Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-07-01
Henry O,COnnOr ON Woman Suf.
fr0ge.

1 -
the Iowa Woman Suffrage Convention a
Mt. Pleasant, as reported in the Journal
Friends and enemies Of the movement will
alike find much in it worthy ofthonght and
investigation:
Mr.. PREsIpENr-LADIEs AND GENTLE
MEN: l ask that you will believe my EN-
barrassment as entirely unaffected.-I haO
no intention of saying anything to the Con
vention at such an early stage of its proceed
ings. The Justice of this great movement,
and the success which it deserves to meet,
must be apparent to every one, and the
| question which we are come to consider
fellow citizens, is the same in u new shape,
the same presenting itself in a new aspect
in true, broad Catholic aspect which is
contradstinguished from that in which we
have viewed 1t heretofor, being the true
one. know of no. people or of no place
more proper to take the initiatory steps, and
| to get the great reform more fully Inaugural.
ted, than Iowa. We look at everyt ing
from utilitarian standpoint we are no
theorists, and enter upon this and kindred
questions of reform with an untiring self
| denying devotion. We have such advanta.
ges AS are possessed by no other State in
| the Union and we have or should have an
eye to business rather than anything
else.
The question calls for debate rather than
harangue, if ! may be permitted to distin-
guish. We want hive, practical, sensible
debate on this question: know the OBJ
jectons which we meet many of which are
poor and unworthy of an answer, hut there
are honest prejudices which have grown
upon them, and they are more preva lent
among women, and must be dispeled. In
everything except the great business of life
which takes place in her younger years,
men dictate to our women the most absurd
theories, and they work months after months
and years after years, by candle light and
by day, in garnet and in cellar, to gain a
scanty livelihood. No one can fail to see
in the sneers of women on this question, the
teaching of men. The proper sphere Of
woman" men say. "She will be getting
out of her sphere. 1t would be unwoman-
ly." This is the old cry. Let them say
they "occupy themselves aking care of our
children" Speaking of children reminds
me of my favorite music. There is one
kind of music that prize above all others,
for knew of no better, and that is the cry
of good healthy baby. = Laughter.
This looks like nonsense, and it is nonsense,
but we must take up this question and an
swer them reasonably. We are told that
women do not want the ballot-,hat they
are not in favor f the movement. How do
we know this ? Did tie negroes demand
suffrage or freedom? Yet have no fears
that when the time comes, we will have a
larger majority Tor this movement. in favor
of this gre question, then upon that upon
which we voted three years ago. APP
plause
Another objection to woman's suffrage
i, the bringing of her to the polls. lshould
objection and which treat with all delicacy,
that our wives and daughters should not be
brought in contract with some of the sc, mes
which sometimes take place at the polls.
But is it necessary that woman should go
to the polls? Does this not suggest a reform
in this department of our electing system,
that women may 90 to the polls and enjoy
this privilege? | answer, however, that it
is not necessary that women should 60 to
| the polls With men. Men at this day can
and do vote by pr, Ky, they can deposite
| their vote IN the Postofflce and thus send it
and it will be counted.
The State of Rhode Island, although a
conservative little corner: is ahead OF US in
this particular. There you enclose your
ballot in sealed envelope, and register
of names is kept; it is seen that it contains
but one ballot, it is counted, and the thing
is done. The only thing about this that
would cause trouble would be that women
could not trust their husbands to carry their
ballot there. Laughter.
There are reasons, and strong reasons,
why this movement should be p, shed
promptly and vigorously to a speedy sue
cess. | am a politician, and am proud OF
it, for believe there are as good men IN
| that profession as in any other. l have
had a quarter OF a century's experience and
can see no reason why 1t is not Us much
woman's right to vote as a mans. | trust
you will have a just sense Of your responsi-
bility. You are not working fer Henry
County, nor for Iowa, nor for the United
States, nor for America alone, your influence
will extend over the world.
1t is not so much for the women OF the
State Of Iowa, or of any place like this, the
Athens OF the West, that We desire The
ballot, but for The women i'll the States OF
the Old Country, for the thirty thousand
women of our commercial metropolis who
toll from early to late for bread for their
children, and who seek protection for them
selves, who are driven from roof 10 roof,
frop' garnet to garnet, from cellar to cellar.
This is not exaggerated. 1t is Tor the bene-
fit of such women as these that the ballot is
desired. For this then you are called upon
women of the West! You are called upon
for wolnans sake, tor your own SAKE, and
Tor shame's sake as well as justices sake,
never let your voice be heard saying that
woman Shall not be put on u level with her
brothels.-Wlth such arguments as these
should 1t be SAID that there is something
improper i'll womans asking 10 30 to tie
| ballot box? This with them is their last
argument-thrr last ditch.
There are persons who are now oppos-
! ed to this movement who will come 10 us
| a few years hence and claim the credit OF
ettectlng all this great reformation They
will tell you that they have no objection,
that women should by eli means participate
in all the rights of citizens.-It was Just SC
when party of US abolitionists were endea.
voring to overthrow slavery and establish
freedom. When we had succeeded, men
who had long opposed US came forward and
exclaimed, "see what we have done!', Jus,
SO it will be when five years hence we have
secured the achievement Of this great move
ment. 10 do this, ladies', efforts must be
put forth. | said ladies', for | address you
especially, and not only this, but yon must
be united on this question. BE united!
The motives OF your action are unimpeach
able, and you must win the men to your
cause.
All reformations take place gradually
| have been green enough to insist tha
women could be principals Of schools with
three or four departments. We have al
example of the success of such an a,temp
in my own town. Our teacher, Miss Hatch
at first received but three hundred pei
year, but she now gets eight hundred, ane
SIX cen hundred would not be too much
The only assistance which | employ is my
little niece, who pay out OF myown salary
and but for whom | shonld have probably
left my office in disgrace Laughter
In Southern France, on the Rhine, in Ger
many, The Women who are here working
like beasts of burden in the field are to be
lifted up this movement. The women toll
ing in the fields of Europe while the hus
bands are generally loungers, these are The
women We hel along by this movement