men and women who feel as wei
do, would follow her example, how long
think you would Harvard and Yale stand
out against the pressure?
Lucy Stone then spoke about work,and
that brought Susan Anthony to her feet in
noble speech. Being in the committee
room at the time did not hear. it, 80
must take my report from the lips of 9TH
ers and the papers.
+" If this convention and new association
will go up to congress and press upon
them the 10Th amendment, and then come
back and urge it upon our state legisla-
lures, if the cause be advance, though by
your action here you should annul the ma
tionaI association to which l belong, and
destroy the Revolution, for which I have
worked as man or woman never worked
before, yet will bid God speed you, and
be content"
She was greeted with prolonged APP
plause. i
In the evening Judge Bradwell, Mrs
Cole, w Sanborn, Of the Springfield Re
publican, Mrs Iiverrnore, and your cor
respondent addressed the people. Henry
Ward Beecher was appointed president,
one lady only lifting dissenting voice,
not against the men but against the in
consistency :" of having man at the
head of a WomaD's association" "Man
is the head of the woman" quoth the
scripture, and we adhered to the very let
Ter of it by not putting woman at the
head, like the man who would not wear
heels because scripture said, eye cannot
by taking thought add one cubit to your
stature"
SECOND DAY.
The constitution was read and adopted
after some discussion and some motions
on the previous question, which are very
apt to befog the femenine intellect. Its
noticeable features were a provision that
officers should be about equally men and
women, and quite careful provisions for
the action of the executive committee, of
which there is a member in every state.
Five of the committee form quorum for
action, but it must be ratified by fifteen
Others
We discovered that woman was SO
little citizen, that when she wished to
know if she could be protected abroad,
as an American citizen, she was inform
ed she would be protected by the coUR-
TEsY of the consul, but was not entitled
to it as citizen. Oh, lofty position! Do
you tingle American women with the
shame Of it? Though one foot be in the
grave, work for the cause like the poor