The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-15
FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The Meeting in Reception Hall Last
Evening.
A Large Audience Listens to Inter
esting Addresses.
Letters Read from Gov. Robie and
Others

| filled, and the speakers remarks were
| greeted with generous applause. The meet
| ing was called to order by Rev. Mr..
| Blanchard, the president of the association,
| who delivered the opening address. The
| following is an abstract:
REV. MR.. BLANcHARD's ADDRESS.
| Mr. Blanchard extended welcome to the
| audience as president of the association, and
| said that two parlor meetings had been held,
| which had it been possible he would have
been glad to invite all those present to at
| tend At these meetings persons had been
present whose views on the question OF
woman suffrage did not accord with those OF
| the members of the association, and their
| opinions had been proftably debated with
| the members of the association. lt Is the
| intention to hold next fall a series OF parlor
meetings in this city and other places IN the
State The association will be glad to have
at these meetings the presence OF clergymen,
lawyers, physicians ana others VINO may ex-
press their views.
1t has been matter of debate with the
members of the association whether or not
to secure the services OF speakers from
away. 1t was desired to have Lucy Stone to
speak in City Hall, but she was prevented
from coming by sickness. Mrs. Mary A.
Liyermore was unable to be present on ae-
count of pressing engagements, and has later
been very sick. The association therefore
determined to speak largely for themselves.
The object the organization has in view, IS
to influence legislation in the State. Alr.
Blanchard said that it was thought by many
that Maine would be the first State to give
woman the ballot. Mr.. Blanchard himself
is not so sanguine believing the work will
be long one. The objective point is to
exert an influence upon our legislators, and
the association proposes to ask for the eX-
tension of municipal suffrage to women,
which is as much as can be done by statutory
enactment. What the Legislature can give
will be asked of them, but 1t IS not intended
to ask for any change in the Constitution
now 1t has been matter OF surprise IN
prosecuting the cause of woman suffrage TO
find how large number of men have be-
lieved in it for years, and among the legls-
lators who will meet in Augusta next winter
there will very likely be many who believe
in the extension of the franchise to women.
In some parts OF the country women have
been granted the power to vote in the direc-
tion of school affairs, but tney nave not
availed themselves generally OF this oppor-
tunity, feeling that they had not been given
all that they had a right to ask SO the
Maine woman suffragists propose to ask all
that the Legislature has the power to grant.
Mr. Blanchard said that as supplementary
to his remarks he wished to emphasize TWO
things. The first is that it is for. the
members of the Association to have infinite
patience with those who do not share their
views, and the second that it is for them to
become so earnest that they may be apie 10
influence others. People make objections
which will try the patience OF those VINO
firmly believe in woman's right OF votlng.
There are people also who regard the move
ment as something chimerical which does
not demand consideration While such reforms
as that of the civil service and the lntr0duc-
tion of a spirit of Christianity into our pol
itics are unaccomplished. Our political
economy is not now based on Christianity.
1t is based upon property Wltn0uI que re-
L 49, 4l,o terIfr of ind
time has come when men should consider
how to introduce Christianity into their
political economy and when the franchise is
extended to women it is believed that all
these things will be forwarded by their votes:
The speaker said that he therefore asked
that each should do what he or she could to
forward the cause.
AT the conclusion of the address letters of
regret were read by Mr.. F. W. Hamilton
from Col Fred N. Dow, Rev. Samuel Long
fellow. Governor Robie, Stanley I. Pullen
and Hon. C. F. Libby. Colonel Dow had in
tended to be present and deliver an adj
dress until yesterday afternoon when he
found that he should be unable to do so. Mr..
Blanchard stated that Mr.. Pullen desired to
be present and speak but was obliged to be
absent from the city. The letter read was
written some time ago in reply to an invita-
was read last evening, as it fully expressed
the sentiments of the writer The letters
follow:
PORTLAND June IA, 1885,
Rev Henry Blanchard:
Dear sr-I regret that circumstances beyond
my control prevent my meeting with the friends
of woman suffrage this evening. But am glad
that the time. which should only consume, will
be filled by others, with interest ana instruction
N a "
To my mind, the great procrastinating influence
in this reform is, not the opposition of men, but
the apparent indifference in regard to 1t OF vast
majority of the women of the land When these
shall ask it, it will surely come. For few who be-
lieye in manhood suffrage as a right deny the
equal claim of women to the ballot.
| The pressing need of the hour therefore, is to
awaken woman to realization Of the vast posi-
bilities for usefulness open to her through suf-
| frage. And, in view of those possibilities, to so
| impress her with sense of responsibility that she
will be willing to accept and discharge, as duty
what she now hesitates to regard as privilege
or right
| cial conditions and tendencies which have hereto
fore everywhere accompanied great increase of
| wealth, to understand that, If the men of this
terests and associations than are its women, our
political institutions would not long resist demor-
Thanks in part to the business intercourse of
men but in far larger measure, to the influence OF
the ballot, (Which has brought about mans poll-
CAL as gunpower did his physical equality that
| man can alone secure influence with, or the re-
spect OF his fellows, who manifest his disposition
| TO employ brain or muscle for the common wealth.
| While he who imagines, or whose life or manner
| is such as to make him suspected OF imagining
himself above the interests Of the masses, is rele
| gated by common consent, to an Isolation which
| deprives him of influence and power. He may be
| rich, or he may be mental giant; but, unless ne
demonstrates by his daily life his sympathy with
| the people, he is as helpless as abject poverty or
| imbecilify Icould make him.
But how is it with the other, and upon all social
| questions more influential sex? Do women secure
| the respect and homage OF their sex by Ignoring
all considerations Of personal comfort and pleas
cations as they may find time and strength, TO the
| general good? fear notl And yet can imag-
| Inc no luftier aim in life.
| Is there any lack OF sympathy. influence and
| position among their own sex, for those women Il
| the midst Of comforts and luxuries provided by
paternal care or fortunate marriage, anect lndli-
ference for, and superiority to those other women
| Who in the inscrutabe lottery OF life find them
| selves compelled to labor for their own support;
| or that of dependent father mother, sister, sister
| brother or child? fear noti Yet can conceive
of no act more deserving general contempt than
| that of the luxuriously idle lady" as she at
temps to LOOK down upon her honestly ndasr aa
| MED to those who have no sympathy with, or part
in the efforts Of brave and noble women to better
| the condition of the less fortunate in life? We
| all know it is notl And yet, who that has care
fully studied the signs of the times; and has seen
the recent struggle between labor and capital
and has kept in mind the fact that throughout this
land true
"NIanhood struggles for the sake
"Of mother, sister, daugntef, Wlle;
| and that the true man, though brave in all that
assais himself, breads the merest slight to one of
| these, does not realize the imperative demand OF
| greater community of interest and mutual SYM
| pathy among the women of America than exists
| today? 1t will come, when the ballot is placedin
| the hand of women! The ennobling influences OF
| our churches, our charitable organizations and
| our various reformatory movements nave done
much to break down and to counteract the pernl-
c0uS tendencies of fictitious class distinctions!
| When the women of America shall be Wiling 10
| accept and discharge, and the law snail grant
| them share in the burden and responsibility OF
| suffrage, the ballot in their hands Will prove
| power for the elevation and purifcatton OF our
| social and political conditions, second only TO
| those upward aspirations which are God planted
| in the human SOUL Then shall be created that
| great desideratum in American soclety-the only
| aristocracy which should take root in our SOIL
that of industry, intelligence and virtue in which
she shall be Queen who does the most for the
common veal Very truly yours,
| SAMUEL LoEGFELL0W.
CAMBRIDGE, June 18th.
ReU Henry Blanchard, President Wonton's Slg-
frdge association:
Dear Sir-When l wrote you that could not
| conveniently accept the invitation to be present
and speak at the meeting of your society on the
| 14th, promised to write you some words that
| might be read in the course of your proceedings
My own opinion in favor of woman suffrage is
very largely, as l find in thinking of it, matter
| - / cat atua