The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-06-09

| " oman Suffrage conventions.
We last week published notice of
the State Convention recently held at
Liberty, Ind. Below we give the let
tiers Of Messrs Blackwell and Maj
John. to the Convention, for copies of
which we are under obligations to
Mrs. DR.. Mary F. Thomas:
BosToN, May Is, 1875.
Mrs. NJ. F. Thomas, President In,iiana wo-
mans Suffrage Association:
DEAR MADAM: The friends of
woman suffrage i'll New England will
be holding their annual meeting In
Boston, the 18th of May, on the very
day when the suffragists of Indiana
are meeting in Liberty, to promote
the same great object-the emancipa-
ton and enfranchisement of woman.
We shall derive satisfaction and en-
enlargement from the thought that
while we are pleading for justice and
freedom ON the shores of the A tlantic
ocean, you are urging the same i'm
mortal principles in the heart of the
continent, a thousand miles away
The change We propose is so new
and so radical, that we should not feel
discouraged at our inability to carry
our point. by any sudden act of legis-
lation. The habit and tradition of
domestic despotism will only yield by
gradual concessions to persevering
and determined effort. Our surprise
is not that we move forward so slowly,
but that we advance so FAST. Already
women are voters in Wyoming, in
Utah, and we have just 10000 men OF
Michigan who endorse woman suffrage
at the polls. Women are already vo-
ting, at municipal and local elections
In England, and a change of Is votes
in the Parliament OF Great Britain
would have English women voters in
all elections. Women vote in Austria
and Holland on the same terms as
men. In every northern and western
State, suffrage petitions are annually
laid before the Legislature, and the
question is everywhere discussed by
politicians and the press. People are
everywhere awakening to the necessi-
ty of giving women the ballot in order
to break political rings, and to con
troll the vices of society. We need
the votes of women to save the family
and the church from the dishonesty
and drunkenness and profiigacy which
menace them to-day.
Woman Suffrage means the tri-
umph of moral and physical forces.
Lit means national arbitration in place
of acknowledgements instead of war
1t means higher standard of tenn
perance, priority and economy. A
thorough reformation in legislators
and legislation 1t means a govern
ment of the people, by the people, and
for the people--one-half of whom are
women. 1t means happier homes,
higher education, better opportuni-
ties for our children. Above all, it
means a political society founded up
on justice. with impartial liberty for
It's corner stone.
The suffragists of New England
propose to fight on this battle here in
the East, relying on no outside aid,
and knowing no such word as defeat.
Let the suffragists OF Indiana do the
same. Organize societies in every
county; circulate petitions; secure the
election to your Legislature of men
who are in favor of equal rights for
women; go to Indianapolis next win
ter, and ask for the enactment of IA
law giving women suffrage in Indiana
in the approaching Presidential elec,
ton, for no change in your State con-
stitution is needed, but only MAORI
ty of both Houses. Republicans and
Democrats, are so evenly balanced In
Indiana, party leaders can be easily
convinced that the votes OF majority
of women will be given for the men
who espouse the cause of liberty. Let
your watchword be the centennial for
liberty, Womans' Suffrage in the
Presidential election of 1876.
Yours truly,
HENRY B. BLACKWELL.