New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-25
GRANT AND WILSON.
Appeal to the Women Of America.
The National Women Suffrage Association.
To the Women er&e United States ::

TO the Wooe', Of tie United States
Women Of the United States. the hour for
political action has come. For the first time
in the history Of our country woman has been
recognized in the platform of large and
dominant party. Philadelphia has spoken
and woman is no longer ignored. She is now
ofhclally recognized as part of the body poll
TIC. The fourteenth plank of its platform de-
clares " the Republican party mindful of its
obligations to the loyal women of America
it expresses qualification that wider avenues
OF employment have been open to women.
and it farther declares that her demands for
additional rights should be treated with re-
spectful consideration" We are told that
tins plank does not say much, that in fact it
is only "splinter;'' and our sliberap'
friends warn us not to rely upon it as prom
Use OF the ballot to woman. What it is, we
know full better than others. We recognize
its meagerness; We see in it the tinidity of
politicians hut beyond and through it all.
we farther see its promise of the future. We
see in it the thin edge of the entering wedge
which shall break woman's slavery in pieces
and make us at last a nation truly free--a
nation in which the caste of sex shall fall
down by the caste Of color, and humanity
alone shall be the criterion of all human
rights. The Republican party has been the
party OF ideas, Of progress. Under its
leadership, the nation came safely through
the fiery ordeal of the rebellion under il
slavery was destroyed; under it manhood
suffrage was established. The women of the
country have long looked to it in hope. and
not in vain; for to-day we are launched by it
into the political arena, and the Republican
party Must hereafter fight our battles for us,
This great party, this progressive party, hav-
ing taken the initiative step, will never go
back on its record. 1t needed this new and
vital issue TO keep it in life, for Cincinnati
Endorsed its work up to this hour: the con-
stitutional amendments, the payment of the
bonds in gold, the civil service reform, the
restoration of the States. 1t thanked the
soldiers and sailors of the Republic, il pro-
posed lands to actual settlers. The ReuIbli-
can party went up higher; it remembered all
citizens. The WidOacs and orphans of the
soldiers and sailors were not forgotten; it
acknowledged its obligation to the Ioyal
women Of the Republic, and to the demands
for additional rights, of all women, whatever
their class, color, or birth, it promised re-
spectful consideration" Its second plank
declared that complete liberty and exact
equality in the enjoyment of ali civil, politi-
cal, and public rights should be established
and maintained throughout the Union by
efficient and appropriate State and Federal
legislation" These two planks are the
complement of each other, and are the
promise ofexact and equal justice to woman.
They were the work of radical woman sui.
fnge Republcans--ofW Wilson, Sargent. Lor.
ing, Clafin, Hoar, Fairchild, and others.
They were accepted by the candidates. Gen.
Grant, in his letter, expresses his desire to
see 1.-THE time when the title of citizen shall
carry with it all the protection and privilege
hot 90 h..
allied" His course since his elevation to
the Presidency has always been favorable to
increased rights for women. He has officially
recognized their competency and has given
them many Government positions. Senator
Wilson is an old and staunch advocate of
woman suffrage, and his letter in pointed
terms refers to the recognition given woman
by bis party, and says, ''to her new demands
it extends the hand of grateful recognition
and it commends her demands for additional
rights to the calm and careful consideration
Of the nation" And, too, thus carly in the
campaign, the strongest men of the party,
among whom are FOrney of the Philadelphia
Press, Gerrit Smith, Bowen of the New York
Independent, and President White, of Cornell
University, speak of this recognition as in
Producing new era into politics.
While the old and tried Republican party
in its platform and candidates thus gives wO-
man assurance that her claim to equal politi-
cal rights is to be respected, the other party
in the field gives her no promise either in its
platform or the letters of its, nominees. The
Liberal Republican party is new party; it
has no record; it has done no work :; it is
wholly untried; it ignores women, and bv its
silence in regard to the equal rights of one
half OF the pe0ple-the most important ques-
ton now in the political horizOn--it proves
itself unworthy OF its name, unworthy of wo-
mans confidence, and unworthy of the votes
OF truly liberal men. In regard to its candi-
dates, GratZ Brown, once our friend. has
practically gone back on his record. Horace
Greeley, its chief nominee, has for years been
our most bitter, scathing opponent. Both
by tongue and pen he has heaped abuse, rid
icule, and Misrepresentation upon our leading
women, while the whole power of the TIL
bmne has been used to crush out our great
reform. And now that he is candidate for
election to the highest Office in the country,
he still continues his bitter and hostile course
toward One-half of its citizens. He presses
the iron heel of his despotism upon their lib
critics; and, IN answer to our appeals, he
says he "neither desires our help nor be-
lieyes US capable Of giving any,"
What can liberty expect from such man ?
What can woman hope from such party?
Women Of the Republic, you cannot in self.
IcopcCt give your alu 10 Sucn nominees YOU
cannot in self-respect work for such party.
1t has repulsed you, pushed you back, said to
you "go hence"
The Republican party, with Grant and
Wilson as its standard-bearers, opens its
doors to you. BY its fourteenth plank it in.
vites your aid and cooperation.
Shall it not have it: Women Of the South
will you not work for your own freedom :?
Women of the North will YOU not strive for
your own reimbursement
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune.
But we must take the current when it serves
our turn,
Or lose our ventures
For us to-day this tide has risen for US to-
day the current serves our turn. Let us lay
aside our party preferences. Let US one and
all forget our many grievances Of the past,
let US forget the many times We have been
ignored, bufeted, and spurned by politicians.
Let us throw our whole influence of voice and
pen into this campaign, and in making it a
success for the Republican party, make it a
success for ourselves.
And now an especial word to the Women
Suffrage organizations of the country. Pre-
pare to hold mass meetings in all the large
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