The Portland daily press., 1885-09-25

upon woman, that In our Judgment there IL nd
foundation for the fear that woman will fharahv
become untitled for all the duties she has hitherto
performed.
The committee ON the constitution and NV
laws reported through Rev. Mr.. Crosley.
Rev. Mr.. Crosser addressed the association.
showing the inequality and injustice Of
woman's position in the body polite. He
thought the possession of the ballot by
woman would right many wrongs and do
much to purify our nation. He saws that
much of the opposition to this movement
comes from women themselves.
Rev. Mr., Bashf0rd spoke of the unex-
pected absence of Rev. G. j. Clark of the
Pine street church.
Rev. Mr.. Pearson of Portland spoke of the
need that woman should WELD the ballot in
order to carry on the work of temperance.
Mrs. Bashford spoke OF ,woman's duty to
use all her power and influence to elevate
and bless society, and to make her influence
felt in all the PrOvidential lines of work
that are opened before her.
Mr.. Kimball gave some reasons for favor
ing this movement. He thought that tax
alton without representation was unjust :
that woman is equal to man in talent, purity
and executive ability; and when woman
shall come into possession of the ballot many
of the evils that curse society will disappear
Mrs. Humphrey said that she advocated
this reform not merely because the ballot
was woman's right, but because it was in
the interest of justice, truth and righteous
ness.
Mrs. Stevens referred to the equal parti-
cipation of the two sexes in social rights and
privileges until they reached the ballot box.
when the two diverged. She spoke of the
important influence that this movement has
upon the temperance reform.
Mrs. Cox spoke of the position of the
Friends" upon this question and their
hearty sympathy with it.
Rev. Mr.. Crosby thought that we should
act upon this question, not in reference to
woman alone, but in reference to the broad
plane of human. rights. He thought that
woman was in advance of man upon all the
important social and moral questions that
meet us. She must go outside of the home
in order that society may be a fit place for
her children of whom she is the special
guardian. She has proved herself com
petent for the work she has been called to
do in the past, and will prove herself equal
ly able in the future.
Rev. Mr.. Bellows of the Park street
church congratulated himself on belonging
to a church that always protested against
human greed or oppression. Men have
seemed always to assume that woman is
mentally inferior, to. man. The way that
men often talk about, or of woman. When
woman shall have the ballot men will show
more respect for woman. The names of
women stand highest among modern writers
In poetry, romance, astronomy and general
literature; and what an insult for weak
hhAAetSu AASu w oiiSOA CIV tilC VI ;ouCll
scholars.
Miss Shaw affirmed that she was a woman
suffragist not because she is woman, but
because she is human being, She wanted
to have voice in making the laws under
which she lived. 1t is not unW0manly to go
to the ballot box; for our fathers and
brothers so there. People respect powers !;
and when woman has the power of the
ballot, she will take her proper place in
society.
Pow NJ. yVorro,, ,,o,,o, ~, .,os,;l c,,o,,+ H.
the principles of this reform.
Mr., Geo. I'll. Talbot spoke of his adherence
to this reform, and spoke of the injustice of
shutting out one-half of the community from
all participation in the rights and privileges
of those governed
Rev. Dr. Blackwell pronounced the bene
diction, and the meeting adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
The session was opened with prayer by
Mr.. c. A. Baker of Portland, after which a
letter from Hon. Nelson Dingley was read
by Rev. DR.. Bashford. The following is the
letter:
LEWISTON, Sept. %, 1885.
My Dear Sir-I am in receipt of yours OF yester-
day, inviting me to attend the meeting of the
Maine Woman Suffrage Association, to be held in
Portland this week. Prior engagements will rem
der it impossible for Inc to accept your kind nvi-
tation. ! trust, however, that the meeting may be
successful, and contribute to the formation of
that public sentiment which will, sooner or later,
insist that citizen, qualified in other respects
shall not be excluded by law from an opportunity
to express by ballot her convictions on public
questions and her preferences as to who shall
enact and administer the laws solely because she
is a woman.
remain, sincerely yours,
NELSON DINGLEY, JR
Miss Shaw, of Massachusetts, was then in
PRODUCED, and made an interesting address.
She said that the question before US is one of
rights and corresponding obligations Wom-
has N pnu0l iptnraSf with in. oil ha
questions affecting the public and private
welfare; she has her responsibilities, her
burdens, and she should have her rights.
But woman stands on decided inequality in
reference to municipal rights and privileges,
as well as In regard to most professions and
employments. Instead of woman trespass-
ing upon meu's rights and work, men are
crowding into the employments of woman.
The whole law-making power is in the hands
OF men; and they have uniformly legislated
IN their own favor against woman. The
speaker wanted her sex to have the right to
do in the community what they have the
ability to do, just as men have the right to
do. Let both sexes have the opportunity to
do the work they are fitted to accomplish.
AT this stage of the meeting the committee
on nominations reported, and their report
was accepted. The appointment of board
OF officers was delegated to special commit
tee to report at a future time
Rev. Mr.. Blanchard of Portland was intro
0uSCO uIlu IllduC d lUIClUlG dIlu p6Iblutlb dU-
dress. He thought that the most earnest OPP
ponents of this reform are found among wo-
men themselves. Hence, the special efforts
of this association should be directed to the
conversion of women. This opposition of
woman to the reform we should treat with
gentleness and patience; and should try to
spread the truth among them and bring them
to taking deeper interest in the welfare of
the community. They are concerned as
much as men in the enactment and opera
ton OF laws, and should therefore have the
right to aid in their enactment. Great ques-
lions are looming up in the future, and men
and women alike should be prepared to act
together in their settlement The quick per-
ception, the fine instinct, the superior moral
sense of woman is needed in the right deter
mlnation of these great qualities.
Rev. Mr.. Berry of Woodfords, was intro
duced and discussed the right of women to
the ballot. From the Declaration of indie
pendence and the Fourteenth Amendment
he deduced woman's right to enjoy the bal
lot.
DR.. Henry Blackwell of Massachusetts
spoke and said that it was not wise to spend
much time in discussing the cause of the
present, injustice towards woman; but yet
one OF the speakers was mistaken in saying
that the extension Of the franchise has often
proved mistake. He thought that men are
the most earnest and bitter opponents of
this reform. Maine is an excellent place in
which to advocate it. Our political state is
favorable to 1t: Our temperance law can be
enforced only by the combined efforts of men
and women. Our municipal organization is
favorable to this movement. The people of
the State should lead the world in this great
reform as they have already led the world in
prohibition. The speaker hoped that every
woman in the land will eventually have the
right to the ballot, and will exercise that
right in voting for good laws and good rulers.
DR.. BlackwelPs address, of which we have
given but an imperfect sketch, was effective
and closed the public exercises of very in
teresting and successful series of meetings.
Their effect cannot fail to awaken new in
terest in the advocacy and progress of most
important and riphteOus reform