Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-13
The Woman Suffrage Convention.

The woman suffrage meetings held in Mont
pelier under the auspices Of the New England
Woman Suffrage Association, last Friday after
noon and evening July 8, at Capital Hall, at
tracted moderate attendance in the afternoon
and large audience in the evening" notwith-
standing the oppressive heat Of the weather The
speakers were Lucy Stone, Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe, II. b Blackwell of Boston, Mary F. East
man of Lowell and William S Liscomb of Provi-
dence, Rhode Island, Rev. Katherine Lent of All.
ston and Mrs Martha G. Ripley Of Middleton, Mas
sachusetts. The object of the series Of meetings,
here and elsewhere, as stated by the speakers,
was to arouse the women Of Vermont to the i'm
portance Of making practical use OF the right re-
Gently granted them of voting in school elections,
and to urge the Importance Of securing an extern
sion Of their right Of suffrage to town meetings
aud municipal elections Reference was made to
the unsuccessful effort in Vermont twelve years
ago to establish full woman suffrage by con-
stitutional amendment. The growth Of public
sentiment since then has been shown by the &C
ton Of twelve States, including Vermont giving
woman suffrage on educational questions. The
satisfactory result Of women's voting in Great
Britain and in Wyoming territory was instanced
as an evidence of benefits to be expected else
where by similar action. The full enfranchse-
ment of women was urged their right under a
government based upon the consent OF the gov
erned" and as being to result in good to
society ard to the women themselves The spirit
OF impartial suffrage for men and women is CO.
operation, not antagonism. Because women are
unlike men in character, tastos and pustiou II wac
urged that women should have an equal express
ain in hai In hal;
ent than men, it was claimed they would bring
an element Of amenity and courtesy much needed
in our politics; being less under the control OF
physical appetite and passion than men, they
would vote for temperance and purity; being
more law-abiding than men, as shown by the sta
tistics OF crime they would be power for good
order and stability; being more economical than
men they would promote economy in public ex-
penditures, The unequal pay and secondary po-
sition now accorded to women was attributed to
an unenlightened public sentiment, and full po-
litcal enfranchisement for women was urged as
sure to result in "a fair days wages for fair
days work" These ideas were illustrated in
various ways by the different speakers, who were
listened to with attention and respect by many OF
our best citizens. The speakers were Hospitality
entertained by friends of the cause here. The
platform was beautifully adorned with flowers,
and Mrs. Foster presided with grace and dignity.
1t is hoped by the promoters Of these meetings
that Il state woman suffrage society may soon be
formed, with its center in Montpelier, for the
| double purpose Of awakening a general interest
among men and women in the practical working
of the school suffrage law, and OF securing ex-
tension OF the right of suffrage to women here
| after upon all public questions.