Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-11
Lecture on Woman Suffrage.

Mrs. Margaret W. Campbell of Boston,
agent for the New England Woman Suffrage
Association, lectured to a large and intelli-
gent audience last evening, in Meonian Hall,
on "Yoman's Right to the Ballot"
The lady lecturer was gracefully introduced
by his Honor, Mayor Eveleth, who invited
the audience to a candid consideration of the
arguments to be presented.
Mrs. Campbell began by saying that she
was to speak upon the most important sub
ject now before the country. She did not
expect that after hearing her that men would
at once throw away their customs and preju-
dices; she asked a calm and thoughtful con-
sderaton of the claims of woman to the bal
lot, and the full and freest exercise of the
golden rule. This is not contest of women
against men, but question of humanity-to
place the mother and daughter in the same
position as the husband and son. All over
the world women are stretching out their
hands to be elevated to higher position than
they now occupy; not asking simply and
only for the ballot but for the rights which
God has given them. Because woman has
always been in a subject condition, it is
made an argument that she shall always re-
main there. We know that once in human
governments "might made right 1t was
same rights for which women now ask. So
that because woman has been in a degraded
position is no reason why she should always
remain there. Women demand the ballot in
the interest of humanity-that she may have
hand in shaping benefcient laws. She
showed how nations and individuals who had
been prosecuted, when they had thrown off
the thraldom became themselves, in turn,
prosecutors. Our fathers fought for the right
of the ballot, but having obtained it, deny it
to woman. Fifteen millions of women are
DISTINGUISHED. Some say we are the weaker
class. If so, we need all the protection to
help that the ballot will bring She asked for
a trial to see whether woman was capable Of
welding the ballot or not.
Taxation without representation is tyranny.
and was so considered by our fathers. In
Massachusetts,, two millions dollars worth
of property owned by women is taxed, and
the owners not allowed to have one word to
say as Ito how the money shall be appropria-
ted. But drunken vagabonds are steaded up
to the polls, and vote. The State of Maine
is far in advance in this matter and is hope
full and promising field. The laws that men
make are enforced by woman's help and in
fluence, but she is under no obligation to rem
der obedience to laws in which she had no
hand in framing. The lecturer here drew a
sharp picture OF the position men would occu-
py were they compelled to take the place of
the women.
Woman did not ask men for her rights
They were God-given and cannot come from
man. Woman claims the ballot as her in
heritance. Down the barriers must come
that have so long shut out woman from her
rights. She demanded these rights on the
| same grounds that our fathers demanded
them; not the rich and paupered and spoiled
woman Of fashion needs protection by the
ballot. but the poor woman of toll. Politicians
who go against this measure, must go down.
No arguments are brought against this meas
ure, but objections; and in answering these
various objections, which we have not space
to state, the lecturer devoted the remaining
half hour of her lecture.
Mrs. Campbell is well informed and
pleasant speaker, and her lecture apparently
made favorable impression upon the audi
ence.