Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-27
WOMAN SUFFRA
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.
The Opening Session Today.

Quite large audience assembled at Tall
madge hail this morning to hear and see
the opening proceedings of the National
Woman's Suffrage Convention. The au-
dience was mostly composed OF spinsters,
but there were present scattered representa-
tives OF the sterner sex. One old gentleman
with a pair OF opera glasses constantly In
use was evidently present more to see than
TO hear. On the stage were drawn up in
martial don't set this up martial array the
IolIowlpg champions OF the cause of woman
suffrage and all that the words imply: Kate
stanton, Mrs. Sarah j. Spencer, Mrs. Lille
ID Blake, Rev. Olympia Brown, Matilda j.
Gage, Lille De Lozla Wood, Marilla NJ.
Kicker, DR.. Caroline b. Winslow, Il. A.
Lockwood. At quarter to eleven O'Clock,
Mrs. President Gage called the convention
10 order, and at heT request the Rev. Olympia
Brown-the pulpit OratOr-lead in prayer;
and with feeling and eloquence invoked the
blessing of God upon those who year
after year ask for justice and personal
rights, and upon the just cause for which
ADDRESS OF MRS. PRESIDENT GAGE
After reading the call under which the
convention assembled. Mrs. Matilda Joslyn
Gage, president of the National Woman Suf-
frage Association, delivered an address. She
began by alluding TO the progress OF the
country since NC, and said in reference to
the Centennial that Europe, Asia. Africa
South America, the isles of the sea- all unit e
to do this nation honor. Our flag is every
where, on the sea, in the jungle, in the desert.
protected refugees from every nation. 1t has
upheld religious liberty of every faith: and
yet the advocates of woman suffrage have
something against il. The United States is
neither hot nor cold for Freedom; IL does only
what it Is compelled TODD; nomore. Itlooks
not so much to principle as to party and
party necessity. 1t loves not Freedom for
Freedoms sake, but for the continuance or
building up OF party power. 1t is but half
republic after all, because II has ignored one
half the people. Women are ignored in their
rlghts oi self-governr1ent; they are taxed
without representation, and are denied trial
oy Juries OF their peers. Despite all that has
Deen said of woman as q nOn-fghter.
Mrs. Surratt was tried by a military
commission of nine men and hung in this
very city of Washington! Susan Il. An
thony was convicted for voting for Grant
and the latter deigned to pardon her for help
ing to place him in the Presidential chair.
WOman's right to the ballot must be recog-
nized. Senator Sargent does not stand alone
IN his advocacy OF their right to vote. Tween
ty-two Senators OF the Forty third Congress
voted for woman suffrage. Senator Morton
says The Declaration of Independence en-
braces both sexes, and ex Senator Stewart
believes in the same doctrine. Mrs. Gage
closed as fOllows:-"Dare you, gentlemen o.
both houses of Congress, leave this centen-
NAL year TO demonstrate to the assembled
nations that our republic is yet but half a
republic? That for one hundred years il has
lived lie? That for one hundred years one
half the people have been taxed without
being represented? That for ore hundred
jury of their peers% That for one hundrei
years this country has governed one half the
people without tbeir own consent? 1t has
been proposed that the women OF the country
should wear Grape during the centennial
glOTlhcatior. 1t is better that the men of
the nation should sit down in sackcloth and
ashes, In humiliation OF spirit and heart, as
men who Tepeuted in Oiden times were wont
10 do The best centennial celebration OF the
United States, the one to cover il r. tn glory
is IoI IL 20 secure freedom TO its wOmen-an
that when the old bell of Independence hall
shall ring out on July ith. 1876, il shall Ia
truth aud fact proclaim Liberty through
out All the land, IN all the Inhabitants there
off, Applause
A L the cor luSiOn of the address the secre-
tary. Mrs. lockwood. read the secretaTy's
report. The president then made few re-
marks, euIOeiZing the character of Mrs
lockwood Mrs Brown, and others. and ex-
pressed great regret for the absence Of
SUSAN y. ANTHONY.
A letter from Der was, however. read by
me secretary. setting forth the usual claims
Tor woman suffrage DC. The president then
lnVltad that worthy champion" of their
cause,
FREDERICK DOUGLASS,
10 take seat upon the platform, which he
did amidst loud applause. 1t was announc-
ed that letter from Isabella Hooker would
then be read by the secretary. II was how
ever. preceded by the reading of a p-inteI
letter 10 Alexander II. Stephens which was
The cause of Mrs. Hooker writing her letter
democrats
back part OF the hall testified their apprecia-
q ION OF the sentiments expressed by frequent
nd loud applause.
The report of the treasurer, Mrs. f. C. Sar-
gent, was read by Mrs. Kicker, ofNew Hamp-
shire, and in the list OF contributions TO the
same the name of
"BELvA A. LOCKWOOD, ESQ, 49,"
was greeted with applause.
The president called attention to the neces-
sity of funds and, saying that women were
6eggars, she appointed Mrs. Kicker and Mrs.
spencer 10 take up collection. Those ladies
Immediately entered on a canvass of the
room. Mrs. Spencer carried the large hat of
Mr.. Fred Douglass, and Mrs. X. that of the
Of the Tribune. The result was
Mrs. sara J. Spencer was elected secretary
pro tenn, on motion Of Mrs. Lockwood.
REV. OLYMPIA BROWN
was IL Introduced, and said that she scarcely
knew where she stood, unless it was on the
Did Jefersonian democratic platform. She
theN called attention to the large number OF
IRAN shops and tTOthels IN the land as temp
IallOns 10 the young men of America, and
SAID that there was not a mother in the land
who did not wish for suffrage to be conferred
. pon thcm that they might legislate these
places from the land. She claimed that they
were making progress; that in the churches
women were speaking ont, and following
Moody and Sankey there were Mrs. Van
Cot anu Mrs. Lowry, in the Methodist
carrying on old time REVEALS II
men IN the legal. medical or clerical profess
slOnS are afraid of being crowded out, they
teal work.
The president announced the folIowsng
COMMITTEES
ReS6htiOHs-RelvaA 4. lockwood. ESQ, EIfZ-
beth {. Stanton, Rev. Olympia Brown.
llem9nce q. LOZier, Ellen c. Sargent, aud
Emily a. Johnson.
FHmce-Sara ]. Spencer, Marilla NJ.
Kicker, Caroline b. Winslow, Mary f. Fos-
ter, Lille DeLOTca Wood.
General Bl,yiHesS-Lillie Devereaux Blake.
r. A. Chambers, Dr. Susan 4. Edison, La
yiria {. DuumOre, l.. l.. Radebaugh anu
Ruth {. DeuisOn.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
was Introduced, and in a few remarks ex-
pressed his sympathy for the movement.
az 81 said he would rot attempt 10 address
lie convention 1T this time, but at future
session he would DO so.
The convention (at 12k o'clock) took a
recess.
THIS EVENING
there Will be addresses by Lille Devereaux
Blake on 'CitizenShip," by Phoebe Cozzens,
: Review OF Judge Waite's Decision, ." and by
Rev. Olympia Brown.
H
DR.. AUGUSTA EXPLAINs.-In Yesterdays
STAR there was notice of n suit of Ann
walker against the Commissioners OF The
Freedmens Savings and Trust Company. IL
was alleged on the part Of the plaintiff that
mat "when the property was ordered 10 be
sold, no bidder was present except a bank
officer. llT. A IT Angugfa no fI,a