Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-23
WOMEN IN CONVENTION.
Address by Mrs. Sewall-A
Letter from Mrs. Gage.

morning session of the National women's suf-
4Nge convention closed in yesterdays STAR
Ma Sevan was in the midst of an address
upon "Women in the recent campaign She
gave . vivid picture of the active part played
by women in the political meetings and demon
STATIONS, and said that she had heard no public
criticism Of women appearing in these political
demonstrations, and she thought that it
significant, especially in view Of the objections
often heard against comforting the ballot on
women that it would give them too great pub
hcity, be a great strain on their physical
health, and bring them in unpleasant contact
with men. None of these unpleasant results of
women's prominence in public affairs was OBJ
served during the past campaign. She gave
several amusing descriptions of
THE PROMINENCE OF WOMEN IN THE CAMPAIGN,
and contrasted il with the general idea enter
tanned by men of the degrading influence upon
women if they should go to the polls to vote.
The difference between travelling long dis
lance In a crowd and marching in tOrchlight
professions and a quiet walk short distance
from home to the voting place was sharply
drawn, and the sarcasm was hugely enjoyed by
the audience. She said that the national re-
publican committee paid a woman the highest
salary paid for campaign speeches with the ex-
ception Of the salary paid to one man. The
prominence of
WOMEN IN JOURNALISTIC WORK
was also commented upon and she told of one
woman in charge of the interests in India
napolis during the past campaign of one of
the leading western papers that she worked
steadily for seventeen hours on election day.
That evening Mrs. Sewal observed that she
did not seem to be tired, and vet she asked
what newspaper man could show a similar
record without the necessity of resorting to beer
or tobacco to keep up. The political science
clubs recently organized throughout the coun-
try he hpliQyp1 Wpr the clubs nOHpr
new name, and that the interest of the women
aroused during the campaign had been directed
toward an investigation into their political
condition.
THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
In speaking of the attitude of the members
Of the Indiana legislature on the suffrage ques-
ton, she said that the members told her that
they were in favor Of giving the ballot to
women, but they would not vote for any
measure in this direction for the reason that
one of the representative women in that state
favored the third-party movement. This shows,
commented the speaker, sarcastically, to what
plane of pure reason women must reach
before they can hope to become
THE POLITICAL PEERS OF MEN.
The conclusion and the only conclusion to
be based upon these facts is that it is folly to
speak Of women as being incapable of taking
part in politics. They now in politics. and
what remains to be done Is to give them the
weapon which will make them feel RESPONSE
BILE for the opinions which they hold. Men. in
her opinion. now, to a large extent, sacrifice
principle to expediency in politics. Women
who have been less schooled in expediency
must come in to preserve the political balance
and to keep the government founded upon the
cardinal principles of the fathers. She referred
to the plank in the republican platform which
asserts that every citizen, black or white, has
the right to cast a full ballot and have it
counted, and she expressed the hope that
GEN. HARRISON WOULD GIVE THIS JUST IN
TERPRErATIoN.
He had said nothing in his letter of accept
ance, but the ladies were in hopes that the
looked-for Interpretation would be in his in
auguraL. In case Gen. Harrison. for whose high
character and fairness they had the greatest
respect, might look at this matter through the
veil of expediency and might miss the basic
principle, Miss Anthony and herself had written
him a letter setting forth what they deemed
TO be the proper Interpretation Of this plank.
MRS. COUGAR AND THE THIRD PARTY.
After Mrs. Sewall had concluded Mrs.
Cougar spoke in regard to her connection with
the adoption of the municipal Kal.sas bill, and
said that this result was largely due to the
third party. Gen. Harrison, she said had
never done anything for moral reform in In
diana, and in his forthcoming inaugural she
predicted that there would not be one word in
favor of the cause of the women. She added
that the third party was the only one that had
dared to speak out for God and home and
native land She protested against any allie
glance to party that could rely upon wOmen's
vote in bulk.
After announcements by Miss Anthony the
convention adjourned
LAST EVENINGS SESSION.
The session last evening was opened with
music from Prof. Bischoff and Mrs. True.
There was a large attendance, and the addresses
were spirited and well received. Lille Deve-
reu1 Blake, of New York. spoke on political
methods Mrs Sarah NJ Perkins of Ohio ON
organization, and Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway.
Of Oregon, on ballots and bullets. Miss An
thony closed the evening session with a short
talk.
MRS CAGES LETTER
letter has been received from Mrs Matilda
Joslyn Gage. 1t commences by assert
ing that the trust, the monopoly, most sub
versive of the rights of the people, is that of
the ballot in the hands of man alone. The
money thief, she says contents himself with
taking that which is external 10 the person the
spiritual thief steals part of ones very being;
he prevents the full development of the intel
lect and the soul. When the ballot is denied to
woman she is rendered incapable of fully be-
coming herself. One of the principal methods
Of growth has been denied to her. She is not
permitted to give the world her own opinions,
clothed with due authority, but has the ideas
OF others imposed upon her in relation to all
questions. spiritual, ntellectual, and material
No tyranny equals this-no oppression so
great-as that imposed in the name of lbertyl
The very first act of the Fifteenth Congress
was the passage of bill to restore to citizen
ship-that Is, TO make again a voter-a man
who. by crime against the United States had
lost his right to the ballot. This endowing in
dividual men with the ballot, by separate and
specific acts OF Congress. is thus legislatively
carried out at the rate Of about five hundred a
year.
During the present session of Congress Mrs
Harriet III. Robinson, of Massachusetts. finds
her petition most respectfully treated Sena-
tor Dawes. of Massachusetts, through whom il
was presented. wrote Mrs. Robinson that her
petition had made quite a stir, and no doubt
the committee would like to hear from her in
regard to IT." So here is a great step in adj
vance. The Senate, TO which such petitions
nave oeen presented since 1878. has at last
reused 70 thought upon the subject This body
now asks reasons of a petitioner why her
prayer should be granted These petitions
nave been educational; they have roused
thought The ancients called Jupiter che
cloud compeller." Woman to this nation ia
thought-compeller. This has been the great
work Of the National Woman's Suffrage Isso-
citation IN the past, to compel thought upon the
Just principle Of government. We cannot saw
that the thousands of individual petitions by
women within the past eleven years for the
removal of political disabilities have been
wasted munition.
She closes by giving form of petition and
urging every woman. IN her own NAME to at