Year: 1876

and barbarous practices so rapidly,
should be willing to sit still in the fet-
ters that bound them when men too
were little better than the slaves of
feudal barons, or, at the best, the SER
wants and instruments of brutal kings
and ignorant clergy. 1t is due to the
world, quite as much as to ourselves,
that We should rise above the baseness
of our former conditions.


The argument so often and fluently
uttered, that most women are content
to be just what they are, if true, which
it is not, is but poor and illogical one.
In the dark ages men were content,
through ignorance, to remain in bond
age; but did that british stupidity and
Indifference to the wrongs they were
suffering make the wrongs right ?
Would not any true philanthropist es-
say to raise them out of the darkness
and mire of such lives 1t is no argu-
ment at all against the movement to ell
evate woman to a social and political
equality with man, that so many are in
different to the demand. They will not
be Indifferent when these privileges are
brought within their reach. remem-
ber talking with fine-looking negress,
before the Rebellion, on the subject of
her enslavement to her Southern mas
ter, and she assured me she would not
be free if she could; sit was not her
place to be free; darkies was made for
servants to de white folks" But how
many negroes talked in that way when
freedom came within their reach
What would they not endure for the
sake of liberty, then? What staunch
Republicans are the blacks still, because
the Republican party liberated them !!
The party that shall H6erate women
will be the strongest party ever known
in this Republic.


think that women who have been
trying to accomplish good in other
ways, in moral reforms, temperance,
ETC., are about ready to "come over and
help u.s." They are becoming convinced
that their efforts are lost upon society
so long as they have no political power.
[ was working ally of the Temperance
crusade" not so much because I ex-
pected the Lord of heaven and earth to
shut up saloons in direct and miracu-
lous answer to prayer, as because 1 be-


lieved in our right to attack by irregular
measures those evils that men prevent
our attacking by regular ones, and be-
cause l knew that women would not


work long in that way without finding


out their need of the ballot. In the


same way l have worked with the


"Women's Band of Helpers" though


felt that every step they took in the en-


deavor to benefit the lost of their own


sex would prove to them that so long as


men have the mastery of this world
women may labor in vain to rescue the


fallen who have no voice in the making


of the laws that govern them. Ishould


think, too, that the action of the Ma.


tional Young Mems Christian Associa,


ton had given women a hint broaC


enough to be taken by them all wheT


they excluded them from their meeting


last summer. They do not want US tt


concern ourselves about them. Let u!


then expend our energies in working TO


ourselves, and in the only right direc


ton, that will give us the right and tn,


power to work effectively. Let no


what men may say, or women, either
intimidate US; let no petty jealOusie
nor disgusting scandals turn us aside
f We have no strength to waste on a0On1
/ GnIy Squdb5LeS nor manly assaults.
In my opinion, the thing we mos
: need is money. 1t seems as if it mus
t be a long time before we accomplish
t anything if we wait to be rich, for tina
81 we never can be without the ballot ye
e money, some money, is actually an
, imperatively necessary to carry forwar
: our party. 1t is a great pity we have S
e few women who have either time c


money to the work, and so few NAL


friends who are willing and able to hel


US.


proposed plan last winter that wa
n nominany approved by those present 6
f the February Convention, to start ST
: cret society, or to enter upon a reguls
J. series of political meetings when th
: science of government, the political hi
d tory of the country, the local laws, an
1 all kindred topics should be studied an
e commented upon; and that we shoul
= eventually organize into party, nom


nate our candidates, hold elections, an
y in every way carry on the political wor
e of party, or a separate government.
n would much prefer this sort of action
Y begging favors of men little by littl
y There can scarcely be doubt but tina
d in this way, in couple of years, or tiN
!, at the longest, the other political pa
e ties would find a use for US, and be
d desirous of our suffrages as we are to b
l. stow them. If 1 were public speake
Il would undertake to organize the won
l. an!s party, but since 1 am not, that i
If bor must fall to some more efficiel
o person.


e hope, since you have our legislato
# at hand, that you will try to get son
If of our property laws amended in the i