New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-05
AGAINST THE SUFFRAGE.
BROOKLYN WOMEN WHO DO NOT WANT
TO VOTE.
MEETING IN MEMORIAL HALL ADDhE"Shp III
DIR LYMAN ABBOTT AND oTHERs-A LET
HEWITT

tian Association Building AT ocheriheino i"-''
and Flatbush-ave.. was well filled last evening
with women prominent in Brooklyn society
circles who had gathered to take part in a meet
ing of the Brooklyn auxiliary OF the New-forK
State Association opposed to the extension OF the
suffrage to women.
The stage was tastefully decorated win HOW
orc and for half an hour before the meeting was
called IN order 3 well-arranged organ recital was
given The officers of the Brooklyn auxiliary are
Mrs LYMAN Abbott chairman; Mrs. David NJ
Morrison treasurer; Mrs. James Mckeen corre-
spending secretary Mrs. Sturgis Coffin. recordine
secretary: executive committee, Mrs WiIiiam a.
Putnam Mrs. Tunis G Bergen Mrs James L.
Morgan jr Mrs. Thomas E. Stillman' MIS-
Dwight Richardson Mrs. Joseph c. Hoagland,
Mrs Allan Macnaughton Mrs. James s. Suydam,
Miss Chttenden.
Mrs. LYMAN Abbott in calling the meeting 10
order introduced Tunis G. Bergen as presiding
officer Mr. Bergen. after stating the OBJECT OF
the meeting said that to Brooklyn belonged the
honor Of originating the movement by women III
favor of women to protest against the extension
Of the suffrage 1t was about a year and half
ago just before the meeting OF the constitutional
Convention There was a gathering of women,
and in twenty-five days. at little expense circu-
lars were sent out to women in every city in the
tension of the franchise to women. The conse-
ouence was that TO- 200 signatures of women were
presented TO the Constitutional Convention
against this project and the proposition to strike
out The word male" from the constitution was
Overwhelmingly defeated.
The time had long gone by he said. when
the claim that all the brill!ancy ana strehg'h
of mind on the part of the women were on 'ne
side of woman suffragists. We have been taught
IN believe that the ballot is the most important
of our rights. that it is the right OF nature
Here is a gathering Of citizens to say we DO not
want vour vote They recognize that there
are privileges much more important much more
dear than that of the franchise. The home ana
family are things far more important IN lhe
carving on of the government of this country
and there true woman should have the right 10
rule
Edward Barr. the secretary Of the meeting
then read letter from Mrs. Terhune (Marioh
Harland) in which she said that she most
heartily deprecated the attempt to impose upon
women the duties OF the franchise. She wrote
that she would gladly have been present to
speak but found ii impossible. In the imme-
date future Mrs. Perfume wrote. she proposes
to write at length upon this question
He then read a letter from ex-Mayor Hewitt
of New-York. who, the speaker sad was the
champion of every righteous cause. Mr. Hewitt
wrote follows
New-York March .. 1896.
had no been sent to me should all the same have
written TO you 10 express the great regret whlch /
n nUt Sfns to Ss held on
at Memorial Han. In the presen, state OF me
although endeavor TO render such aid may be In
my power TO useful public movements IN my own
winter to leave the city. or indeed. TO 90 out at
night even In my neighborhood. In thus ex-
not know any intelligent man who has the slightest
objection to comforting the suffrage upon women as
soon II is made evident that such step VIII not
be injurious alike to the State and 10 the women
who will be required TO perform an additional drty
claim which is made that there is any Injustice to
your sex IN thus relieving 1t from Inc bnrnen 'i
foundation in fact and TO be the result OF an en-
tire misconcepton as to the true theory OF govern
| Mr. Hewitt then says that the suffrage has. by
the laws Of the State. been confined to those who
can bear arms. and says: 1T Is obvious that
| women cannot serve In the army or the NATIONAL
Guard. 1t is also plain that jury duty while 1t Is
physically possible. would be sngularly incon-
venient for women TO perform" He says that In
claiming what some of them believe to be right
I and seeking at the same time to be relieved from
the duties imposed by the suffrage, women are
| demanding what is neither just nor wise And
am sure" he says that when women consider
the consequences involved in the performance OF
the duty of suffrage they will shrink from under
taking a task for which they are unified by
nature and by training.
But to my mind there is q still more weghty
argument. although of a nature which will re-
quire much more time than can possibly com
mand for even an adequate statement here
Mr. &c
very much higher and irmer than mans. II
would be to her loss to minge with men In such
a struggle would be necessiated II she had
the privilege the right Of franchise.
Mrs. Rossiter Johnson traced the growth Of
progress for the last fifty years and the greater
benefits and rights of women which 1t is claimed
by the women suffragsts were brought abou
by them. This claim Is disputed by those who be
lieve that suffrage for women was retrogres
sion. If it known that women would no
cast Q vote II she had the privilege. that fac
would not close the door Of a single profession 4
woman. II would not shut her out from a singh
college; it would not debar her from single
right or privilege which she now enjoys
The speaker referred to the working OF woman
suffrage more less restricted in the foreign
countries. and then treated OF the history Of thu
movement Of this country;
The Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott was then intro
duced and made a short address. He said tina
women were progressing. but IT would not be pro
greSS Tor them 10 secure the Tlgnt OF FRANCHISE
Whenever in the past that privilege had beef
granted to the sex. while at first many availet
themselves of II. yet year after year the numbe
OF women who sought 20 vote smaller until
ultimately II was shown that the most intelligent
the most cultivated and the most self-respectinj
Of women were satisfied that the franchise wa
not one Of the rights privileges which thos
who sought for the best interest Of the sex woulC
seek.
THE RECEIJERSHIP MADE PERMA NENT