Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-28
No. of signers .



met at Granite Hall last evening at l-2
o'clock, and was called TO order by the Pres
dent Of the Association, Hon. Joshua Nye,
who introduced Mrs. A. A. Houghton of Bath,
who spoke upon The Turning of the Tide"
Mrs. Houghton said that she would not come
with set speech, but would ask the people
to hear and Judge of the facts presented. This
is an age Of Change; there is no listlessness
and quiet; we are steadily marching onward.
There are those who believe that no progress
is being made but they do not represent the
spirit OF the age. She showed the improve
ments that had been made in the condition Of
woman. The real issue ia not the ballot but
equality between man and woman-man's
equal financially, socially, politically and re-
ligiouSly. The foundations of society rest on
gold. /, is delicate ground to step upon, to
ask that woman be made equal to man, finan-
cially. If woman earns anything, that money
is honestly hers. Here the various and ar
duous duties OF woman were recapitulated.
For labor performed she should receive one
haltt the profits. She asserted that constant
labor was a curse to man and woman. When
woman becomes mans equal financially, she
will be on the high road to mans equality,
intellectually. College doors opened to wo-
man; her feet tread the platform. She made
a most eloquent plea for womans culture, as
one Of the means for the development OF her
best nature. No woman is great except she
makes herself useful in all departments Of life
to which she is adapted. She examined some
Of the objections urged against woman's
equality, and answered them adroitly. 1t is
by the aid Of woman that man has assembled
the ladder of knowledge. Produced argu.
ments in favor OF standing square TO the mar
riage laws aud obligations. There are too
many heartless marriages. Marriage should
be founded on love. Men are impure because
there are not sufficient restraints. If bad
women are barred from society, bad men
should be. Referred to the great tide of So
cial evil that is rolling on, and thought that
cultivation would go far towards the elevation
Of woman.
Mrs. Houghton was warmly applaudej She
is graceful speaker, and the matter Of her
address was very compact and thoughtful.
Hon. Ben kingsbury, Jr. of Portland was
the next speaker, who said that he believed
in woman suffrage. 1t is a practical question
and one that comes home to the business
Of the world. No one ever heard of any
serious objection to the movement. He no.
ticed the silly objections that had been urged.
Women are generally farther advanced than
men on the great moral questions, and are
apt to be right on these questions. He spoke
OF the disgraceful scene witnessed by his own
eyes lOfty years ago, Wnen HARRISON was
dragged through State street in Boston, with
a rope round his neck when the mayor of
the city pulled down the sign of ''The Lib
orator." and flung it to the mob. At that
time the women filed through the crowd from
an upper chamber where they had been hold-
ing meetings in the interests of the anti
slavery cause. The speaker asked which
were the best qualified to vote in those days,
the men or the women? If woman with her
keen sense and perception, had had the priv
lege of voting, slavery would not have made
its aggression, and the war never would have
occurred. The time is surely coming when
women Will vote, and why not Maine take
the lead?
The President, Mr.. Nye, then made some
earnest remarks in regard to the enforcement
of law, and announced the arrangements for
to-day.
The convention will meet at 10 clock this
forenoon, and at 2 this afternoon, at which
Julia Ward Howe and DIR. Blackwell and
others will be present. If an evening meet
ing is to be held, it will be announced in the
afternoon The attendance was large last
evening.