Volume II Part 116 (1/2)

Wilson, in a wide-awake lively speech, advised women to try a new method, and starve out the men who would not concede their rights. He said, ”Give them no coffee for breakfast, nor steak for dinner, and nothing good for supper until they put the ballot in your hands.” He gave deserved blame to women for not being more active in their own behalf. This breezy speech was often applauded, and good-natured criticism followed, putting the heaviest duty on the shoulders of men who have the power to free women, but still do not do it. The last speech of the evening was made by Lucy Stone, who showed the dreary helplessness implied in disfranchis.e.m.e.nt, and who sought to arouse women to a proper resentment against such degradation of position. Then was sung, ”Praise G.o.d, from whom all blessings flow,” and thus closed the tenth annual meeting of the American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation.

The Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation held its sessions in 1880 at Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.

Delegates were present from Ma.s.sachusetts, New Hamps.h.i.+re, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and Iowa. A large and intelligent audience nearly filled the body and galleries of the large hall. The meeting was called to order by the President, HENRY B. BLACKWELL, who said: Fellow-citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen: The Annual Meeting of the American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation is not a mere ma.s.s meeting of individuals. It is a body of delegates from State and local societies a.s.sembled in a representative capacity, and as such I welcome you to-night. We meet for the first time in this capital city of the republic, to promote a great social and political change. We propose to subst.i.tute for the existing political aristocracy of men alone, a government founded upon the united suffrages of men and women. We urge the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women, not in a spirit of antagonism between man and woman, but as the common interest of both. We urge the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of woman as an act of political justice, and also as a measure of the highest expediency. Women need the ballot for their own protection and self-respect. Men equally need the votes of women as an added power for order, temperance, purity, and peace.

Mr. BLACKWELL read a dispatch from Gov. Hoyt, of Wyoming Territory:

GREEN RIVER, W. T., Dec. 15, 1880.

_To the Committee on Woman Suffrage_:--Your kind invitation was delayed, so that my acceptance is impossible.

Understand, however, that I fully recognize the justice of the cause you represent, and wish you and your co-laborers G.o.d-speed in the great work of its furtherance.

JOHN W. HOYT.

Mrs. LUCY STONE was the last speaker. She spoke with a quiet earnestness that showed the depth of her convictions, and how greatly her heart was in her work. Her address was an entirely argumentative one, abundant ill.u.s.trations being used to clinch her statements. She said that she felt keenly the degradation of being disfranchised. To bring about a change in the present state of affairs, she would have every mother impress upon her children, when they were as young as nine years of age, that women have as much right to govern as their fathers; then the boys would grow up on the side of their mothers and the girls would become advocates of the cause. Personally she cared more for woman suffrage than anything else under the sun. In conclusion, she urged the people of Was.h.i.+ngton to help them in obtaining from Congress a XVI. Amendment to the Const.i.tution, giving women the right to vote, and for the enactment of a law giving women suffrage in the Territories.

The following letter was read:

WAs.h.i.+NGTON, Dec. 5, 1880.

MY DEAR MRS. HOWE:--My time is to be so crowded with occupations for the next ten days that I must decline your courteous invitation to speak at the annual meeting of the American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation.

I shall be very glad to take some fitting opportunity publicly to reaffirm my conviction, which grows stronger with every year's experience, that the admission of woman to her full and equal share in the Government is essential to a perfect republic.

I am, yours very truly, GEO. F. h.o.a.r.

Letters were read from W. G. Elliot, President of the University of Missouri, Lorepiza Haynes, Frances D. Gage, Emma C. Bascom, Mrs. Mary F. Henderson, and George B. Loring.

Mrs. HELEN M. GOUGAR, of Lafayette, Ind., read a carefully prepared statement of objections, and answered them with force and spirit. Her address was happily conceived and gracefully delivered. Her voice is a clear soprano, distinct, well modulated, with not a little melody in its pure, soft tones.

Miss EASTMAN read a form of memorial which had been prepared to be presented to Congress to-day. It was adopted.

Miss GREW moved that the President of the a.s.sociation be requested to take steps to present it at once. Adopted.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress a.s.sembled:_--The American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation at its annual meeting of delegates, convened in Was.h.i.+ngton, Dec.

16, 1880, respectfully pray your honorable bodies to enact a law securing to women, citizens of the United States, resident in the Territories, the same political rights as are exercised by the male citizens of the United States resident therein.

(Signed) H. B. BLACKWELL, _President_.

LUCY STONE, _Chairman Ex. Com._ MATILDA HINDMAN, _Secretary_.

(The names of the Executive Committee, thirty in number, were also added).

Mrs. LUCY STONE, chairman of the Executive Committee, read the tenth annual report of the American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation.

After which reports from the different States were given. At the afternoon session, after a statement by Mrs. STONE, in regard to the finances of the meeting, an invitation was extended to become members of the a.s.sociation by the payment of $1. Mrs. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, of Somerville, N. J., made an address upon the right and necessity of granting woman suffrage. Mrs. Blackwell read from her ma.n.u.script, and made a quiet but effective appeal for the cause.

Miss MARY GREW, of Pennsylvania, was the next speaker. She maintained that the chief reason women were disfranchised was that men did not think about it, and the women did not either.

She urged her hearers hereafter to think about it. This right should be conferred on women in accordance with the principles of this Government. But it is asked: What do you want of the ballot?

And the speaker said that she wanted it to do with it the same as men did, and for the protection of her rights and those of other women. She could not say how women would vote if they got the ballot, but she supposed they would use it much as other citizens had done.