Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-11
Woman Suffrage.

AN EXPLANATION FROM JOHN @. WHITTIER
Lydia Maria Child recently wrote TO
the Anti-Siaoery Standard, taking Mr..
Whittier TO task for the following sentence,
which appeared in the teegraphic report of
his letter TO the Newport (Rhode Island)
Woman Suffrage Convention +
But unsupported by more practical
education, higher aims and deeper sense
of the responsibilities of life and duty, il is
not likely to prove n blessing in her hands
any more than in minors"
Mr.. Whittier replies by saying that the
Geographic report Of his letter was very
poor photograph, and that in the sentence
quoted he wrote "man's," not "minorsn
The letter he really did write was as
follows =
wlIlTrIEEs LETTER TO THE EEwPogT
CONVENTION.
AMEsBrRy, MASSACHUSETTS.
18th, Sth Month, 1869.
MY DEAR FRIEND Il have received thv
letter inviting me TO attend the Convention
in behalf of Womans Suffrage, at Newport.
X. l., on the 18th instant. ! do not see how
II is possible for me TO accept the invitation:
and were to do so, the state of nv health
would prevent me from taking such part
IN the meeting rs would relieve me iron the
responsibility of seeming to sanction any
thing in its action which might conflict with
my own views of dnty or policy. Yet |
should do myself great injustice if did not
embrace this occasion to express nv general
sympathy with the movement.
have seen no good reason why mothers,
wives and daughters, should not have the
same night OF person, properly and citizen
ship, which fathers, husbands and brothers
have.
The sacred memory of mother and sister
The wisdom and dignity of women of my
own religious communion, who have been
accustomed TO something like equality in
rights, as well as duties-my experience us
u coworker with noble and self-sacriiiclnr
women, as graceful and helpful in their
household duties as they are firm and cour
ageous in their public advocacy of unpopu-
lar iruth--the steady friendships which have
inspired and strengthened me-and the
reverence and respect which feel for hui
man nature, irrespective of scx-compel me
to look with something more than acoui-
escence upon the efforts you are making.
| frankly confess that am not able to forsee
all the consequences Of the great social and
political change proposed, but of this am
Nv least sure, II Is always safe to do right,
'.'N wv ''Nap N"lleuicncy IL simple luS-
| tice. ! can understand without sharing The
| misgyings of those who fear that when
The vote drops from woman's hand into
the ballot-boX, the beauty and sentiment, the
bloom and sweetness OF womanhood, will 20
with it. Stronger than statutes or conyen-
tons, she will be conservative of all that the
| true man loves and honors in woman. Here
and there may be found an equivocal. un-
sexcd Chcvalier D'Eon, but the eternal or
| der and fitness Of things will remain. Ihaye
no fear that man will be less manly or wo
man less womanly when they meet on terms
OF equality before the law.
On the other hand, do not see that the
exercise of the ballot by woman will prove
a remedy for all the evils Of which she Justly
complains 1t is her right, as truly as mine
and when she asks for it it is something less
than manhood TO withhold it. But unsup
ported by more practical education higher
aims, and deeper sense of the responsible
| tiles OF life and duty,t is not likely to prove
a blessing in her hands any more than in
mans.
| with great respect and hearty sympathy.
! am, very truly thy friend.
,IOuN g. WurTrIpp