Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-06-10


readers are no doubt aware, has been stump
ing this section in favor of Woman's Rights,
or Woman's Equality, as is the term, filled an
engagement in this place on Friday evening
last. In view of the long experience of the
lecturer and her reputation for propriety and
ability, good audience was gathered, and the
attention paid to the speaker was evidence
respect for the venerable and ludy-lke speak
er than for the object OF her laOors. The man.
ner and personal appearance of this lady is
decidedly prepossessing and her style is grace
full and torciOlc in degree that few females
have attained upon the platform. So lar as
the feminine mind has shown any aptitude in
polemics, perhaps Mrs. Stanton may be con-
sidercd us holding creditaOlc position. Her
subject was-"The True Republic" and the
range and framework of the lecture was TO
show that politics, embracing national organi-
cations and foundations were out of balaucc,
and untrue without the exercise of the right
OF suffrage by women. Woman's degradation,
without this exercise, was shown to be a rath-
er serious affair, and the wrong and outrage
of withholding it was depicted us somewhat
cruel and unjus:. The listener who followed
only the thoughts of the speaker, could hard
ly avoid the conclusion that the whole twenty
millions of American women were lunguish
ing under this sense of cruel wrong and in
justice, while the Polar Bears of creation
were struggling to hold them in their degradu-
ton. The well known fact is, that but small
proportion of the women of the land care IL
fig about the matter, and another respectable
portion are decidedly opposed to the exercise
OF any such rights and this is somewhat SO
with the lords of creation. For the most part,
perhaps, they think that the mere exercise OF
the privilege of voting is not worth an anX-
| ious thought whichever way the case may lie
decided 1t is, to ii good extent, indifference
rather than opposition that detcrs action
This is true of the suffrage question, pure and
simple. There are well grounded fears, per-
haps, of action upon this question, because OF
the incidental questions that are, or may be,
mixed up with it, What is meant by equality
and what does it embraceY Mrs Stanton, in
conversation, at least, freely admits that 1t
might be difficult to realize the full idea OF
equality, while woman is surrounded with in-
dependent household cares and duties and
admits that cooperative establishments
where we might look for little closer bring
ing together of families, and greater freedom
from responsibility aud care, night at least be
desirable. Other rcormers OF the female per-
suasion, think and urge thatu great. deal more
freedom and indiscrimnatc mixing up, is d,
sirabfe. Thus looking at these lcadngs and
tendencies, indifference toward the subject OF
suffrage reform gives place to apprehension
that suffrage may have something behind it,
il might not be well to adopt in this world
Here, we think, lies The objection TO co-opera.
ton in this suffrage movement and which may
be found lion in the way to Mrs Stanton
and her co-laborcrs goal. Mrs. Stanton
however, we think, is as able to meet the diff.
cullies as any of the lady s'.umpers. She putt
her points well and effectively, but in ou
humblc opinion, If she were, with her coadju
tors, to plant themselves upon the ground o
suffrage alone, and drop the equality idea
which is vague and underlined, and give tn
world assurance of eternal severance and hos
+ tiity towards the social features that are, b!
some, urged with it, there is little doubt bu
that her task would be found a much easie
one, than now.
The audience went away with the feeling
that whatever opinion might be formed of til
, theories advocated, they had been agreeabl.
. entertained