The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-06-07
From the New York Tribune. MAY IlthJ
The National Woman Suffrage Assooia-
tiOn.

~ AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TuREArENED-A
WoNAN SUFFRAGE PLATFORa.
The National Woman Suffrage Asso-
citation opened its annual convention in
Steinway Hall yesterday morning, Mrs.
II. Il. Stanton presiding. Mrs. Isabella
Beecher Hooker stated that the COnven-
tion was called to nominate candidates
for the Presidency, but that Mr. Stein
way, the owner of the hall, had refused
10 allow any political nominations to be
made there. In opening the COnyen-
ton Mrs. Stanton said:
We are not here to-day to rehearse old
arguments for woman suffrage, which
we have advocated for the last p years,
but to inaugurate new political party.
1t is not probable that during this Con-
ventiOn we shall nominate candidates
But we propose to take the intiatOTy
steps for Convention of new forces, such
as we have never had before. The poll
ticians who are afraid that our support
will not be given them say that our
cause is so holy, and should be kept so
high in the clouds that we could never
see our flags. [Applause.l But now we
propose TO descend to the political busi-
ness of life. To-day we are combined
with the Liberal Reformers, with the
Prohibitionists, and the International
ists-with all classes of men who will
help to roll back the constitutional doors
that we may enter and enjoy the rights
that belong to every free citizen of the
/ United States. Applause. We claim,
under the Fourteenth aud Fifteenth
Amendments, that we are citizens of
/ the United States to-day, and we have
as good right TO 60 TO the polls rs any
man, black or white, lettered or unlet-
/ tered, washed or unwashed, and we do
not propose any longer TO petition ma
| tiOnal Legislators for the right. We in
/ tend 10 go to the polls, register our
names, and ii our votes are refused, we
will contest il i'm the Supreme Court of
| the United States. We are to consider
/ the platform of a new party to-day. We
condemn the platform of the Republic
cans, which amounts to nothing but =
series of platitudes.
/ The following platform of the Conven-
ton, which was regarded by some as a
clever parody of the Cincinnati plat
form, was read by Mrs. Isabella Beecher
Hooker:
We women citizens in the United
States, i'm National Convention assem-
bled at New York, proclaim the follow
ing principles as essential to just gov
ernment:
]. 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
,. We pledge ourselves to maintain
the union of the States, and 10 oppose
any re-opening of the questions settled
by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fif-
teenth Amendments of the Constitu-
tiOn, which have emancipated and en-
franchised the slaves and the women Oi
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 section:
of the country.
g. We demand for the individual tn,
largest liberty consistent with the public
order, for the State self-gOvernment
: and for the nation adherence TO the
methods of peace, and the constitutions
limitations of power
). We demand thorough civil ser
, vice reform as one Of the pressing neces
= sities of the hour. Honesty, capacity
, and fidelity, without distinction of sex
!, should constitute the only valid claim
to public employment. The first stel
| in this reform is the one-term principle
and the election of President, Nice-Pres
ident and United States Senators by tn,
whole people.
6. We affirm that 10 form Of taxation
is Just or wise which puts burdens upol
q the people by means Of duties intended
to increase the price of domestic pro
ducts, and which are unnecessary 70
purposes Of revenue. Taxes should no
4 be laid on the necessaries, but upon tn
= luxuries of life, that the rich and no
=, the poor may bear the burdens.
I. The highest consideration of com
mercial morality and honest govern
ment requires q thorough reform of tn
r present financial system. The interest
of the people demand Il cheap, sOunC
=, uniform, abundant, and elastic cul
l rency, To be a permanent measure {
,, value, based on the wealth Of the nj
n tiOn. This will be found i'm the issue (
n currency, or certificates of value by I'll
? Government for all duties, taxes an
y imposts whatever, which shall be leg;
n tender for all debts, public and privat,
such currency to be the lawful money
4 the United States, and convertible ;
y ehS opAiOh VI tAe hpluei lhto N'VNSAl
ment bonds, bearing rate of intere
/ not exceeding per cent, and to be n
Il convertible into currency at the Will {
the holder.
S. We remember with gratitude I'll
u heroism and sacrifices of the wives, 81
/ ters and mothers throughout this r.,
n public in the late war; the grand san
tary work they did in the hospitals, Q
the battlefield, and in gathering in Il
o harvests at home, have justly earned f
.e the women of the country the generOl