BLACKWELL FAMILY LUCY STONE 1872-1891 Anthony, Susan B. Febry 18, 1889 Open letter to the Women of America Lucy Stone Julia Ward Howe Mary A. Livermore Mary F. Eastman Elizabeth C. Stanton Susan B. Anthony Belva Lockwood Matilda Joselyn Gage and Frances E. Willard. and many other noble women too numerous to mention--to whom--we the women of Utah send greeting--and as we are now an organized Women's Suffrage Association formed according to the accepted rules of such Associations--we desire to express a wish to work in harmony with all other Associations of like character--and as in union there is strength we would offer a suggestion that our Little Organization away in the Rocky Mts. may be the golden link to join together those two grand armies The American and the National Woman Suffrage Associations for women. We honor and respect the integrity evinced by these noble women, and the courage they have shown through good and ill report!--Faithfully meeting in convention year after year, at the Nation's capital to claim with forcive arguments their right to a voice in National Politics.-- For a quarter of a century women over 21 years of age, who are neither idiotic nor insance have been claiming a recognition of their rights under the Constitution, which makes no distinction of sex! All intelligent citizens of these United States who have reached their majority, being entitled to the right of franchise, even the negro, and the alien too, can in due time claim this right as his own. Having we see no reason why we should not be accepted as a strong ally to the Woman Suffrage Party--Our Association numbers many thousand women and hence we bring a voice of some importance to women throught the civilized world.--And with a sincere desire that a GrandUnion may be formed by which the women of this planet may clasp hands and encompass it, we sign ourselves Your co-workers in a grand cause Lydia D. Alder, Vice-president. Maria Y. Dugall, Chm. Ex. Committee. Charlotte Ives Kerby, Cor. Secretary.Boston, Mar. 5, 1890 Dear Miss Anthony I will authorize you to add my signature to yours in approving any bills relating to the expenses of the National American Convention just past. It will save time and trouble. You are on the spot and know all about the bills. Yours sincerely, Lucy Stone Boston, Dec. 11, 1890 Dear Susan Anthony. We are to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first National Women's Rights Convention in this city on the 27th and 28th of January next. We want to make the meeting as useful to the Cause as we can. You ought to be there. Will you come? The sheafs gathered in these 40 years are to be presented, and of course there will be some reminiscences of pioneer times. We shall be glad to announce you as one of the speakers. I hope you are a little rested since the hard campaign in Dakota. What an evil root it is we are trying to pull out, and how long it takes! But it will come out all the same. Yours truly Lucy Stone. Dorchester, Mass. Jan 30, 1891 Dear Susan Anthony What a mercy it was that you fell into the shelter and care of the Garrisons where so serious an illness came upon you! A home is better than a hotel at any time, but in case of sickness a home is indispendable [sic]. Of course everybody was disappointed that you could not be at the meeting so that they might at least see you. Now that you are convalescing, and we trust, on the high road to recovery, and the meetings are order, we want to arrange for an informal reception at our office, so that those, or some of those who were sorry not to see you at the meeting may have a chance to do so. I was too tired today to go with my two, and maybe you would have been too tired to see us, if I had gone. It is not quite the same when we are 72 as it is when we are 27. Still I am glad of what is left, and wish we might both hold out till the victory we have sought for is won. But all the same the victory is coming. In the after time the world will be the better for it. Trusting you may soon be well again, I am your fellow-worker, Lucy Stone. [Office of The Woman's Journal, No. 3 Park Street,] [Boston] Dorchester, Sept. 6 1891 Dear Miss Anthony I came through Rochester last Friday night and was sorry not to stop - but I was miserable with "bowels". The [lime water?] of the West always makes me ill and I had no courage to add even a straw to the situation. I am sure we have no reason to fear a lack of representation and opportunity at Chicago. We saw Senator Palmer, Mr. Bonney, Mrs. Potter Palmer, Mrs. Henrotin Mrs [Flower?] and others and we found only the warmest good will to our cause, and its proper representation. Mr. Bonney's idea of a Committee on several broad subjects one of which will be suffrage will give us a largerhearing than we could have on our single question alone. I mean larger, under the circumstances. The whole question of suffrage (not merely as applied to women) will come up , and it will give the best possible opportunity to put in and show the claim of women--We were quite satisfied after talking with Mr. Bonney. Then at the suggestion of Mr. Bonney we went to our good friend Senator Palmer, and asked him to take the chairmanship of this Committee in the men's department. He said he should like to do it very much and he thought he would. He was to let Mr. Bonney know later, but up to the time of our leaving he had not decided--but it will be a great thing if the President of the Columbian Fair is chairman of this committee--There is a rule in both departments that the chairman & vice chairman and the special committee must live so near to Chicago that they can attend the business meetings But the Advisory Board of course has a wider sweep of location and that will include enough of distinctive Suffragists-- (2 The outlook at Chicago is certainly very good for our cause. It will be lifted on a whole age by this effort in a new situation. The women themselves will learn so much! Mrs. John A. Logan [told] said to me "before they know it they will be there." --I happened to be in Chicago at the time of the five days business meeting of the Women's Department-- so, distinguished women were there from all over the Union, and so many of them were fine looking noble women! And a host of them were suffragists. I stopped at the Palmer House. Here were headquarters for the Women.--They came to me from everywhere to say they were suffragists. Especially the Southern women to whom the question is a fresher gospel. It did my heart good to meet them and to see and feel their warm Enthusiasm, and they are still young, able to fight whenwe are gone. Mrs. Potter Palmer is herself a host on our side. She is so beautiful, so gracious, so tactful, so rich, and so clearly a suffragist that she will win for our cause by her very personality. Everything seems to be helping now. How good it is after these long years of endeavor! We got home last night. At our meeting at the Winnebogo County Fair in Ill. the great audience almost unanimously (apparently wholly so) voted their approval of Women Suffrage. It was a sight worth seeing, when the great crowd rose up on our side and the president of the Fair [wore] wore the yellow ribbon as did the Mayor of the city. Yours in good hope of victory not so far off as it was once. Lucy StoneLucy Stone to Susan B. Anthony Dorchester, Sept. 6, 1891 Dear Miss Anthony: I came through Rochester last Friday night and was sorry not to stop, But I was miserable. The lime water of the West always makes me ill, and I had no courage to add even a chair to the situation. I am sure we have no reason to fear a lack of representation and opportunity at Chicago. We saw Senator Palmer, Mr. Bonney, Mrs. Potter Palmer, Mrs. Henrotise, Mrs. Flower, and others and we found only the earnest good will to our cause and to its proper representation. Mr. Bonney's idea of a Committee on several broad subjects, one of which will be suffrage, will give us a larger hearing than we could have on our single question alone. I mean larger under the circumstances. The whole question of suffrage (not merely as applied to woman) will come up , and it will give the best possible opportunity to put in and show the claim of woman--We were quite satisfied after talking with Mr. Bonney. Then we went to our good friend Senator Palmer, and asked him to take the chairmanship of this Committee in the Men's Dept. He said he should like to do it very much, and he thought he would. He was to let Mr. Bonney know later. But up to the time of our leaving he had not decided. But it will be a great thing if the President of the Columbian Fair is chairman of this Committee. There is a rule in both departments that the chairman and vice chairman, and the special committees must live so near to Chicago that they can attend the business meetings. But the Advisory Board, of course, has a wider sweep of location and that will include enough of distinctive Suffragists. The outlook at Chicago is certainly very good for our cause. It will be lifted on a whole age by this effort in a new situation. The women themselves will learn so much! Mrs. John A. Logan said to me, "before they know it they will be there." I happened to be in Chicago at the time of the five days business meeting of the Women's Department. So many distinguished women were there from all over the Union, and so many of them were fine-looking, noble women! And the best of them were suffragists. I stopped at the Palmer House. Here were headquarters for the Women. They came to me from everywhere to say they were suffragists. Especially the Southern women to whom the question is fresh gospel. It did my heart good to meet them, and to see and feel their warm enthusiasm. And they are still young, able to fight when we are gone. Mrs.Potter Palmer is herself a host on our side. She is as beautiful and so gracious. So tactful, so rich and so clearly a suffragist that she will win for our cause by her very personality. Everything seems to be helping now. How good it is after those long years of endeavor! We got home last night. At our meeting at the Winebago County Fair in Ills., the great audience almost unanimously (apparently wholly so) voted their approval of Woman Suffrage. It was a sight worth seeing where the great crowd rose up on our side, and the President of the Fair wore the yellow ribbon as did the Mayor of the city. Yours in good hope of the victory not so far off as it was once, Lucy Stonefile Lucy Stone League Susan B. Anthony writes 1858(?) in a fragment of letter to Lucy Stone "I am more and more rejoiced that you have declared by actual doing that a woman has a name and may retain it throughout her life."L.S. 1885 Office of Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association 5 Park Street Boston, Jan. 2 1885 Dear Miss Anthony I owe you an apology for delay in reply to yours of the 24th ult. But I have been over busy. Of course, I have had no opportunity since its receipt to consult the officer of the association. But as the American association has always urged a 16th amendment there is no doubt that would unite in an Extra Effort to push for it. But I am sure they would want their part to be counted to their credit. The Woman's Journal will Encourage the united plan. It will make its own statement and take charge of the part that will Especially come to the American Association, and beready to cooperate according to its judgment and in a spirit of good will with the whole movement Wishing you a happy new year and as many of them as you may desire Yours for our common cause Lucy Stone LS 1885 Office of The Woman's Journal No. 5 Park Street Boston, Jan. 20 1885 Dear Susan Yours came yesterday & I directed the complete sets of our tracts to be sent you. Will you send me please the papers that contain the best accts of the Washington convention that I may make up report A good debate in the Senate will be invaluable. I hope you may have as pleasant weather as we are having. Mr. Manson told me yesterday that our case will come up on Friday most probably, but that we should not hear any decision before Apr. or May--But then he fully Expects it will be on ourside--What a blessing it will be to have so much with which to work! Yours truly Lucy StoneBoston, Mar. 18, 1884 Dear Susan, ... Mrs. Duniway spoke to a very large audience in Fremont Temple last Sunday, and to great acceptance. I was very glad to see that you had a really fine convention in Washington, and so successful in every way. [We] have been badly beaten here. Yours Truly, Lucy Stone LS 1884 Office of The Woman's Journal No. 5 Park Street Boston, Mar. 18 1884 Dear Susan Mr. Manson came in yesterday to tell me that we have no chance now, till the November term, of having our claim to Mrs. Eddy's legacy settled. It is very trying. But I had told Mrs. Duniway I would raise $1000 for her. The case seems so hopeful then, that it is with this Effort-- Mrs. Duniway spoke to a very large audience in Tremont Temple last Sunday afternoon, and to great acceptance. I was very glad to see that you had a really fine convention in Washington and so successful Every way. We have been badly beaten here. Yours truly Lucy StoneNational Woman Suffrage Association President, Susan B. Anthony Rochester,N.Y Ch'n Ex. Com, Matilda Joslyn Gage Fayetteville, N.Y. Cor. Sec'y, Jane Graham Jones 910 Prairie Ave., Chicago, Ill. For, Cor. Sec'y, Laura Curtis Bullard 85 East Thirty-ninth St., New York Rec. Sec'y, Mary F. Davis Orange, New Jersey Treasurer, Ellen C. Sargent Washington, D.C. Rochester Aug 13th 1872. Dear Lucy In stopping home this summer with my dear mother almost 79, [this summer] to give my sister Mary a chance to travel and rest & recruit--And it has given me quite as much of both--I have been looking over the things of "Auld lang syne"--and among them find copies of our old reports as stated in the enclosed-- I have written to Aunt Fanny Gage--Antoinette & several others, saying that if they could furnish me with copies to both make up setts complete--I would send them in return a bound volume--or if they prefer, the complete sett unbound--or make any arrangement they prefer--In these years of loanings and movings I have lost some, I find--I have always held them as sacred treasure--I fear all of yours went in the fire with the many other treasures--What a blotting out a fire must make--But I want you to have one of these setts--unless you have better & fuller one already--and willmake you such compensation as you shall say for any copies you may send of those of which you will see I have so few-- I shall have blank pages placed between the reports--so as to paste news paper reports if I can get them--Mrs. M.C. Wright furnished me with such of the Cincinnati Convention-- Perhaps Mr. Garrison might have some /-- I wonder if it would bring any of them if you should put a card in the Journal-- My idea is--if I can get any more than each of us a copy round--to put them in the most prominent Libraries in the Country--They will be safer there than in private ones--Mrs. Stanton & Mrs. Wright are the only persons I know who have them bound--& I got theirs bound for them years ago--As I look over our work of these twenty & more years--there is a real joy comes to me--& now, that one of the great political parties has at last eyes to discover us & our demand--I know that we are a power and never again to be less--but greater & greater until full recognition shall come from them-- Sincerely yours--Susan B. AnthonyCONSTITUTION OF THE National Woman Suffrage Association ARTICLE 1. - This organization shall be called the National Woman Suffrage Association. ARTICLE 2. - The object of this Association shall be to secure STATE and NATIONAL protection for women citizens in the exercise of their right to vote. ARTICLE 3. - All citizens of the United States subscribing to this Constitution and contributing not less than one dollar annually, shall be considered members of the Association, with the right to participate in its deliberations. ARTICLE 4. - The officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice-President from each of the States and Territories, Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, a Treasurer, and Executive Committee of not less than five, and an Advisory Committee consisting of one person from each State and Territory. ARTICLE 5. - All Woman Suffrage Societies throughout the country shall be welcomed as auxiliaries; and their accredited officers or duly appointed representatives shall be recognized as members of the National Association. OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT SUSAN B. ANTHONY, Rochester, N. Y. VICE-PRESIDENTS. Lucretia Mott, Philadelphia, Penn. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Tenafly, N. J. Isabella Beecher Hooker, Hartford, Ct. Martha C. Wright, Auburn, N. Y. Jane Voorhees Leslie, New Castle, Del. Lavinia S. Dundore, Baltimore, Md. Paulina W. Davis, Providence, R. I. Sarah A. Vibbard, East Boston, Mass. Mrs. E. W. Willard, Montpelier, Vt. Abbie P. Ela, Rochester, N. H. Lucy A. Snowe, Rockland, Me. Elizabeth Coit, Columbus, Ohio Catherine F. Stebbins, Detroit, Mich. Mary F. Thomas, Richmond, Ind. Harriet S. Brooks, Chicago, Ill. Mathilde Anneke, Milwaukee, Wis. Fannie Eldridge Russell, Silver Lake, Minn. Annie C. Savery, Des Moines, Iowa. Frances Miner, St. Louis, Mo. Eliz. Avery Meriwether, Memphis, Tenn. Ruth C. Denison, Washington, D. C. Anna. W. Bodeker, Richmond, Va. Ada Gregg, Wheeling, West Va. Mary Brown, Ashville, N. Carolina. Frances Anne Pillsbury, Charleston, S. C. Emma Barber, Lexington, Ky. Flora McMartin Wright, Pulatki, Fla. Mary Spaulding, Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. P. Holmes Drake, Mt. Hope, Ala. Emily P. Collins, New Orleans, La. Mrs. W. V. Tunstall, Palestine Texas. Elizabeth B. Schenck, San Francisco, Cal. Hannah H. Clapp, Carson City, Nevada. Julia Brown Bemis, Omaha, Nebraska. Clarinda I. H. Nichols, Wyandotte, Kan. Mary McCook, Denver, Colorado. Sarah Stenhouse, Salt Lake, Utah. Mary P. Sawtelle, Salem, Oregon. Mary O. Brown, Seattle, Wash. Ter. Mary B. Post, Cheyenne, Wyoming Ter. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Ernestine L. Rose, New York. Helen P. Jenkens, Pittsburg, Penn. Deborah W. Butler, Vineland, N. J. Ellen M. Harris, Baltimore, Md. M. Victor, Sturgis, Mich. Belva A. Lockwood, Washington, D. C. Ann T. Greely, Ellsworth, Me. Mary B. Moses, Great Falls, N. H. Emma Farrand Elkin, Fairfield, Vt. Sarah Southwick, Grantville, Mass. Lucy R. Elmes, Derby, Ct. Mrs. W. F. Channing, Providence, R. I. Susan A. Richardson, Earlville, Ill. Eliza D. Stewart, Springfield, O. Mrs. Dr. Wilhite, Crawfordsville, Ind. Mrs. J. W. Allen, Ripon, Wis. Mrs. E. Berger Stearns, Rochester, Minn. Belle Mansfield, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Mrs. J. C. Underwood, Alexandria, Va. Mrs. E. J. Kirby, Pendleton, S. C. Phoebe W. Couzens, St. Louis, Mo. Ann L. Quinby, Newport, Ky. Mrs. N. H. Cramer, Nashville, Tenn. Hannah M Rogers, Magnolia, Florida. Mrs. A. Millspaugh, Washington, La. Mrs. S. N. Wood, Montague, Texas. Lizzie C. Aughey, Dakotah City, Neb. Helen E. Starrett, Lawrence, Kan. Mrs. M. H. Arnold Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mary Godbe, Salt Lake, Utah Emily Pitts Stevens, San Francisco, Cal. Charlotte Baker, Virginia City, Nev. Mrs. J. Hayford, Laramie City, Wyoming. Mrs. W. A. Whiting, Central City, Col. Amelia Giddings, Olympia, Wash. Ter. SECRETARIES Corresponding - Jane Graham Jones, Chicago, Ill. Foreign Corresponding - Laura Curtis Bullard, New York. Recording - Mary F. Davis, Orange, N. J. Treasurer, - - - - - - - - - Ellen C. Sargent, Washington D. C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE, Chairman, Fayetteville, N. Y. Mathilde F. Wendt, New York. Laura De Force Gordon, Stockton, Cal. A. Jane Dunning, Portland, Oregon. Sarah Pugh, Germantown, Pa. Nannetta B. Gardner, Detroit, Mich. Lillie Deveraux Blake, New York. Charlotte B. Wilbour, New York. Olympia Brown, Bridgeport, Ct. Elizabeth E. Loomis, Chicago, Ill. We propose to make a vigorous campaign of WOMAN SUFFRAGE MASS MEETINGS, with our ablest speakers, during September and October, and earnestly solicit out members and friends to forward contributions in aid thereof to the Chair Ex. Committee, MRS. M. JOSLYN GAGE, Fayetteville, Onondaga Co., N. Y.(Susan B. Anthony to Lucy Stone) Rochester Aug 13th 1872. Dear Lucy I'm stopping home this summer with my dear mother almost 79, to give my sister Mary a chance to travel and rest and recruit. And it has given me quite as much of both. I have been looking over the things of "Auld Lang Syne", and among them find copies of our old reports as stated in the enclosed. I have written to Aunt Fanny Gage, Antoinette & several others, saying that if they could furnish me with copies to help make up the setts complete, I would send them in return a bound volume. Or if they prefer, the complete sett unbound, or make any arrangement they prefer--In these years of loanings and movings I have lost some, I find. I have always held them as sacred treasure. I fear all of yours went in the fire with the many other treasures. What a blotting out a fire must make. But I want you to have one of these setts, unless you have a better and fuller one already. And will make you such compensation as you shall say for any copies you may send of those which you will see I have so few. I shall have blank pages placed between the reports, so as to paste newspaper reports if I can get them. Mrs. M.C. Wright furnished me with such of the Cincinnati Convention. Perhaps Mr. Garrison might have some. I wonder if it would bring any of them if you should put a card in the Journal. My idea is, if I can get any more than each of us a copy round, to put them in the most prominent Libraries in the country. They will be safer there than in private ones. Mrs. Stantonand Mrs. Wright are the only persons I know who have them bound, and I got theirs bound for them years ago. As I look over our work of these twenty or more years, there is a real joy comes to me, and now, that one of the great political parties has at last eyes to discover us and our demand, I know that we are a power and never again to be less, but greater and greater until full recognition shall come from them.- Sincerely yours Susan B. AnthonyTenafly, July 30, 1876 Lucy Stone The Universal Encyclopedia has the enclosed stereotyped and ready for the press, but will cut the plate and insert whatever revision you will make, provided you keep to the same number of words. I have just received the appointment of Editor of the Woman Suffrage Department--find almost none noticed thus far--but am to be allowed to place them in the appendix. Please review and return at earliest moment, and oblige Susan B. Anthony Johnson has given two papers for our movement, Being on the wing continually, Susan and I seldom see The Journal hence are not posted on your work. Could you send within the week thirty lines concisely stating what you have done since 1870? We must crowd as much as possible into the allotted space. Was Mr, Higginson in the Worcester Conventions? I do not see his name. When and where did he make his debut on the platform. E.C.S. Dorchester, Aug. 3,1876 Mrs.Stanton I have erased the closing line in the notice of the "Universal Encyclopedia" as it was not true. I have never lived in Kansas. I have nothing to add. I do not add my name to the "Declaration" because, as I had nothing to do with its presentation, it would be wrong to say so. I think it is an admirable paper and my only regret about it was the sensational manner of presenting it. In regard to the History of the Woman's Rights Movement, I do not think it can be written by any one who is alive to-day. Your "wing" surely are not competent to write the history of "our wing", nor should we be of yours, even if we thought best to take the line while the war goes on; rations, recruits and all are to get as we go. There will come a time when this greatest of all the world movements will have madeits history and then it can be written. I do not wish to have any hand in the present one. The complete set of the Woman's Journal can be sent you for the purpose you desire, for three dollars a volume. Six volumes would cost eighteen dollars. Do you want them? Lucy Stone Boston,Aug. 30, 1876 Mrs. Stanton Madam Your postal card asking me for number of Legislatures I have addressed on Woman's Rights and the dates of those addresses is received. I have never kept a diary, or any record of my work, and so am unable to furnish you the required dates. I made my first speech in the pulpit of my brother, in Gardner Mass., in 1847. I commenced my regular public work for Anti-Slavery and Woman's Rights in 1848. I have continued it to the best of my ability ever since, except when the care of my child, and the War [Civil] prevented. Mrs. Stanton In your postal card you say "must be referred to in the history you are writing." If you will publish the letter [above], it will be a sufficient reference. I cannot furnish a "biographical sketch" and trust you will not try to make one. Yours with ceaseless regret that any "wing" of suffragists should attempt to write the history of the other. Lucy StonePost card From Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Lucy Stone (no date) In what year did you address the Legislatures of the different States? What States, and when? Please give me bald facts and dates. You must be referred to in our history and I should like to get the dates right. Antoinette's husband has written out the facts of her life for us, will not H. B. B. do the same for you? E. C. S. July 31, 1876 Henry B. Blackwell Dear Sir . . . . I am very busy just now collecting material for the history of our movement, to be finished in the Centennial year. Could you sell us a complete copy of the Woman's Journal from the beginning that we may know what your wing have done? Or would you prepare such a chapter yourself? Sketches of the women in our work, their likenesses, on the plan somewhat of "The Eminent Women" will make a part of our history. If any of the ladies of your association would [chose] their own biographers, and send them to us just as they wish to go down in history they shall be printed exactly as sent. I should like to have the names of Lucy Stone and Antoinette Brown on "The Woman's Declaration for 1876." It has been nicely engraved, ready to be lithographed and framed. As there is no mention of the "National Association" on the parchment, if they approve the document and will sign, we will send it to them for that purpose. Will you inquire and let me know if they will sign the paper, and write each other up for the history, and if you will contribute a chapter over your own name? Respectfully yours, Elizabeth Cady StantonBoston, Mar. 4, 1879 Dear Mrs. Robinson I want to say to you with entire kindness, but decidedly, that I must decline all and any participation in the suffrage history which Mrs. Stanton and Susan Anthony are preparing. I wrote this at the very beginning, in answer to Mrs. Stanton's request that I would furnish parts of myself and my work; and I wrote her the reasons why I should not. I must therefore beg you not to mention the subject to me again. I am more than content to be left entirely out of any history those ladies may publish of suffrage work; though I understand how natural it is that they should prefer to write their statement of the connection with Geo. Francis Train, Mrs. Woodhull, Laura D. Fair and the Mormons, and that they should be glad to get you and other women, who had only regret for their action in combining with those persons, to appear with them in the history. Very truly yours, Lucy StoneRochester, N.Y. Aug. 9, 1878 Copy of letter from Susan B. Anthony to Lucy Stone. Original letter in the Blackwell Family papers in possession of Edna L. Stantial, Melrose, Mass. My Olden-time friend Lucy Stone To your letter of the 7th inst., asking me if I was rightly reported as saying, "The suffragists will go far for any party of any name that will give us a suffrage plank" I answer, Yes, save that I used the pronoun "I" instead of "the suffragists". I spoke for myself, alone, because I know so many of our women are so much more intensely Republican or Democrat, hard- money, or greenback, free-trade or tariff, prohibition or license, than they are "equal rights for all", that they will now, as in the past, hold the question of woman's enfranchisement in abeyance, while they give their money and their best energies to secure the success of one or the other of the contending parties, though it wholly ignores their just claim to a voice in the government. It is not that I have no opinions or preferences on the many questions that distract and divide the parties; but it is that in my judgment "the right of self-government for one-half the people" is of far more vital consequence to the Nation than any or all other questions put together. And this has been my position ever since the abolition of slavery, by which the black race was lifted from chattelism to citizenship, and invested with civil rights equal and with the best cultured tax- paying white women of the country. Have you forgotten the cry "This is the negro's hour" that came back to us in 1866, when we urged the abolitionists to make common cause with us, and demand "suffrage as a right for all United States [*page 2 Susan B. Anthony to Lucy Stone, Aug. 9, 1878*] citizens", instead of asking it simply as "an expedient for "another class of men"? Do you not remember, too, how the taunt "false to the negro" was flung back into the face of every one of us who insisted that it was "humanity's hour", and that to talk of "freedom without the ballot" was no less "mockery" to women than to the negro? Surely, you cannot have forgotten that it was on this very point of having but one article in our political creed, "Woman and her disfranchised", and our welcoming the aid of every person and every party, democrat though he might be, that you, yourself, in 1869, refused to affiliate the the "National Woman Suffrage Association", Elizabeth Cady Stanton, President; called the Cleveland Convention, organized the "American Woman Suffrage Association" as against the "National" and thereby divided our woman suffrage ranks from ocean to ocean. And, if, in those most trying reconstruction years, I could not subordinate the fundamental principle of "equal rights for all" to the Republican Party necessity for "Negro Suffrage",—that is, if I would not then , in that fearful national emergency, sacrifice "the greater to the less", I surely cannot and will not, today, hold any or all of the far less important party questions paramount to that most sacred principle of our republic. So long as you and I and all women are political slaves, it ill becomes us to meddle with the weightier discussions of our sovereign masters; it will be quite so on enough for us, with self-respect, to declare ourselves for or against this party or that, upon the intrinsic merit if its policy, when they shall recognize us as their political equals, duly register our names, and respectfully count our opinions at the ballot-box, as a "constitutional right", and not, as now, a[*Susan B. Anthony to Lucy Stone, Aug. 9, 1878 - page 3*] "high crime punishable with $500 fine, or six months' imprisonment, or both, at the discretion of the Court." If all "the suffragists" of all the States could but see eye to eye on this point, and stand shoulder to shoulder against any and every party and politician not fully and unequivocally committed to "equal rights for all women", we should at once, become a moral balance of power, that could not fail to compel the party of highest intelligence to proclaim "Woman Suffrage" the chief plank in the platform. "In union there is strength." And until that good day comes, I shall continue to invoke the party in power, and each one struggling to get into power—be it Republican, Democrat, Greenback or Prohibition—to pledge itself to the emancipation of our enslaved half of the people; and in turn, I shall promise to do all a "subject" can do, for the success of the party that declares its purpose "to undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free." To illustrate, when, six or seven years ago, the "Prohibitionists" and "Working Men" of Massachusetts each put a woman suffrage plank in its platform, each nominated for governor Wendell Phillips,— our life-long friend and advocate—"the suffragists" of that State, putting aside all party allegiances, Republican and Democrat, alike, should have inscribed on their banners, in letters of gold, the name of Wendell Phillips; and more, should have branded "traitor" on the forehead of every one of their number who spoke or voted for any other than Wendell Phillips for Governor. Yours as ever, (signed) SUSAN B. ANTHONYFortieth Anniversary of the Woman Suffrage Movement International Council of Women ASSEMBLED BY THE National Woman Suffrage Association of the United States, To be held at Washington, D. C., March 25 to April 1, 1888, inclusive. COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS: ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, PRESIDENT. SUSAN B. ANTHONY, ROCHESTER, N. Y., MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE, FAYETTEVILLE, N. Y., VICE-PRESIDENTS AT LARGE. MAY WRIGHT SEWALL, CHAIRMAN EX. COM., 343 N. PENNSYLVANIA ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IND. RACHEL G. FOSTER, COR. SEC., 748 N. 19TH ST., PHILADELPHIA. ELLEN H. SHELDON, REC. SEC., Q. M. GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C. JANE H. SPOFFORD, TREASURER, RIGGS HOUSE, WASHINGTON, D. C. 748 N. 19th St. Philadelphia Pa, Dec. 12th - 1887 Dear Lucy Stone Since no letter is here - if agreable I will go to you on Tuesday night's New England train - dec. 20th - reaching Boston Wednesday A.M. - Miss Rachel Foster will accompany me - and we shall be the guests of Mrs. H. L. Purinton - 88 West Newton Street. I should like to have Alice present at the interview - that each of us may have a suffrage daughter to help bring about the desired end.Miss Susan B. Anthony Rec'd Dec. 14, 1887 Philadelphia I should like our talk to be Wednesday afternoon or evening - and just where it will best suit you. I think it desirable to have a Stenographer present - that each of us may have an exact report. If you agree with me - please engage the best one you can and I will pay half the expense - Yours Hopefully, Susan B. Anthony Tuesday A. M. - Lucy, I wish we could have the states represented at our Convention, either by delegates present, or letter from the Friend of the Cause in each State - You are acquainted with the Illinois & Wisconsin & the Western people - cant you think of some prominent person to solicit letters from in each state - Say for instance the men who gave the W. R. reports in the Ohio & Missouri Legislature - testimony from men holding positions Up the left-hand margin at the top: S. B. Anthony 1858 in the political world weighs more with the world's people, that of men whose motto is let justice be done thought the heavens Fall - There is no one who can solicit letters from such men as well as you, because no one knows so many, or is so well known by so many - I do want the Strong Word uttered by Strong Men & Women - Would H. B. Stowe identify herself with us by a letter - I wrote Mrs. Stanton last evening urging her to attend the Convention - I hope you have done the same. S. B. Office of The Woman's Journal No. 3 Park Street Boston, Dec. 13, 1889 Dear Miss Anthony: Your letter of Dec. 10 was received yesterday. We have put at the head of the Woman's Journal's editorial page this week the short announcement which I enclose. The Call has been published twice, & will go into the Journal again as soon as Christmas is over. Just now the holiday advertising is crowding everything out.I wrote to you at Duluth giving you my idea as to how the State dues should be paid. In regard to donations, since the treasurer of the Nat. Am. is not yet elected, it seems to me that it would be obviously improper to announce in the Call that the contributions are to be sent to Mrs. Spofford. We might say that donations for the Nat. Am. could be sent to either of the old treasurers. Or, if you yourself are going to send OFFICE OF The Woman's Journal, No. 3 PARK STREET, Boston,....................18 out individual letters asking for donations toward the expenses of the annual meeting, why should not the donations sent in response be sent direct to you? I should think that would be the simplest way. Glad of the prospect of a good debate in Congress. As for Dakota, we must all send them all the help we can, & at least make a good fight, if wedo not win. And if we should win -how splendid that- would be [splendid]. We receive -glowing- [enthusiastic] reports of your meetings in Dakota. -In Haste- Sincerely, Miss Stone Blackwell [*Susan B Anthony Rochester NY*] Rochester Aug 21/91 Rec Sept 2/91 My dear Lucy Stone I send the enclosed from Mrs Henrotin - I had written Mrs President Palmer long before on the subject - Mr Bonney now writes that he will make a new department of "Popular Suffrage - its orgin, nature, extent & limitations - extent & limitations of the right or privilege" - and asks if it will not suit us to take part in such a dept of the whole questions - and we have told him yes - that is Miss Shaw & myself - Do you not think it would be the very best thing, if they would havesome of our ablest - and most practical women have an hour in the various Departments - rather than only in a special woman suffrage depart't - - then we should get our views on the whole question of moral, social religious, civil & political reforms before promiscuous audiences - or rather before audiences gathered to consider the whole of each question - rather than those assembled for the specific object of listening to woman's part in each - I think it very essential to success for Woman's Part in the Congresses - that a few of us shall consult & agree together exactly what we shall ask of the board - C Mrs Stanton is to be here the last of this week - Miss Shaw is here - & will be for a week longer - So we three can talk over the whole matter - - When do you expect to be in Chicago - that Mrs Henrotin alludes to? - Whenever you do go west - I hope you wont fail to stop over here for a few days - and let us go over the whole ground-work together. Mrs Stanton will remain here for a month or six weeks - hence - she is likely to be here whenever you shall go through - if it is within that time - and I do hope you'll stop over.not only to talk business - but to see how nice it is for me to be a housekeeper There surely was a motion made last winter that our Executive Committee should hold a mid-year meeting? Was there not? May be it was in the Council's business meeting - but it does seem to me that our State Presidents ought to come together with us of the business Com. once at least between every Washington Convention Sincerely yours Susan B. Anthony(Susan B Anthony to Lucy Stone) Rochester, N. Y. Aug. 31, 1891 My Dear Lucy Stone I send the enclosed from Mrs. Henrotin I had written Mrs President Palmer long before on the subject. Mr Bonney now writes that he will make a new department of "Popular Suffrage - Its origin, nature, extent & limitations; extent & limitations of the right or privilege," and asks if it will not suit us to take part in such a department of the whole questions, and we have told him yes, that is Miss Shaw and myself. Do you not think it would be the very best thing if they would have some of our ablest and most practical women have a hour in the various Departments, rather than a special Woman Suffrage Department? Then we should get our views on the whole questions of moral, social, religious, civil & political reforms before promiscuous audiences - or rather before audiences gathered to consider the whole of each question, rather than those assembled for the specific object of listening to women's part in each. I think it very essential to success for woman's part in the Congresses that a few of us shall consult and agree together exactly what we shall ask of the board. Mrs. Stanton is to be here the last of this week. Miss Shaw is here & will be for a week longer. So we three can talk over the whole matter. When do you expect to be in Chicago, that Mrs Henrotin alludes to? Whenever you do go next, I hope you wont fail to stop over here for a few days, and let us go over the whole ground work together. Mrs Stanton will remain here for a month - or six weeks, hence she is likely to be here whenever you shall go through.if it is within that time, and I do hope you'll stop over. Not only to talk business but to see how nice it is for me to be a housekeeper. There surely was a motion made last winter that our Executive Committee should hold a mid-year meeting, was there not? Maybe it was in the Council's Business Meeting, but it does seem to me that our State Presidents ought to come together with us of the Business Committee, once at least between every Washington Convention. Sincerely yours, Susan B. Anthony