The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-31
PLATFORM OF THE WOMAN SUP
FRAGE PARTY

The following is the platform pre-
sented by Mrs. Elizabeth Cady STAN
ton in the Woman's Suffrage Associa-
ton at Steinway Hall:
We women citizens in the United
States, in National Convention assem-
bled at New York, proclaim the follow
ing principles as essential to Just GOV
eminent:
l. We recognize the equality of all be-
fore the law, and hold that 1T is the duty
of Government in its dealings with the
people to mete out equal and exact JUS
tice to all, of whatever nativity, race,
color, sex or persuasion, religious or po-
litical.
2. We pledge ourselves to maintain
the union of the States, and TO oppose
any re-opening of the questions settled
by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fif-
teenth Amendments of the Constitu-
tion, which have emaneipated and en-
franchised the slaves and the women of
the nation.
8. We demand the immediate and alb
solute removal of all disabilities now
imposed on rebels and women, believ-
ing that universal suffrage and universal
amnesty will result in complete purifi-
cation in the family, and in all sections
of the country.
4. We demand for the individual the
largest liberty consistent with the public
order, for the State self-gOvernment,
and for the nation adherence to the
methods Of peace, and the constitutional
| limitations of power.
5. We demand thorough civil SER
vice reform as one of the pressing neces-
stiles of the hour. Honesty, capacity
land fidelity, without distinction of sex,
should constitute the only valid claim
to public employment. The first step
in this reform is the one-term principle,
and the election of President, Nice-Pres-
ident and United States Senators by the
whole people.
6. We affirm that no form Of taxation
is just or wise which puts burdens upon
the people by means Of duties intended
to increase the price of domestic pro-
ducts, and which are unnecessary for
purposes Of revenue. Taxes should not
be laid on the necessaries, but upon the
luxuries of life, that the rich and not
the poor may bear the burdens.
Z. The highest consideration of COM
mercial morality and honest govern
ment requires a thorough reform of the
present financial system. The interests
of the people demand cheap, sound,
, uniform, abundant, and elastic cur
, rency, to be a permanent measure OF
value, based on the wealth of the ma
tion. This will be found in the issue OF
, currency, or certificates of value by the
Government for all duties, taxes and
| imposts whatever, which shall be legal
: tender for all debts, public and private;
such currency to be the lawful money ot
the United States, and convertible al
/ the option Of the holder into Govern
I ment bonds, bearing n rate of interes
i not exceeding 3 per cent, and to be re
convertible into currency at the will o
, the holder.
D 8. We remember with gratitude tn,
; heroism and sacrifices of the wives, sis
!. ters and mothers throughout this Re
D public in the late war; the grand sani
/. tary work they did in the hospitals, oI
the battlefield, and in gathering in th'
/. harvests at home, have justly earned fo
. the women of the country the generous
recognition of all their political rights
: by every true American statesman.
(. 8. We are opposed to all grants o
I. land to railroads or other corporations
!. The public domain should be held sa
!. cred to actual settlers, so that home
!. steads can be secured to every man anC
!. woman.
) 10. We believe i'm the principles of the
+. referendum, minority representation
, and n just system Of graduated taxation
IL. It is the duty of Government to
4 regard children and criminals as wards
: of the State; to secure to the one the
: best advantages of education, and fol-
: the other more humane legislation anC
J, better methods of reform.
!, IL. We hold it is the duty of the Gov.
}, ernment, in its intercourse with foreign
: countries, to cultivate the friendships o
}, peace, by treating with all on just anC
:. equal terms, and by insisting on the set
! tlement of all differences by n congress
: of nations.
l3. For the promotion of these vita
principles, and the establishment Of ;
party based on them, we invite the co
: operation Of all "citizens," without dis
: tinctiOn Of race, color, sex, nationality