The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-17

Mr.. Blanchard then made an address. He
said that the declaration of Gov. Robie con-
corning his vote in the legislature, deserved
the applause which it received. The chief
object OF the meeting was to secure the circu-
lation of petitions. He should ask all per
sons present to take one of these. sign their
names and obtain as many other signatures
as possible. The legislature would meet on
the first Wednesday of January, and would
be ready for business on the following Mon
day. He should ask some believer In woman
suffrage, In the Senate or in the House, to
introduce bill giving municipal suffrage to
the women Of Maine. He wished TO have the
votes Of those who were themselves con-
vinced Of the justice of " oman suffrage. He
wanted no man to vote for the bill because
he thought it would not pass. To secure at
teution we must have lengthy petitions. Mr.
Henry B. Blackwell and Mrs. Lucy Stone
will be asked to appear before the legislature.
1t Is only wise to consider the obstacles ia
success The chief of these is the indiffer-
ence to woman suffrage among women. When
women are sufficiently in earnest to oppose
they are in fair way to be converted. He
should not object to remonstrance. Never.
theless, before any such should be signed, he
would like to ask aquestion. Through those
who were present, and through the reports
which the papers may give, he would address
himself to those who are opposed to woman
suffrage. Is 1t a generous thing for one who
does not wish to vote herself to try to prevent
the vote of one who does? Is 1t just thing
to do this? There are women, indeed, who
are streRuously opposed to voting by women.
but there are as many who as strenuously
wish to vote. If municipal suffrage shall be
granted, the women who do not wish to vote
will not be compelled to do so. What gene
rosity, what justice is there In the action OF
those who shall try to prevent others from
voting? 1t Is the Indifference of women,
however, which causes the greatest discour
agement. But believers in woman suffrage
must not be discouraged longer than five min
ntes at a time. When they think Of the great
intellects who favor their cause, they may
well believe it shall one day be victorious.
Mr.. Blanchard then quoted the words of
several distinguished men by way of illus
tration, making pleasant comment upon
each as he read his words, among them be-
L0ngfellow, Plato, Abraham Lincoln, Chief
Justice Chase and Charles Kingsley.
ADDRESS OF MRS. L. NJ. N. STEVENS.
The next speaker was Mrs. i. NJ. N. Ste
vens. who spoke as follows: / appear this
afternoon. not as representative Of the w.
@. L. u, OF whose cooperation" Mr.. Blan-
chard has so kindly spoken, but rather as q
representative of the Maine Woman's Suf-
frage Association. Why make the distinc
tion Is, that In speaking to my sisters of the
white ribbon army / might present little
ulucIcub lluc Vi dIBuulcuL bldu III speaking
TO an audience made up as Is this one. De
Tocqueville said "life Is neither pleasure
nor pain; but serious business, to be en-
tered upon with courage and IN a spirit of
self-sacrifce." Jt Is in accord with this
thought that l plead for and desire the bal.
lot. III you ask one why / want 1t, would
answer by asking why does the president OF
this meeting, Mr.. Blanchard, want the bal
lot? What does the man whom i saw iust
now carrying coal, by the basket, up stairs
want of the ballot? believe may give a:
many and as strong reasons why desire the
ballot az can the two men mentioned. lu
these later years, in my connection with phi
lanthr0pic work, l have often desired the
ballot; there Is an injustice inldecisions ever
in courts, where justice should ever prevail
because women are not allowed a place in al
as well as in part Of its transactions. 1t /:
weakly argued sometimes that women do no
want the ballot. To be sure all women dC
not All Of the slaves did not want to b.
emancipated. Some may have been satisfied
with their situation as slaves. But this par
was not considered when war gave them th'
legal right to snap their bonds-it was done
| Suppose the majority of women in this Stat
do not wish to vote is that any reason wh,
| the min0rity-why |, who do desire it, shall
be deprived of the right.
To thus deprive us, and for ouch a reason
| Ideclare to be ungener0us and unjust. Beside
| l am sure the company Of women in Main
| is not small one who desire the ballot
| There is petition in circulation something
| like this: 1--WE, the sunder signed, womel
above 21 years of age, being holders Of tax
| able property, do hereby Iprotest agains
taxation without representation and asl
| that a law may be enacted giving US tn
| right to vote in all municipal matters"
| One of these has at its head the name of
| woman. who is among the very heaviest tal
| payers In our State-and women are evei
| more ready to sign this than the general pc
| titiOn-because 1t strikes them from tn
| right angle. There's good deal of humal
nature in this; but after ALL there's a highe
| and nobler reason for our desire for tn,
ballot. 1t has come to us in such meaning
| full ways so many times in connection wit
| our endeavors to help those who are need
| and down trodden, and more than for an
| other reason do l wish to vote, because O
| the "cause that lacks assistance, and tn
wrong that needs resistance"
Having commented on the large number 0
women voters In Boston. who recently vote
for the School Board of that city, MI
Blanchard called upon the Rev. Q. II. Shinr
| Of Deering. That gentleman expressed hi
| deep sympathy with the cause.
At the conclusion of the meeting petition
to the Legislature were circulated among. tn
audience. They are to be returned by Jar
uary 10Th to the w. G. T. U. headquarterl
| 513 Exchange street.
/ Another meeting of the Association wi
| be held early in January.