The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-15

upon lne consent OF the governed; because tnoSt
who are taxed have right to voice and repre-
sentation in the imposing of taxes; because we
believe that an active interest in questions OF
public policy is an educational influence and in
creases the intelligence of the community, be.
cause the exercise of a duty and responsibility
is moral education; finally because we believe
that one class in the community has neither the
right nor the ability to legislate for the whole
For these reasons, among others, we proclaim and
practice universal suffrage for men.
Now cOSneS in the logic, which, as L said, / fOf
one cannot get away from. / cannot see that
there is one of these reasons for mans having the
vote which does not equally hold true Of woman
1-Women are governed and have right to a
voice in the making of the laws, to give or Ia
withhold their consent to the government.
2-They are taxed and have right to voice in
the laying of taxes.
3-Women's welfare depends as much as mems
upon good laws, and they have as much at stake
and as real an interest in the policy OF govern
ment.
Am active interest in such matters is equally
an educational influence, in increasing the lntelli
gence Of the community upon which the stability
of good government depends.
5-The exercise of duty and responsibility
will educate the character OF woman as that OF
man, and elevate the moral force OF society upon
which its stability so much more depends.
6-The class called men has neither the right
nor the ability to legislate for the whole.
OF course know the objections and the prae-
tical difficulties that lie in the way of carrying
out these theoretical principles. The same Objec-
tionS and practical dfhcultes exist in the case of
men. The active falls short Of the ideal in poll,
tics as in everything else. But this does not lead
us to withhold the vote from men. 1t need not
keep us from establishing the suffrage of women.
These objections, hope, will be met and an
swered at your meeting by one and another
speaker, as have not time to do, or attempt.
1t is no harm to a good cause, to one which Is
right and just in principle that it should be de-
thinking and for deliberate action. No move
ment involving great change should be hasty or
illeOnSidered. 1t should show itself strong
enough to overcome objections to conquer opPo-
sitiOn by reason and justice. The movement
must be growth, not a cOnvulsion, If it is to be
steadfast and lasting, healthful and helpful, and
beneficent
But the greatest obstacle lies not in the reasons
against-tho' these must be allowed their due
weight and must be answered not by declama-
tions but by reason. The greatest obstacle is the
intangible unreasOning one of the prejudice of
custom and habit, which dread all change, fear
all things untried. These must be met by pa
thence, earnestness and faith.
Woman suffrage will not heal all evils, nor
abolish all sins and crimes. All women will not
vote wisely nor virtuously. But our faith is that
with women as with men the intelligent and the
good will outweigh the ignorant and the vicious.
At any rate we shall no longer have thousands of
intelligent and virtuous women feeling that they
are denied Just right,
Yours Tor the right,
SAMUEL LoNGFELLow.
GOV. ROBBIE.
STATE OF MAINE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
AUGUSTA, June 5, 1886.
l[u Dear ,Sir:-I have Just reached home after
dDSeUce OF several on Ollcldl DuS lncSo IOT
the State, and hasten to reply to your letter. |
find my engagements are such that il will be i'm
possible for me to accept your invitation TO be
present at the meeting of the Women's Suffrage
Association of Maine, to be held in the city Of
Portland, June 14th, 1886. / am in full accord
with the purpose of your society, and feel sure
that associated action and public enlightenment
will in the end secure the purposes of the associa
tion ito establish Justice"
Yours, very truly,
FREDERICK RoBIE.
STANLEY t. PULLEN.
PORTLAND, April A. 1886.
My Dear Mr.. Blanchard:
| regret that / cannot attend the meeting at
your house tonight discrimination in civil or
political rights because of sex seems to me as il
logical as one on account of race or color. The
great barrier to the extension of the political
functions of women is the Indifference of women
themselves on the subject, and efforts to interest
them will, in my Judgment bear more fruit than
work in any other direction Whenever majOri-
that majority Of men will find the logic of the
situation irresistible. speak somewhat by the
book, on this point, as managed the movement
at one session of the legislature and found that
could have readily carried it through had it not
been for the conviction of the members that the
women generally did not desire it.
Wishing you success in your efforts, am,
Yours very respectfully
STANLEY T. PULLEN
CHARLES F. LIBBY.
PORTLAND, June 70, 1886.
I?eU. He1lru Blanchard;
Dear Sill regret to be obliged to decline your
invitation to be present at the meeting of the
Maine Woman's Suffrage Association, to be held
next Monday evening, but avail myself of this
opportunity to say that the question OF woman
suffrage has been so long settled in my own mind
that it is difficult for me to appreciate the posi-
tion of those who are opposed to it. As a matter
of principle the right Of woman to equality of po-
Ideal privileges with man, must, Think be CON
ceded by all liberal and fair-minded men, and the
expediency of the exercise of that right may be
safely left with those whose interests it mostnear
ly concerns
been so often presented that it would seem as If
they must have formed lodgment in every re-
Elective mind of this generation, and should owe
en- apology to your meeting did attempt to re-
hearse them. The question is fast getting beyond
the domain OF controversy and will soon take its
place among the other accepted truths OF political
philosophy. How soon that result will be reached
depends more upon woman than man, as / am
satisfied that whenever a majority, or large mi
nority, of women demand the right of suffrage
Very truly yours,
CHARLES F. LIBBY.
E. c. HARRINGTON
writes that ''my sentiments for many years have
been in accord with the demand that woman is
not only entitled by right to the privileges OF
election franchise. but the necessities of the hour
demand that her judgment enter into the settle
ment OF all questions pertaining to the welfare Of
the people,
MRS. BAsHFoRD's ADDRESS.
After the letters were read, the chairman
introduced Mrs. j. w. Bashford. Mrs.
Bashford spoke of the relation of woman
suffrage to those departments in the life and
work of the world now open to women.
She referred first to the home and said that
the women who love the home best desire to
increase its influence. The woman suffrage
movement is sometimes called the home per-
fection movement. No woman with a love
r I. -. l.
est III public questions. She hnds matters
pertaining to the health and education of
the people are under the control of the muni-
cipal authorities and the woman who is a
home maker must be interested in these ques-
tiOns. 1t is said that the home is the w0m-
ans sphere, but let the sphere then be large
enough to take in all those things which af-
feet the home.
Society is also called woman's sphere and
that society which includes those improving
elements common to. many people, is her
sphere. The interests of good government
are always among the highest interests which
may be introduced into society.
Mrs Bashford then spoke of the school
into all departments of which women have
now been admitted and have answered the
objections made to their entrance by select
ing courses in higher mathematics and the
exact sciences and showing that they could
cope with them as well as the men. The
study of political economy has awakened an
interest in public questions, and the women
are demanding the ballot. The church and
its relation to woman suffrage, and the de-
mand for a voice in the government by wo-
men who have filed important business po-
sitions were mentioned, the address closing
with an allusion to the need of suffrage felt
by missionaries and philanthropists both al
home and abroad.
REV. DIR. BAsHFoRD's ADDRESS.
Rev. DR.. Bashford was the last speaker
He said thatlhe wished to give his attention
in the short time he should speak, to one oi
the objections made to the granting Of the
suffrage to women. There are men who say