The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-23
THE SMITH SIsTERs'" CON-
VENTION.

The "Smith Sisters held their conven-
ton ut Worcester, Massachusetts,, Thurs
day, according to programme. The con-
vention does not seem to have been very
remarkable for the number of its active par
Elephants, or in its results. Speech making
as in every American gathering whether
composed of males or females, was the
main feature of course-always excepting
the exhibition of the several self styled and
self made martyrs and these, the Spring
field Repu5hcan irrcvcrcntly styles ga good
deal of very sensible talk, and some that
was quite ridiculous" The "sistcls' have
Gained. in SO short time, such VIDE
spread notoriety or, as they would call it,
celebrity, for an attempted violation OF
law. some the unreprcsented Worcester
taxpayers, who were not all sisters, immo-
lated themselves in the same way, that they
too. might be martyrs and 1t would seem,
from the result, that this convention was
called more in their interest than to further
n great principlc-a principle which WILL
in measure, be recognized before many
wears. Four women, of Worcester, re
fused to nay their taxes until they were al
lowed to vote, whercupon the collector as
in duty bound, seized their property adyer-
Use il for sale, and this convention assem-
bled the day before the sale. In one res
poet. at least, the convention seems to have
accomplished its objects. While it did
not brighten the collector, it seems to have
scared the people, as no one was found to
bid for the property Of but one of the delin-
queensland that was a friend who, il isprc-
sumable, bid il in for hcrand paid the amount
with her money. The other result of the
convention was in the adoption of a iesolu-
ton declaring that the linen of Worcester
and of Massachusetts had, through tho
collector, avowcd their purpose ito rob
certain women" and that if they collect
the tax are equity of Il great public wrong
There was a modicum of sense in the con
vention, as is shown by adopting the
phraseology last quoted instead of saying
as was first proposed, that by collecting
these taxes, they were "guilty of the high
est public crime known to human law
The trouble with this convention and will
the whole ''Smith sisters" matter is just
here. 1t is made personal matter OF
theirs, not matter of great public con
Germ. The underlying principle of INC
taxation without representation is los
81, e ;,,t lao Iopnpn a. pf nf1icqI'l nj
the law for obeying the law. We submit
that the reform can never be accomplished
in this way. Denunciaton is not argu
ment Persons who openly violate law
and boast of their intention to continue tt
disregard end disobey the law, are no
those to whom we usually look for advice
in reference to change of the law. Ar
gument and reason can change public sen
timcnt, while denunciation only fixes /
stronger as it is. Mems minds may b
changed by argument, but never by indis
criminate, unjust abuse. The early falur
of the anti-slavery movement could b.
traced to the dcnunciation of the Bible
christianity, religion, the constitution ant
laws, and the sworn officers of the law
There should be no taxation without rep
rcsentation-save, perhaps, limit as t.
age-and the day is near at hand when tn
principle will be recognized, unless thcs
"Smith sisters" in different parts of III
country, and these Worcester convention
postpone the day.