The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-02-21
thus, even in social enjoyments, we
may still go onward faster than we
think.
CONSTITUTION HALL,
Philadplnhia. Eeb. s. lS12.

DEAR JOURNAL: Five days Ses-
sions of the Convention during the
present week have been given to the
discussion Of woman suffrage. 1t was
commenced by McAllister, Of Centre.
chairman of the committee Ofsuffrage.
election, etc, against permitting wo-
men to vote. His conclusion may be
right, but the reasons he gave for it
were ridiculously wrong; and so |
judge most of those who agreed with
him thought, for there were at least
three spoke against to one in favor of
woman suffrage. If the opponents
were satisfied with their arguments
why make so many of them? Nobody
can doubt that there is a large emaj jority
of the delegates against woman suf-
fraSe. Then why take up so much
time and waste so much strength OPP
posing a proposition that was defeat
ed from the start? Simply because
no man was quite satisfied that a sen
sible reason had yet been given against
the proposition, and another effort
must be made. The discussion. in
the main, was able and interesting.
The opponents Of woman suffrage,
with one exception, were courteous,
candid and fair in their statements.
The exception was conspicuous and
disgusting. The advocates Of woman
suffrage have certainly great reason
to be gratiiied with the contest. No
speaker advocating that cause, viola
ted the rules Of the House Of which
he was a member, which prohibits re-
ferring to Delegates by name III de
bate, nor did any such violate all rules
of decency with uttering in the pres
ence Of respectable ladies impure and
obscene thoughts. 1t was reserved
for James Boyd, Esq, Of Norristown,
a leading Democrat and conspic-
uous opponent of woman suffrage, to
do this and much more. If he had
undertaken to deliver himself of such
disgusting speech in the parlor of any
gentleman in this city in the presence
of ladies, he would have made a sud
den departure with a broken head.
Why he was permitted to disgrace
the Convention and insult the ladies
occupying seats on its floor, is more
than your correspondent can under
stand. But | rejoice that it takes a
Democrat to do so mean thing. The
Almighty has endowed Mir. Boyd
with large gifts. He seems deter
mined to employ them all in the ser
vice Of the devil. That is his un-
doubted privilege; but by what right
does he inject his foul portion into
this Convention?
For the sake Of 4 littlo variety your
correspondent went to the Academy
Of Music last night to hear the Jubi-
lee Singers, Of Nashville, Tenn. They
are thirteen in number. When the
war broke out thoy were slaves. !
entered the Academy at ten minutes
past eight. Every seat was already
occupied, and it is the largest and
grandest room in this city. There
were more than five thousand people
present, and yet these simple eX-slaves
held that vast crowd as with a spell
Not a word was lost. I heard a lady
who is herself a good singer say she
never heard such melody before
never listened to such sweet singing
Not beng a Judge OF music | VIII not
venture an opinion Of my own, but
will simply say that the pathos and
power Of these singers was far be
yond anything ever heard.
These mouest but gifted cx-slaves
have started out to raise forty hot
o0nd dollars 10 eNtinguish the indebt
/ cdUess Of Fisher University, located
at Nashville, Tenn. And they arc
( going to do it. The net proceeds o
two tights at the Academy of Music
were S3S75. No theatre in the city
has ever drawn the crowd that greet
ed these people last night. Philadel
! phia honOred herself III the splendiC
ovation given to these lately despiseC
oftheearth. 1t is hopeful sign. Mer
it, genius, skill, brain-power of an,
kind will, in a few years be honorec
and rewarded, without reference t,
the color Of the recipient. May GoC
speed the day. =.