New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-23
MISS ANTHONY NO "MILITANT"
She Worked Hard for Suffrage, but Was
Opposed to Partisanship

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The banners displayed by the "p!ckets'
at the White House on the birthday OF Susan
B. Anthony. carrying quotations from her
speeches and writings, separated from their
context. evidently were intended to convey
the impression that Susan B. Anthony was
herself militant" and that during the Civil
War she put woman suffrage before the pres
ervation of the Union. Miss Anthony was
militant" in the sense in which we speak OF
the Church militant" always courageous and
aggressive in writing and speaking for her
cause, but never sanctioning in the slightest
degree anything in the nature of militancy
through physical demonstration. She was un-
alterably opposed TO political partisanshlp'
believing that the suffrage could be obtained
only through the assistance OF its friends IN
all parties
Her record during the Civil War, briefly
stated. is as follows:
Early in 1861. when Miss Anthony began TO
prepare for the annual suffrage convention
she was urged to abandon it, but she was not
willing at that time to do so. As soon' how
ever. as the country was in the midst OF war
neither she nor any of the other leaders made
the slightest effort to hold d convention o.
suffrage meeting of any kind or to press
their claim for the ballot until 1866 after
the war was over and the proposed amend
ments 10 the Federal Constitution became the
subject of wide discussion.
In January, 1868, at the request of Senator
Charles Sumner and his colleagues, who were
working for the emancipation Of the slaves
Miss Anthony and Elizabeth Cady stanton
issued + call for "a meeting OF the loyal
women of the nation in New York CITY,
which declared: "In this crisis il is the duty
NJ everv citizen to decide what sac
rifces of wealth ard life are demanded for
the country's defence and preservation At
! this meeting the Woman's National Loyal
League was formed and headquarters estab-
J Iished in Cooper Institute. To its work Miss
Anthony gave every day of her time for me
next year and a haif, raising money and col
Letting petitions to be sent TO President l.in-
coin for emancipation The other leading
suffragists, including Mrs. stanton, Lucy
stone Lille Devereux Blake and scores of
others. assisted in this work. They secured
| 400 900 names, and again and again Senator
/
wrote Miss Anthony: "These petitions form
the bulwark Of the demand for Congressional
action to abolish slavery The women
worked loyalty and constantly up to the end
of the war
/ Should the country become involved in an
other great conflict Inc sufragists may be
depended upon to follow the example of the
pioneers of more than half a century ago.
| The national association during the coming
week will hold a meeting of delegates from
every state to decide in what way it can be
Of the most service 20 the country should its
assistance be needed.
1t is earnestly hoped that their loyalty and
devotion will not meet the ingratitude shown
by the nations leaders at the close Of the
! Civil War, when women asked for voice in
| the government which they had helped to
save. IDA Hustled HARPER,
Chairman National Suffrage Press Com
mittee.
Washington d. c. Feb. 49, 1917