The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-10-02
Ecce FeniHa!

The end draws near. The successful es-
Enlistment of woman suffrage in Wyoming,
the gratifying reference to woman's admission
to wider fields of usefulness in the Philadel-
phia National Republican platform, and es-
pecially the out-spoken, unequivocal commit
ment of the party to the support of woman's
enfranchisement by the Republicans of Mas
sachusetts at their late State Convention at
Worcester, all point to the speedy bringing
up of almighty reinforcement for the right
side which Providence has kept in reserve
for these latter days. For the first time
women take sides as ,oomen in a general po-
ltical contest. For the first time they have
their candidates for national and State Off
ces, and the party with which they are CO.
operating is for the first time formally pledged
to measures for relieving them from the I'M
deserved civil and political disabilities to
which they are doomed. There will now be
a generous rivalry between Maine and Mas
sachusetts to see which shall achieve the dis
tinction of being the first State to admit the
better half of mankind to participation in
the affairs of government. Massachusetts,
has the advantage of more distinguished lead
ers for the woman suffrage party than any
other State, Senator Wilson, Gen. Butler,
Gov. Claf1in and score of other prominent
men having long been enrolled on the right
side. And what peerless roll of able women
was that which was published the other day,
constituting committee to sign the declara-
ton in favor of Grant and Wilson,! Could an
equal number of men be found in any State
with 80 high average of intAllsoAeA purity,
and renown? There is the author of the
''Battle Hymn of the Republic" whose sol
emn notes stirred the great heart Of the Re
public during its time of greatest peril like
fireworks of ancient prophet or seer There is
the venerated name of Mrs. Stowe, the great
est living American novelist, holding the
same rank here that George Elliot does in
England and George Sand in France. Mrs.
Stowe, to whose quick, woman-like sympa-
thies the African owes his emancipation as
much as to the statesman's eratory or the SOL
dier's sword. And Mrs. Howe, true cos
mopolitan-a woman who recognizes the alb
solute identity of the welfare of all with that
of each, and whose philanthropy is according
difference between an American and a Gre
tan in its all-embracing sympathies. And
this admirable catholicity of bsnevolence
seems to be characteristic of woman's ma
ture in its highest and best development
Our most cultivated and intelligent women
are truly mothers of the human race, and
they exercise toward the whole world the
Al
women exhibit toward their own families.
And there are Mrs. Livsrmore and Lucy
Stone, women who add to the refinement
and modesty which are characteristic of their
own sex, intelligence ut once acute and pro-
found and eloquence which rivals that of
Phillips or Sumner. And when there
are added to the list Miss Phelps,
who has compelled the whole world to listen
to her schoolgirl dreams of heaven, Miss Al
colt, who has an equally large audience to
hear such stories of child life as were never
told before, and the ether estimable ladies
whose names complete the roll, the result
may well be called brilliant one. 1t is as if
Sappho, Aspasia, Corinna, Madam de Stael,
Lady Mary Montagu, Queen Elizabeth, and
Maria Theresa had all been contemporaries,
had been spotless in their lives and had unit
ed with each other for the accomplishment of a
common purpose. We believe that either Of
the woman citizens of Massachusetts, whom
we have mentioned, would as worthily fill |
positions of public trust in the State or coun
try as any of the men who now hold office.
This is the great advantage which Massa-
chussetts enjoys in the competition for the
coveted honor of first placing the ballot in
woman's hand. But in Maine we have nev-
theless come nearer to actually accomplish
ing the reform than any other State. A res
olution submitting to the people constitu-
tional amendment enfranchisng woman pass
ed the Senate last winter by large majority,
and lacked only few votes of a majority in
the House. Democrats as well as Republic
cans were found voting in favor of Justice to
women. Perhaps the Legislature of the
coming winter will 60 even further, and actu-
ally submit the amendment to the people.
Then, with the support of such able and in
fiuential papers as the Portland Transcript,
Lewiston Journal and several other of our
best Maine journals, we should not despair of
victory at the polls.