New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-26
THE WOODHULL FREE-LOVE BUSINESS.

| A LEADING wOMAN-sUFFRAGE ADVOCATE ON IT.
| To the Editor of The Tribune.
| SIR: In your article in THE TRIBUNE OF this
date entitled "Voes Virtue" after aludnS 10
the fact that the Apollo Hall Convention refused to ac
cept the opportunity fairly forced upon It's attention. 10
express disapproval Of the eeLOye doctrines OF Wood
hull and Cains Weeklg and the further fact that 1t
placed some Of the known advocates OF this doctrine on
its National Committee, you add: "Why next they did
not boldly incorporate these doctrines In their platform
is impossible to say" In this remark you do the Con-
yention injustice which hope you will promptly cor
rect According the statement Of Mr. stephen Pearl
Andrews the very Apostle Of Free-Love-the statement
quoted by you in the number Of THE TRIBUNE-the
Convention did exactly what you say 1t did not do Read
his words; "The Apollo Hall Convention-the more en-
terprsng and progressive the more logical and consist
ent wing Of the moyement-panted itself, ON the con-
trary, boldly and unhesitatingly upon the ground OF
absolute emancipation the right OF private Judgment
I'm matters OF conscience utimated in morals. The
resolutions offered by Mrs. Paulina Wright Ddois, The
President of he meeting ne whOle ground, 90 the
chole length, and Conclusive on the subject as
demonstration Of Euclid They iciH bear continued study,
epomsed ethical code. and DiH shine brighter aud
brighter the more they are rubbed"
As Andrews is understood TO be himself the author
of the resolutions introduced by Mrs Davis, his test
mony as their meaning is important and when he says
the Convention boldly and unhesitatingy planted
itself upon the ground OF absolute emancipation" he
means, and can only mean, emancipation" from the
restraints of marriage; and when he speaks OF " tue
right Of private judgment In matters OF conscience ULr
MATED IN MORALS" he means and can only mean, the
right of private Judgment the part of men and wo-
men, in respect to their sexual Teatonsa right TO be
exercised without the restraints of marital law.
Let us look now at the resolutions introduced by Mrs.
Davis and adopted by the Convention. and which, &C
cordng Mr. Andrews, who is understood to be their
author the whole ground go the whole length"
ETC.:
Mrs Paulna Wright Davis the President Of the meet
ing then proposed another set of resolutions as follows
Rsred That the basis order is freedom from bond
age-nOt indeed of such order" as reigned III warsaw
which grew out of bondage but of such order as
rcirns in heaven which grows of that developed
manhood and wOmanhOod in which each becomes " q ta~
Pesoired That Freedom is principle, and that such
it may trusted TO ultimate IN Harmonious social results
in America it is trusted to ultimate III harmonious anu
benefcent political results HaiH has rot hitherto been
adequately treated IN the social domain and maj ne
WOnianS increment ednSno tess man me oonPtete Soc'o'
as tceH as he political enfTdnchiSement or ndhktnd
ReSoIoed That the evils, suiierngs and aisaDes Oh
the women well of men, social still more than
they political, and that statement OF woman s
rights, which ignores the right OF as tne
first of all rights insufficient to meet the demand ana
ceasng enlist the enthusiasm and even the common
interest Of the most intelligent portion OF the community
ResOced, That the principle OF ffeeuOm Is Que
pe and not a collection OF many different and unrelated
prncpes that there is not at POTION one peg
principle Of freedom from Slavery as IN ADonuohsm;
in America with the passport system of Europe an
other of the freedom Of the press as IN Great britain
nd
Iroe But that Freedom is and indyisble and that
Slavery is also that freedom, and bondage, or reSuic
HOn is he alternative and the issue IN erery case; ana
maj II freedom is good IN II is good IN az: tnat
we in America have builded on Freedom POLITICALLY,
and that cannot consistently recO from that eXpan-
sion of Freedom which shall make 1t the basis OF all her
institutional and finally that far az we nave trusted
it, it has proved in the main, safe and prOntaDle'
have underscored some Of the words In which, ac-
cording to WOodhH and Clains Weekly the large and
enthusiastic Convention at Apollo Hall put the move
ment on q new basis" and add, by way OF confrna-
ton the specific statement Of the same paper that the
Convention adopted the first proposition dennng
the new departure viz: That IL is longer the sur
fraee question but the social question entire. and The com
DieLe eTdncsement Of the seIes, which are 10 De
per means by the social question entire and the com
pee social acknowledgements Of the sexes may also Dc
seen in this sentence which copy from letter bearing
the signature OF Victoria c. Woodruff in The Times OF this
day ADVOCATE Lore in the highest purcst sense,
as the only for the immortality the deep danna0n
Inv which men corrupt and disgue Gods most holy inst
tton OF sexual relations" Now is wholly unnecessary
woodruff and her set, even in the highest, purest
sense" mean nothing less than emancipation" from
legal marriage. Observe IL is not marriage but the
sexual relation" that Mrs. Woodruff prOnounces Gods
most holy institution" and the former Is TO be abolished
az an arbitrary restraint upon the latter And this Is the
doctrine 10 which. according TO Mr. Andrews, the Apollo
Hall Convention boldly and unhesiatlngly committed
itself ,
How II was that Increta Mott, Sarah Pugh, Isabella
Beecher Hooker and Paulina Wright DAVIS were blinded
as 10 the meaning Of the resolutions OF Mr. Andrews IS
not for TO explain; that they we're blinded my respect
for them cOmpels me TO believe. OBSERVER
Neio- York, May %, 1871.