The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-22
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Convention Of the Strong Minded Ladies
OF ssLittle Rhody"-A Large Attend
anOe, but Little Enthusiasm
A Row In Prospect.

A kOW In Prospect.
PROVIDENCE, K l.. Oct. q. 1909.
me great event 10 which the stronger minded
sex In Providence looked forward with much ex-
pec,ason was inaugurated last night. at Roger
Williams Hall Tho Convention OF the Rhode Island
Woman's Suffrage Ass0cianOn-which u the namo
given 70 the meeting By the few earnest apostles and
ana apostesses OF w0man's miss0n here-was well
attended, che body OF the hall and portion OF the
gallery Of tao place. which can seat ab0sst l. 500
people, being flied with the friends of the new
creed and Interested or amused spectators. On the
platform were the Presaentess, Mrs. Paulina
W. Davis; Ars Il. Cady Stanton, Mra Celia Bur
leigh, John Neal, OF Portland; Revexendess Phoebe
A. Hanafoni, Mrs. r. A. Fairbanks. Mrs. NJ J. Pit
man acting as reporter OF Boston journal, aud the
members OF the Hutchinson family. These tass as.
sauted harmonium at intervals aud sang songs In
praise Of women at the beginning and Ut the close Of
the meeting.
Mrs. Pauna W. Davis, ths Presieentess, who re-
semblos Mrs. Stanton 4 good deal In her appearance
and manneL oaled the Convention 70 order few
minutes before eight O'CLOCK and then when all the
ladies had finished rustllng their silks and every
gggIe had died In the sllence OF the hail. advanced
TO the 'front.' and from between garlands OF flowers
and over the drap6d hags tnat wreathsd the desk
read the preliminary address. 'COhSlderin0 that the
eyes OF Rhode Island were upon her. and that shs
was In the presence OF the grand high prestess OF
the strong mnded Of her sex. Mis-. DAVIS was re-
markedly cool and collected. All human beings,
she said. were created free and equal and had equal
rights to lile liberty and the pursuit OF happiness"
and that government derived authority and power
from the consent Of the governed. 1t Is not at all
from womanhood that we learn that these arc but
generalities and do not apply to certain classes,
she then proceeded TO recount the excluded classes
from these privileges. among whom were placed
women OF all ranks, education ana ability. We
appeal alone, she sad, TO tue conscience ana tudg.
ment for better and surer form 0i government.
The earnest women OF England have entered
their protest against this exclusive system.
fhe have held conventions. agtated the
subject, and have so far succeeded that no longer
the petition for woman suffrage looked upon with
that contempt and slight which was formerly the
case. Is Is not singular that England sboud be 30
far III advance OF America III treating OF tps matters
Next, petston viii be sent to Parliament which
Will De signed by the Queen OF England herself. In
Italy aud other countries OF Europe the women are
equally DESTROYS to have tnetr rights acknowledged
An Italian woman had told the speaker that italy
can never DO Tree until her women are enfranchised
Vermont 1t would 10 safer 70 trust the cause laan
In any other state IN the Union. There the mo-
chanscs are the most Intelligent. Toe greatest
among the ignorant aud vulgar. Massachusetts,
too, shows an advocate, but ! am sorry
sne same for Rhode Island Here Che net,ton "as
were granted leave to withdraw. ana the state can
never have the honor OF leading in this movement
as sne nad nad In some Others We are Inundated
when we remember that our government that boasts
itself the 1reeSt IN the world Is sham and an aris-
tocracy OF sex. we are aiming solely at the true
republican luea OF the philosopher Kant who says
that p REPUBLIC Is that form or government where
every citiz6n participates by his representative IN
the legislative power. Jefferson says republic
means governments 0f all It's citizens acting ac-
c0rding to the rles established by the majority. AS
q class OF human beings we ask Tor the charitable
belief that we are inlperSonal In our work and seek
Only the good OF the whole, and not until the
mOthery element ~ found In our government can
the country rise above us present troubled and tur
buent condition.
MIR. JOHN NEAL, OF Portland. Me-. was then intro
duced lie is an elderly gentleman and great ad.
remarks on the subject OF woman's rights gene
rally he proceeded ~ critlcso Horace Greeley's
speech delivered here recently in opposition to
female Suffrage. T1e philosopher OF tue Tl61ne,
he SAID, wants to think Tor Others but he can't do It,
II the report OF mis- speech was correct and he had
reason 10 doubt 1t. there was not woman present
who would not cruelty him. Laugnter.) Just think
of the manner in wnch no speaks OF our movement
the .'snrl demand OF the women" indeed and
yet MIR. Greeley claims 70 be gentleman. The
charge that "women were not To DO found
on tie tented held'' ts not true one. They
amid bursting bombs, Mr.. Greeley's statements
to the contrary Notwithstanding 1t IS preposterOus
to ask that thus suoect DO postponed until all the
women were agreed upon 10. Why. said the
speaker, there would not be handful OF nar III the
country II you tried to get them all agreed on any
subject. daughter and applause.) And then about
their fitness sit juries. Why, they now act as
jur0rs-at sewing circles. Mr.. Greeley IL always
yaclilating and inconslstent-his baiing OF Jen
Davis for instance. lApplause.) Horace Is much
better fitted to mind the babies for whom he Is so
sollcit0us than t0snanage woman suffrage. laugh
teri IL he did not know that w0man's right " vote
would not work injury TO her household he had no
right to talk ut an. Women can do many things
better ,,s an ss msnte Post once sss
instance, branches which are now almost
exclusively occupied by great lubberng fellows; and
the work OF Legislators It need matter to the
constituencies whether the memDer Of Congress
wears hat or bonnet But Horace Will never get
sense II ne lives TO be as Old as his friend Methusa-
leh. (Laughter.l In the Harrison campaign he (the
speaker addressed 800, 900 women, and ne found
that when the women were Interested listeners the
themselves and there was . total
absence OF the brutal talk too frequently heard at
meetings when no women are present Ie
IL said that women are great In little things
and little in great things; but women don't
complain and no one knows how much thoy
surer. What men endure |, not TO DO com
pared for moment to the annoyances to
which women are subjected. Their bardships
with Irish sculons who don't know enough TO go
concluding hts rather savage criticism on MIR.
Greeley tho speaker declared his beieT that the
women were capable OF lighting their own battle
ana bringing the contest to a triumphant close.
The Hutchings family here sang. with the aid OF
the doleful harmoneon, a curious tumble Of words,
called zone Hundred Years Ago. which, being con-
sldered very appropriate, was much applauded.
A Violent agitation OF silks was now heard behind
the r0strum, and presently Mrs. STANTON advanced
smilingy to the front OF the platform. She wished
she sald to defend Mr. Greeiey, who was not at all
as bad rs ne was represented 60 be py Mr. Neal at the
WOman's Business Bureau IN New York. Tney mad
made arrangements Tor breakastiDg editors the
purpose OF putting them into corner ON this ques
ton OF woman suffrage. They took hold OF Mr
Greeley 1rst and when they had HIM at breakfast
lately no acknowledged that he was IN favor OF al
lowing women To vote on all questions OF education
Now. that was a great concession, for II women
were allowed TO voto on questions Of education they
would educate men to the idea OF woman suffrage.
Mrs. Stanton said the women in New York wished n
class of girls TO enter Columbia College as law stu
GENTS bui when she asked Theodore Dwight to adj
init them he SAID, "D0 you tnink madam that
girls have brains enough 10 study law" she re-
pied, Gan the good amenu nents 10 your laws
that nave been made yet are the work or women.u
Horace Greeley said In his report 10 the Legislature
OF New York. that tho women did not want tue bal
lot, when there was petition In the hands OF the
committee that made that report with the signatures
OF twenty thousand OF the best women In tho state
upon II, and one OF tho drst on the list was mrs.
nfnn