The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-31
THE wooDHULL DEPARTURE" ."

As long before this reaches our read
ers they will have heard of another split
in the Woman Movement, they will ex-
pect me to throw some light on the sit
nation. 1t is difficult to understand diff
ferences thousands of miles from the
scene of action, especially for those un-
acquainted with the persons and princi-
Piles of the leading actors. But with a
knowledge of all this, and in their
midst, soon saw division between Vic
toria Woodruff and the enthusiasts and
extremists that surrounded her, and the
more moderate women who have led
the Woman Suffrage Movement for
quarter of a century, had been, in spite
of both, inevitable.
In issuing a call for a Political Con-
vention, it was the intention of such
women as Mrs. Stanton, Gage,
Hooker and Miss Anthony, taking the
ground, as they do, that women are al
ready citizens, possessed Of the right
TO vote, to rouse them to some prepara-
tiOn for their duties as such-to the
study Of National questions and the
consideration Of a party platform.
Knowing, by a review of the history
of parties, that this Presidential Cam
paign brings the nation to one OF those
crises, Of which we have had several be-
fore, Of general political disintegratiSn,
when many new combinations will be
formed and several candidates run for
the Presidency, they thought it n good
time for further agitation, to share in
some direct way in the general excite
ment and party reorganization. 1t
adds interest TO an old work to propose
some new methods of doing it, 1t was
the purpose of these ladies TO hold a
large, enthusiastic, dignified Conven-
tiOn, uniting many reform elements, in
which all the great National questions
on which parties should act might be
calmly discussed, and delegates, backed
by numbers, intelligence and influence,
appointed to attend all the nominating
Conventions, and demand recognition
of each in turn and after they had all
spoken, to call another Convention to
ratify the best nomination, or inaugu-
rate better party than either.
Mrs. Woodhulrs plan, however diff
fered widely from this, and her action
defeated the whole purpose of the COM
bination. She proposed an immediate
revolution Of the Government, a new
Constitution, new party, a new plat
form that should cover every extreme
political and social issue, and all to be
crowned with herself for President. This
plan was precipitated on the COnven-
tion, which had been called for the con-
sideration of the initiatory steps in the
formation of a Peoples Party, and dis
solved in the twinkling of an eye the
elements that Mrs. Woodruff, on the one
side, and Mrs. Stanton, on the other,
had been trying for months TO bring to-
gether. The result was the withdrawal
oil Mrs. WoOdhuli's forces to Appollo
nan, leaving the National Woman's
suffrage Association to conduct its de-
Hail. "''' ~ '''e'n"'''
susan B. Anthony was elected Presi-
uehI oil the Association for tba oon,ins,
year. and is already ORGANIZING har
forces in the metropolis, and sondino 81 -
vitations to the ablest women in ,i'e -, "a
world and the new for the naxt oa,,''aI ~
meeting here. 1t is hoped tbat ,I''' &c
was proposed for this Conyention 80 ,.a..
be econsummated in the next Opro -.
women will select subjects occpn,.;,,,.
public thought, such as our statasn,a,9
and philosophers are considerinp. mr.
pare themselves throughly and mako a
clear presentation Of the results Of thei,
research, in what might be properly
called a Congress of women. This would
be a grand educational work for woman
and help to fit her for the gave response
bilities that must be hers as a citizen o.
the United States.
such, in brief, is the present result o.