Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-10-03
Address of the Republican Women of
Massachusetts,.
TO the Women of America !.

as a recognized and benefcient power.
The manifestation will naturally precede
the establishment of the equal rights of
Woman, as cause precedes effect
The National Republican Convention
recently held in Philadelphia unanimous
ly adopted the following as part of It's
declaration OF principles:
The Repuoi,c.22aa ,rar'v is mindful ofits
obligations TO the loyal women OF iiiffter-
lea for their noble devotion to The cause
OF freedom; their admission To wider
fields OF usefulness is viewed with salts
faction; and the honest demand of any
class OF citizens for additional rights
should be treated with respectful con-
sideration.
Inc cause OF woman Is the cause of
civilization; and. in the Providence of
God, the Republican party has been pre-
eminently the party of civilization. Ii
has etlcctually suppressed a most Tor
midabie rebellion. excited and carried
on TO perpetuate the worst form of
tyrann, ever inflicted upon mankind.
and has maintained the Union and it,
Tree institutions at a priceless cost. Ii
has liberated four million @laves-onc
haIt OF whom are women. Ii has lifted
them from the auction block 10 the plane
OF American citizenship. It has essen
tally aided a grand educational move
ment in the South, which must ulti-
mately be of inestimablc value 10 that
| depressed and Impoverished section of
our country i'll all that pertains TO pup
ular enlightenment, general industry.
business enterprise, accumulative pros
| perity, and public order. 1t has con
ierred political equality upon four hun
dred thousand colored men, once bought
and sold in the market like cattle. IL
has gathered to itself an overwhelming
proportion OF the Intelligence, virtue.
patriotism, and piety Of the land. Il has
evinced disposition TO enlarge it,
| sphere OF action for the iurtherance of
equal night To the extent of it, possi-
oiliiies, IN accordance with the progress
>ive spirit of the age. While in all these
and other matters OF vital Importance or
our national unity and stability. il ha,
been persistently and virnlently opposed
by the Democratic party, to the imper-
/ llllng OF our dearest rights and most
precious interest, as people.
Therefore we hail the Republican re-
cogniion OF woman's devotion to free
dom III the past as tribute well-timcd
and well deserved; we accept the Re
publican coDgratulation upon Womau's
admission To wider fields OF usefulness
a opportunc and statesmanlike: were
ceive the Republican assurance Of r.,
spectful consideration for Womnu's
rights in the iutrc a sincere expessiou
OF good Will, and a an initiatory step
toward securing the elective franchise
Tor ali citizens, irrespective OF sex.
In submitting this grave issue u tie
respectful consideration Of all parties,
the Republican party has not only in.
dated an increasing sense OF Justice, but
has done much toward fastening the
hour for lis satisfactory solution. Al.
ready the Republicans OF Massachusetts
have responded by adopting platform
containing the following explicit declar- /.
alton:
;. ReSoired, That we heartily approve /.
oi The recognition OF the rights III wa- !
man contained III the fourteenth clause |
OF the National Republican Platform;
that the Republican patty Of Mas>achu,- !
etts, is the representative of Liberty |
anu Progress. Is in favor Of extending /.
suffrage on equal terms 10 all American |
cHiLchs, irrespective OF sex, and will /
man the day when the educated intellect !
and enlightened conscience OF woman
VIII hhd direct expression at the ballot |
box.
In marked and dishonorablc contrast
with this advanced action Of the Rcpub- |
lean Conventions at Philadelphia and |
Worcester was the refusal OF the so-call- /
Ell Liberal Convention 1T Cincinnati. /
and the Democratic Convention al Bal |
tlmorc, to admit women a DELEGATES or |
10 give the slightest heed L. Woman,
claim which was respectfully presented |
to them; thus evincing settled pur- !
pose to discountenancc any rou-idern- /
ton OF the ''honest demand ot Ameri- |
can women ''for additional rights" or
political enfranchisement.
We believe the utmost reliance ms,
be placed upon the readiness OF Prcsi- |
dent Grant to sustain any Congressional |
action that may be taken, under his |
administration, in favor OF basing the |
right OF suffrage upon personality, and |
not upon sex; So that whatever NAV be |
the limitations to the exercise OF that
right they shall cease to be prospective
III reference to natural distinction
which ought not to affect the libertie, |
and Interests of a human being. In his |
numerous appointments of women TO |
the superintendent of post offices and |
other public trusts, he has given practi- |
cal proof that he is in favor OF woman's |
admission TO wider fields of usefulness ,
and in the employment of thousands of |
women in the various departments OF |
tne uenerai Government, similar spirit |
has been indicated on an unexampled
scale
In the person Of his presidential com
petltor, Horace Greeley, we see one who |
formerly gave his hearty approval to the
Woman's Rights movement, but who
has since treated it with hospitality and
contempt; and whose journal, the 7ri-
buae, has dealt it manv an unrncrited
blow. Ii behoves every woman. there
fore. who sees in the success of that
movement the removal of an odious
prescription and the adjustment of caste
Legislation, to exert her utmost personal,
social and moral influence to prevent
his election