The Republican journal., 1881-05-19
Maine Matters.

Il.
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE CONVENTION IN PORTLAND.
The woman suffrage convention in Portland
Tuesday, May 10th, called to order by Mrs. {.
A. Qulmby, of Augusta. Remarks were made by
Hon. Benz kingsbury, jr., of Portland, and Bur
ton Flrman. jr, senior OF Harvard College, for
woman suffrage Lucy Stone followed in her
usual eloquent style She began by comparing
the present movement in favor Of woman suffrage
to the arti-slavery agitation 1t is equally as i'm
portant, she said, that woman should have the bal
lot as that the negro should All Just governments
rest upon the consent of the governed The gov
erned consist not only of men. but of women
This government in order to be democratic in the
truest sense OF the term, must rest upon the con
sent OF women as well as-men. She dwet at
length upon the position in which woman is placed
by not being allowed to vote. She is placed
III the same category with felons and pauperS.
Jefferson Davis is deprived of the ballot because
he drew his sword against the Datlons life, in 9th
er words he is reduced to the level Of woman.
After all the suffering endured during the ter
rlbie days of the war, this great government re
fuses US the ballot and gives the conquered rebel
more rights than us Mrs Stone dwelt upon the
success of woman suffrage in Wyoming Territory,
also IN England where women can vote in munic-
lpal elections She asserted the need of women on
health and school boards
Miss Mary + Eastman spoke next She said
this is not a question of experience but one of
justice. Nothing can be eXpedient which is IN
just We claim the ballot not as a privilege but
as right. The woman who. prescribed as she is
by the laws, SAYS she has all the rights she wants
IS deserving of pity
Miss Eastman spoke OF the objection urged that
woman was rot competent to legslate and says
that such an argument had no foundation either in
experience or common sense. 1t is. however. but
natural for those who have the power to think
that II nheres in them
Rev. W. Il. Ager delivered the concluding ad
dress. Mr. Ager presented in a scholarly logical
and concise manner the principal arguments in
favor of woman suffrage
The convention had small audience " ednes
day and was addressed by Lucy Stone. DR. Black
well, Mrs Dr. Devol and Mrs Quimby \ lib
era! sum subscribed by the new members of
the State Association and it was resolved to form
society in Portland auxiliary to the State society
The convention continued in the afternoon
and evening At the afternoon session speeches
were made by Mr.. and Mrs B f Bowler OF Boston
Rev. j. W. Bashtord and others, and numerous sig
natures received to the constitution Of the
Portland auxiliary association In the evening
speeches were made by DIR. Blackwell Mary I
Eastman, Rev. W. X Alger DR.. J. II. Bashtori
and Lucy Stone.
CONNECTION AND SENTENCE or MERRILL THE MAT
EICIDE
The trial of Charles +. Merrill of China for the
murder OF his mother in that town. on Saturday
February 10Th, by striking her upon the head with
an IRON hammer. began in Augusta Tuesday Nav
l'tu. An lulultUSe crowd was III HltenualCe
After little delay the jury was empanelled \
number of witnesses were introduced BY the GOV
eminent and large amount of clrcumsanta
evidence was brought forth to show the guilt of
the prisoner. The confession made by the
cused 10 Coroner Libby admitted as evidence
Wednesday the government witnesses were all
heard and the council for the prisoner made his
statement developing the line of defence to be
rIrsued. The homicide is admitted but it will be
contended that an alteration arose between Merrill
biE in thn horn, HAT, fl,, b.,+
passion he struck her and killed her and that his
crime Is therefore only manslaughter There was
quite sensation in the Court room when the
counsel announced what the defence will be Tie
trial closed Thursday afternoon. The prisoner
was put upon the stand in the forenoon and made
credltable appearance but nothing could shake the
overwhelming evidence of his guilt The argU
ments by the counsel were unusually able, and al
twenty minutes OF SIX the given TO the
Jury They retired and in six minutes brought in
verdict of Guilty Of murder in the first degree ="
Judge hitehouse did not pronounce sentence on
the Merrill murder case Friday as intended as
the counsel for the prisoner requested that he
might De allowed until Saturday to look up the
question OF law, and TO decide whether to carry up
the case on exceptions to the law term Saturday
Merrill was sentenced to hard labor in the State
Prison for life
The Augusta journal says that Merrill. the
matrlclde, when Judge Whtehouse passed sen
tenee upon him, manifested great anger He had
told contdents in the jail that if his sentence was
jail alive Deputy sheriff Jewell fastened the
''twlsters around his right wrist so firmly that
they cut almost into the flesh. Mr. Sewa su
u 'lie G"uH3 puHeS tooh Ms leii
III ne Elip. VI t1e wa! 70 III! MeiLHl
In,rl, "he 1liG !" isteIs on lhey huft Mr.
Tb"n e'P r; - won Last pel d minute
1,re1 az ~ lIsiy eholl 20 pieah
t t ~ ~ - ~ =" i''eIs' " Suuueil tuln'
tot ~ LIZ any ny so was 30 e4eIuelal
w. r"' tt Iuoh .'e iase Uul ol inc leio" anu
III was '"ielS so' lH'o HIS cell
MCRDERoUs AtTKAY IN HARMONY.
On Saturday last in that corner of Harmony
which touches both wellington and Cambridge,
wicked and disgraceful attack with revolvars was
ulaut cH Two DAVIS oTothefs, by TWO men named
his JritiT,, ~ n4 tho nn;Ho &c 0G ie"Iii i az