Blackwell Family                                                                   Editorials: Woman's Journal, 1874
Lucy Stone1874 from April 11 to 
August 22 1874

,[Vo?] 6

[*April 18 1874*]

The Golden Opportunity of Michigan

"Once to every man and nation 
comes the moment to decide, 
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, 
For the good or evil side."

Such a time will come to the voters of Michigan 
next November. They will then have 
the opportunity, never before given them, of 
securing, each man for his mother, the same 
political rights which he enjoys. It is a golden 
opportunity, and we find the people of that 
State stirring themselves to make the most of it.

The Call for the Annual Meeting of the 
Michigan State Woman Suffrage Association 
says, "This will be a more important meeting 
than any we have ever held. The entire State 
must be canvassed. Our forces must be organized 
and made available for carrying the 
vote at that time. The eyes of the whole nation
will be turned upon us, anxious to know
the result of this first great trial, to make
Michigan a truly Republican Commonwealth,
where all its citizens are made equal."

The magnitude and gravity of the occasion
should enlist the sympathetic help of the
friends of equal human rights all over the 
country. There is a large public sentiment
in favor of Suffrage for Woman, which will
not fail to be felt at the deciding hour in
Michigan. The Legislature of Iowa have already
submitted the question, but it must be 
passed by a second Legislature before it can
go to the voters of that State. The Ohio Constitutional
Convention only lacks five votes
of carrying a similar amendment, and there
is hope of those five. 

In Maine the question came to a tie vote in
the Committee. It stood five to five. 

In Rhode Island the House of Representatives 
submitted the question by a vote of 44 to
17, but it was lost in the Senate.

In the Massachusetts Legislature, while the
smaller question of who shall be United States
Senator, "drags its slow length along," a bill
has been reported in the Senate for an amendment
to the Constitution, so that women may 
vote. The House has not yet taken action.
In nearly every Northern State, for the last 
twenty years, the demand for the equal political 
rights of women has been made without
ceasing, except when the din of battle drowned 
all sounds but its own. 

Even then, the part the women bore in the 
war was argument and proof of their ability,
and of their equal right to a share with men
in the government. 

During all these years a slow but sure
growth has been made. And now Michigan
steps to the front and offers to its men the
rare opportunity of settling, by the peaceful
power of the ballot, a great claim of justice, a
broad principle of the natural right of twelve
million of women to help make the laws
which they are compelled to obey. 

To secure this same right on two million
of negro men, cannon thundered, bomb-shells
burst, rivers of blood were shed, countless
treasures paid the money cost, while miles of
graves, in solid acres, show its awful cost in
human life. 

To secure the same right for our Small Colonies,
a hundred years ago, history's pages 
show seven long years of war, which left men 
poor in everything except their victory. 

This great boon of equal rights, Michigan
proposes to offer to its women without bloodshed
or strife. God speed the right!  L.S.

[*April 25 1874*]

WOMAN'S RIGHTS IN ENGLAND. 

Our readers, and Americans generally, feel a
natural curiosity and interest in regard to the
political and legal condition of English women.
We are often asked just what rights have been
conceded to women in England, and how far
those rights are exercised? If women vote in
England, in certain cases, what are those cases,
and how many woman go to the polls? How
long have they voted? Has voting done the
women any good? Has it done the country
any good? etc., etc.

The following letter from Miss Lydia E.
Becker, of Manchester, England, is a straightforward
statement of facts and figures which, to
a considerable extent, answers these practical
questions. We commend it to the candid and
careful perusal both of friends and opponents. 
Extracts from the public documents which accompany
the letter will be laid before our readers 
hereafter.  L.S.

THAT HASTY GROWL.

Our esteemed co-worker, Mrs. A. J. Duniway,
editor of the New North West, takes us
to task, in what she calls "a hasty growl,"
for not making a full and proper notice in the
Woman's Journal of the Annual Meeting of
the Oregon State Woman Suffrage Association.

The truth is, that from the time the earnest
Call was announced for that Annual Meeting,
we proposed to ourselves, to give its report a [*III.*]

THE
LIBRARY
TABLET

3088
PLAIN.[*April 25.1874*]
[*that Hasty [??erol*]
[*continued*]

prominent place in the WOMAN'S JOURNAL.
     It seemed certain that there would be a good
meeting, and a report of good work, done in
any place, helps in every other place. So I
watched for that special number of the New
North West, which should contain the report
of its Annual Meeting. But it never came;
other numbers containing the valuable addresses
made on the occasion &c., &c., did come,
but not the number which was necessary to 
en able us to give a report. The offending sentence,
which extorts the hasty growl, was accidentally
taken from some paper, which made
a brief allusion to this meeting; but we, even
though we had no other report from which to
get our facts, are without excuse for copying
objectionable words, except that probably in
the hurry of the moment, they slipped in.
     The New North West and the Oregon Society
have always commanded our respect and cordial
sympathy.
     We have watched that far-away field of
work with peculiar interest, ever since Mrs.
Duniway told us how, by her sewing machine,
she had bought her type and press, reared her
boys to be printers, and, then, with her woman's
hands, took up the hard toil of carrying
the great North West for Woman Suffrage.
     Never, for a moment, have we had anything
but good will, profound respect, and sympathy
with The New North West, with its editor, and
the Oregon State Society.                L. S.

[*May 2*]     A SHACKLED BALLOT.     [*1874*]
     Now that the question of putting the ballot
in the hands of the women of Michigan is to
be voted on, next November, the newspapers of
that State are taking up its discussion in good
earnest.
     Thus far, so far as we have seen, it is done
in a good spirit, with a good temper and fairly.
The agitation of so great a question will necessarily
call out the expression of different
opinions, which, in the end, is sure to help the
right side. All that any true principle needs 
to ensure its acceptance is to be seen from all
points of view.
     We, therefore, cheerfully give place to the

[*May 2. 1874 Continued*]

following from the Grand Rapids Eagle:
[*X X X X X X X X*]
     The editor of the Eagle, no doubt, accepts
the self-evident truth of the Declaration of Independence,
that "governments derive their
just power from the consent of the governed."
But the consent of the governed women has
never obtained. Hence, according to 
this self-evident truth, the government is unjust
to Woman. The first step, therefore,
plainly is to secure safety and all the good
results which come by the application of this
true principle to Woman, and so to escape
the danger which is the inevitable result of its
non-application.
     Only good can come from the establishment
of justice; therefore, when this first step
is taken in the right direction, the individual,
the family and the home must feel the beneficial
results.
     If there is still any one who cannot trust
God, that a principle which he has made true
he has also made safe; if there is one who
still fears that the ballot will be degraded and
shackled, when it is in the hand of a wife who
may have a different political opinion from
her husband, let him see how the case stands
where a husband and wife differ in their religious
opinions.
     To day there are thousands of homes, where
the husband and wife, each following his and
her special religious conviction, go to different
churches, and these homes still keep the large
good will, love, trust and fidelity, which make
the heart and wealth of the family.
     No man dreams that he has a right to shackle
or control the opinion of his wife in religious
matters, because public sentiment is now educated
up to the acceptance of the equal and
divine right of every human being, in whatever
relation or condition, to the exercise and
enjoyment of his religious opinions.
     The ballot is a great educator, and when the
public sentiment accepts of the idea that a
wife has the same right to the exercise and
benefit of her political opinions, that she now
has to her religious ones, and the same moral
obligation to express those opinions, it must
inevitably add to and not detract from the
peace and integrity of the family, just as it

[*May ? 1874*]
[*A Shackled Ballot*]
[*Continued*]

does in religious matters.
     Few men now can be found who will admit
that they personally would wish to control
the political opinion of their wives, and this
is in deference to the sentiment made since
Petruchio taught Katharine her first lessons
in the duty of a wife.
     Already the State of Michigan has so changed
its laws, that the old Common Law state
of things, which was regarded as necessary
for the peace of the family, and the honor of
its masculine head, is entirely done away.
     A wife now can "sell, transfer, mortgage,
devise or bequeath her real and personal property
in the same manner, and with the same
effect as if she were unmarried," and the
home in Michigan are still among the best in 
the land.
     Faith in the safety and wisdom of applying
a true principle is all we need to settle the
political rights of women. If the principle of
the consent of the governed is true, it is safe
at apply it.                         L. S.

[*May 9. 1874*]

SUBSCRIPTION FESTIVAL.
     There will be a Subscription Festival, again
this year, during Anniversary week, for the
double purpose of uniting the friends of Woman
Suffrage in a social re-union, and of furnishing
the Woman Suffrage Movement in
New England with the pecuniary means of carrying
on the work.
     This Festival will take place in Boston on
Wednesday evening, May 27, at Horticultural
Hall. The ladies who have the matter in
charge are about to issue a prospectus, which
will appear in the WOMAN'S JOURNAL next
week.
     We hope that all the friends who attend the
Annual Meeting May 25 and 26, will remain
and attend the Festival, the following evening.
                                                 L. S.

[*May 9 1874*]

ANNIVERSARY MEETING.
     The Sixth Annual Meeting of the NEW ENGLAND
WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION will
be held in Boston, in Tremont Temple, commencing
MONDAY EVENING, May 25, at 7.30 P. M., and
continuing all day Tuesday, May 26, at 10.30 A. M. 2
P. M., and 7.30 P. M.
     All State and local societies throughout New England
are invited to send delegates, and all Woman
Suffrage Political Clubs should be represented, in order
to devise plans of work and elect officers for the
ensuing year.
     The continued refusal of our Legislatures and political
parties to extend Equal Rights and Impartial
Suffrage to one-half of the citizens of New England,
after our faithful and repeated representations of Woman's
claim, by petitions, pubic meetings and Legislative
hearings; and this, in defiance of a great and
growing public sentiment in our favor, makes it necessary
to urge our reform more vigorously and persistently
than ever before upon the intellect and conscience
of the American people. While Michigan
and Iowa have just voted to submit Woman Suffrage
to their male citizens, let it not be said that New
England lags behind.
     The names of speakers will be announced next
week.                 JULIA WARD HOWE, Pres.
     LUCY STONE. Chairman Ex. Com.

[*May 16 1874*]

MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REAR.
     The bill for an Amendment to the Constitution
striking out the word male, was, on Thursday
of this week, lost in the Massachusetts
Senate, by a vote of 14 to 19.
     Hon. Henry S. Washburn, the Chairman of
the Senate Committee, made a most admirable
speech, in favor of the Amendment; and the
thanks of all friends of equal human rights are
due to Mr. Washburn for the fidelity and ability
with which he has sought to secure justice
to women.
     This gain is made this year: not a member
spoke against the Amendment.
     The ayes and noes were called, and we shall
publish the names next week.                  L. S.

THE RIGHT SPIRIT IN MICHIGAN.
     The annual meeting of the Michigan State
Woman Suffrage Association, held last week,
reveals two things. First that the people of
Michigan are thoroughly aroused to the importance
and the grandeur of their opportunitiesMay 16 1874
The [?]
ty to secure equal political rights for the women
of that State, and secondly, that, far and
wide, there is felt a deep and earnest interest
in the success of the cause in Michigan. This
was evinced by letter read at this meeting
from other States and local societies, and from
individuals East and West.
It is everywhere seen that when one State
has established Suffrage for Women, other
States cannot long remain behind,
The Michigan Society has raised eighteen hundred
dollars on the spot, to help carry on the
work. One woman, who said she could not 
give money, put her gold watch into the treasure,
which was immediately put up at auction
and by sums of five dollars and less, it soon
brought a hundred dollars. It was proposed
to sell this watch again and again, at other
meetings, to serve like the widow's cruse of
oil. 
Another woman had, before this time, put
in her piano as her contribution to the cause.
Let such a spirit and the work that goes with
it prevail in Michigan, and success is sure. 
A full report of this interesting meeting will
be found elsewhere in this paper.
The WOMAN'S JOURNAL will do its utmost
to aid the friends in Michigan, by announcing
the places and times of meetings, reporting
the work proposed, or done, and in ever
way helping the cause in that State. The
WOMAN'S JOURNAL is now sent to every paper
in Michigan. If the friends there will use
it as a medium of communication it will not
only be useful in that particular way, but will
serve to diffuse light and information on the 
whole subject of Woman's equality, and so
help to insure success next November.
Other newspapers friend to Woman Suffrage,
will, without doubt, aid in the same
way, asking neither free or compensation for a
service which is never it's own exceeding great
reward.
L.S.

SUBSCRIPTION FESTIVAL.
The return of another season of Anniversaries stimulus
us again to invite our friends, and all the 
friends of the Suffrage for Woman, to join us in a festival 
of rejoicing and congratulation, as well as for the 
all-important object of raising the money needed to 
carry on the good work during the coming year. And
for that purpose, we ask the pleasure of your company
at a Tea Party to be given in Horticultural Hall,
on Wednesday evening, May 27, from 7 to 10 o'clock.
We trust you will feel with us that the progress
made during the past year, in giving to women such
rights and privileges as men enjoy, has been gratifying
beyond expectation. And with this increase of
opportunity has come, also, a corresponding increase
of demand for the aid of women in social, civil and
political affairs. To this demand we believe women
have gladly responded to the best of their ability.
Such, we trust, will be even more eminently true in
the years of the immediate future, when progress
should be on every hand greater, and such in all
departments surer. To this progress and this eventual 
success all must contribute who realize the importance 
of doing perfect justice to women as well as to
men, in all political and social relations.
Come the, we beg, and add to the encouragement 
of your presence, your sympathy, and such money offering
as you are able to make. Or if you cannot be
with us in person, send us the word of cheer, and
such amount of money as you feel disposed to contribute.
It can neither be too large nor too small to be welcome and to be useful.
Judge Thomas Russell has kindness consented to preside:
and we hope for short speeches from Rev. W
H. H. Murray, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, Mr. James
T. Fields, and other friends of the cause. There will
also be must and ample opportunity for conversation. 
This invitation, presented at the door, will admit
yourself and friends.
Refreshment tickets for sale in the hall.
LYDIA MARIA CHILD.
SARAH SHAW RUSSELL.
MRS. SAMUEL E. SEAWALL.
MRS. ISAAC AMES
EDNAH D. CHENEY.
ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS.
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT.
ABBY W. MAY.
Moston, May 15, 1874.

May 23. 1844
ANNIVERSARY WEEK.
The coming week will be a busy one in Boston.
Among the numerous meetings, those in
which the friends of Woman Suffrage will be
especially interested are as follows:
1. A private and informal meeting of friends
of Suffrage in Massachusetts for consultation
as to their future course, with special reference
to political action, will be held in Tremont
Temple on Monday afternoon May 25, at 2P.M.
This meeting has not been publicly advertised,
but all earnest friends of Suffrage are cordially 
invited to attend. 
2. The New England Woman Suffrage Association
will hold its Annual meeting in Tremont 
Temple, beginning on Monday evening,
May 25, at 7.30 P.M. Miss Mary F. Eastman, 
Hon. Benj. Kingsburg, Jr., of Portland, and
others will be the speakers. Tuesday evening,
there will be addresses by Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe, Elizabeth K. Churchill and others,
whose names are elsewhere announced. 
Tuesday morning will be occupied by the
business of the Association, with reports from
Auxiliary Societies, and plans of work for the
coming year. The friends of Suffrage should
not fail to attend this session, prepared to renew
their membership and to advise to regard
to the important matter of methods and plans
of work. Mrs. Edna D. Cheney, S. S. Foster,
Mrs. Livermore and others are expected to address
the afternoon audience. 
On Wednesday evening, May 27, at Lower
Horticultural Hall, will take place the New
England Woman's Tea Party and Subscription
Festival. Hon. Thomas Russell will preside.
Brief speeches, songs and poems are expected.
There will be refreshments, and a social reunion
of the friends throughout New England
is hoped and expected.
The sisters Abby and Julia Smith, of Glastonburg, 
Ct., will be present at the Annual
Meeting and Festival, if their prospective hearing
before the Connecticut Legislature does
not prevent. 
There should be a great gathering of the
friends from all parts of New England at this 
Anniversary meeting.
Within the past year, some of the best women 
have had their property sized and sold
for taxes, while they have no representatives.
George III never did worse to the colonies. 
An effort is making also to secure appropriations
from the National and State government
for the Centennial celebration, which, that
the Government, which for a hundred years, 
has wronged women in the same way that
the British Government wronged our ancestors,
may have the means of reflecting upon itself
something of the honor which is due to
high courage, but which the men who purpose
the Centennial do no mean to imitate towards
the 15,000,000 of women, whom this Government
continues to oppress. Such a state of
things should inaugurate a revolution. 
Come then friends, and let us see what
more can be done to establish justice for women
in this oligarchy of men.                L.S.

 May 30 1874
In the report of the New England Women's
Tea Party & Subscription Festival in
Horticultural Hall on Wednesday Evening May 26.

Mrs. Lucy Stone was called upon for a speech to demonstrate
that "some women knew eenamost as much as some men,"
and made a humorous appeal for subscriptions.

At the Sixth Annual Meeting of the New England
Woman Suffrage Association in Tremont  Temple on
Tuesday morning May 26 1874

On motion of Lucy Stone it was voted to form a committee
of five on Finance.
The chairman appointed the following ladies:
Mrs. Lucy Stone, as Chairman of the Executive Committee,
then made the following verbal reports of the work of the
Association for the past year.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BY LUCY STONE.
Friends: - I owe an apology to the ConventionMay 30, 1874
Lucy Stones Report
at N. E. Annual Meeting
May 26. 1874 continues

tion for not having written out this report; bu
it seemed to be beyond my power and so
shall relate the main facts as they have o
curred, and hope you will pardon the omission
The last year, has been a year of work an
of progress, as the years must continue to be
until the Suffrage question is carried. It ha
been a year or work and of progress in ou
own New England Society. Our first work
the year was the Festival which was held, la
May, in Wesleyan Hall, and which was in eve
way successful, as inaugurating a new metho
by which we can both raised money, and me
one another. In the subscription books, opene
on that occasion, are recorded the names
men and women, who gave us nearly thr
thousand dollars for the coming year. By th
means we have been enabled to carry on t
work through the whole of the year. Duri
the summer there indeed was no special wor
The WOMAN'S JOURNAL made its visits to o
homes, and no doubt all of us were mo
or less busy in making a public and prica
sentiment, that justice is due to Woman pol
ically. But our public work began in Octob
with a series of Conventions, which were co
tinued until winter. We had from three to fi
speakers at each of these. Our friends always
furnished us with the means of conveyance fro
place to place, when not on the line of railroad
without any charge, and gave us every co
fort, and without expense to us, I believe,
many instances. We found new workers
every place; persons, whose faces we had nev
seen, and did not know, were ready to hel
and we found that they were allies who are
be counted on in the future, with pledges
work and pledges of money, and those w
have no money have pledged things which a
not money. One woman said, "I have
money, but I have four hundred volumes
books, and you may have those," and we ha
been encouraged much in this way. Then
have formed Woman Suffrage Political Cl
the members of which are men and wom
who know what they are about, and who kn
the value of a balance of political power.
Lawrence they said to the candidates,"W
have so many votes to give, but only to th
who will vote for Woman Suffrage when
question comes up in the Legislature." I
glad to say that this Club honored itself
sending to the State House three Represen
tives and one Senator who will vote for W
man Suffrage. Some of the Clubs have de
 gates here; they were formed last winter, a
will report for themselves. The members
of these Clubs is very numerous. They
so large that we believe, if similar Clubs co
be formed in every town all over the Co
monwealth and all over New England, by
other fall we could in a majority of the tow
hold a balance of power that would certain
be effective in the Legislature next winter.
   These Conventions were discontinued just
before Christmas, and immediately after Christ-
mas came the Centennial Tea Party in Fan-
ueil Hall. It was to commemorate and em-
phasize and utilize the event of the resistance
of taxation one hundred years ago, when the
tea was thrown into Boston Harbor. It was 
to vindicate the same principle, to re-affirm it,
that the Tea Party was held; and I am sure the
heart of every Suffragist was gladdened as we
stood on the platform in that hall to see that
 building, sacred to great and precious mem-
ories, crowded again, literally a mass of peo-
ple packed in it, for the same principle which
has made it so hallowed in the memory of men.
I found, to my sorrow, that it was not possible
to get through them; there could have been
no tea if we had not petitioned off a corner,
because there was not room to get around.
But I think it was much better that it should
 have been crowded. The influence of that
meeting was very wide and deep, emphasizing
the principle which was affirmed one hundred
years before, and seeking to apply it, as well
as we could, to the fifteen millions of Amer-
ican women to whom it is still denied. Per-
haps this meeting in Faneuil Hall was the most
influential event of the year. It was more
widely heralded, and perhaps the result on the
whole was most effective for good.

  The Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Wo-
man Suffrage Society was held in January, and
it reported a surplus in its treasury. This
society will hold, on the fourth of July, in 
the grove at Framingham, a public meeting.
In our own Commonwealth the work has been
according to our helpers and our means. We
have circulated petitions to a very large ex-
tent in favor of Suffrage, and in this connec-
tion I may state that there have also been pe-
titions against Suffrage circulated by women.
And yet, in the Senate the other day, the 
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Washburn,
said that the remonstrants were only sixteen
against Suffrage, to every one hundred who
are in favor. Our petition was circulated very
widely, beginning early in the fall, but it we had
known our question would have been so long
deferred in the Senate and Legislature, we
might have procured more names. Many per-
sons sent us word that they could have obtain-
ed more names if they had had time. One
man whose face I do no see here this morning,
but whom I have see for more than twenty
years at the Annual Meetings, said he had
called on fifty persons, and had procured forty-
two names, and he believed that if he had time,
he could have procured a majority of the names
of men and women of his town. Another said he
was seventy-seven years old, but had procured
many names. There was a spirit that entered
into the circulation of the petitions, this year,
which was very satisfactory and resulted in a
large number of names being obtained. The
petitions were presented, and hearings were
granted. We had three hearings. We did
not ask for any hearing. We thought our
friends at the State House should be obliged to
come to us if they wanted anything. They
sent us word that they would like to have a 


May 26 1874
Lucy Stones Annual Report Cont
hearing, and at each hearing the remonstrants
came also to be heard, and I am bound to say
that they gave a respectable presentation of
their case, and it was respectfully heard.
When it was time for the action of the Leg-
islature, we had Senator Sumner to bury, and
the election of a new Senator to Congress, and
this counted out a month of the time, which,
of course, weighed against our cause; for the
business which gentlemen consider as indis-
pensable has to be brought in, while these
moral questions are always more liable to be
crowded out in such a condition of affairs.
Nevertheless, our case was heard two weeks
ago, and Mr. Washburn, who is a merchant of
this city who has always voted right on our 
question, was Chairman of the Committee of
the Senate, and he made an argument so able
that we have concluded to put it into tract
form, and to send it as a campaign document
to Michigan, where the voters are to decide
whether the women shall have the same politi-
cal rights as the men. It was admirable, and
the thanks of every woman are due to him for
it, but I must say for the truth of history that
when he began to deliver his speech, may of
the Senators went out into the hall, and refused
to listen to him, not returning until he had fin-
ished, and the matter waited for the opposition
to be heard, but not a man had the courage to
open his mouth against it. In voting upon
the question, nineteen of them said "No,"
and fourteen said "Yes." You see, therefore,
our opponents did not have much of a majori-
ty. It was a great thing that we got fourteen
votes out of thirty-three. The names of those
Senators are published in the JOURNAL. It 
will be good for you look after the opposi-
tion, and wherever your senator is found to
have voted with the naughty nineteen, you
must see that he does not go to the State House
next year. [Applause.] I think we are to
guard against these enemies of Suffrage, as we
would against any other peril. We must be true
first to our convictions of right, and by so doing
we can have men sent to the State House with
correct idea justice and equal rights for all.
Women can do this if they try. Oh, that wo-
men would do what they could! "All things
are possible to him that wills." See to it, next
autumn, that the men who have voted against
Woman Suffrage shall not be permitted to do
so again. For women to exercise the right to
vote, either in Presidential elections, or to
vote only in municipal matters, as women do
in England, would require only a law of the
Legislature, not an amendment of the Consti-
tution, and some desired that this should be
first secured. But the delay caused by Mr. Sum
ner's death, and the election of a new Senator, 
has made it seem not worth while to try to bring
it up this year. We have fourteen against 
nineteen in favor of it, in the Senate, and
therefore can be encouraged, since a change of
only three votes would have given us a major-
ity.
  The report from Rhode Island will be made
by Mrs. Churchill, of that State. The report
from Maine will be by Judge Kingsbury this
evening. Connecticut will be reported by Mrs.
Perkins, a worker from that State, and New
Hampshire, by Mrs. Armenia S. White, the
President of the New Hampshire Society.
   I ought to have said in regard to the Festival,
at the beginning, something of the spirit which
animated the people who gave the cause their
support. One day, after it was announced,
there walked into the office of the JOURNAL
a woman whose face we did not know before,
who wanted to put down her subscription to
the fund. She wrote her name down, and we
were amazed to see she had subscribed five
hundred dollars. We thanked God and knew
that she would be our helper. Another lady,
too old to be here, being over eighty years of
age, said to us after the Festival, "You didn't
any of you come to me to get my money, but
I am bringing it myself," and she gave one
hundred dollars to the Festival. I speak of
these things as showing something of the spir-
it which is in the air, and it is good for the
workers, both tired and fresh, to know of their
new friends, helpers and co-workers. I think
there are many believers who do not know
that they have anything to do, and never once
think of putting their hands to the work, nev-
er once think of putting their shoulder under
it.
  We have also to report in Massachusetts, as
a part of the work, which is not, technically,
our work, the result of the action of the Bos-
ton School Committee. You know that ladies
of this city, educated and eminent for their
knowledge of training and the young were placed
on the School Board, and you know they were
declared by Solicitor Healy to be not entitled
to places on the Board. Then there came a 
succession of stormy meetings to see whether
the voters - I am bound to say that was the
point - whether the voters who had chosen 
women had a right to have their candidates
received? But it was certainly a question of
the rights of women too. We found that men,
who had never been known as Suffragists, were
assisting in making arguments for the rights
of the voters and of their candidates. My
 shoulders were lightened when I heard these
new voices urging equality of rights in the
School Committees. I am glad to say that
this discussion was productive of a very large
amount of added interest to this question of
Suffrage, and called attention to the power-
less condition of women. Our schools are
full of little children, girls and boys; yet wo-
men, who were mothers and who were teach-
ers, were voted unfit to be on that com-
mittee! Rev. Dr. Means and Rev. Dr. Lothrop
(I am entitled to speak their names) were
most opposed to Woman's serving on the
committee and if we can judge from the reports[*May 26 1874*]
[*Lucy Stones Annual Report cont*]

of the papers, although I am well aware that
we cannot always do so, the chief opposition
came from them. And yet our churches are
largely made up of women. I do not believe
a church can be kept alive without women. 
And still these clergymen, knowing this, gave
their influence largely against having women
on the School Board. But women are doing
this same work in other towns, and the Supreme
Court have decided that it is their right,
and our opponents cannot help giving it to
them. We regard this action, which was
called forth by the election of these women,
as a very favorable sign of the times. It has
led to greater attention being given to the existing
state of things, and has caused women
to feel more deeply the injustice that is done
them. During this year many women have
refused to pay taxes until they are allowed to
vote. Mrs. Foster is here, and can speak for
herself. You remember the Sisters Julia and
Abby Smith of Glastonbury, Connecticut, and
how they were served; the rough, cruel treatment
they received in regard to the payment
of their taxes. But they were women and
powerless. If they are not here to-day to lend
their voice to ours, it is because they are waiting
for their opportunity to go to the Legislature
of Connecticut, to ask that Legislature, in
person, that the Constitution of that State
may be so amended that the women can have
the right to vote. There ought to be some
artist to make a historic picture of those two
venerable women before the body of law-makers,
pleasing that all women may have the
same rights that men have. The two events
of the sale of property of Mrs. Foster and others
in Worcester, and of the Smiths in Connecticut,
have created more discussion and
talk everywhere than anything else that has
been done in many years in regard to the right
of Suffrage of women. There are a great
many, also, who have been led to advocate the
principle that women who pay taxes should
have the right to vote. They have not yet
come to believe that women who are not rich
enough to pay taxes should all the more have
the right to vote. The Boston Journal and
Springfield Republican said the principle was
the same as was announced one hundred years
ago, and that if it was wrong then to violate
it, it is just as wrong in 1874.
     For the general cause, outside of New England,
I suppose I am authorized to speak, in
order to show the progress it has made elsewhere.
In Iowa the question has been adopted
by the Legislature, and it is to be submitted
to the next Legislature, and then, if again
adopted, it will go to the people. So Iowa is
taking the lead. Michigan has already submitted 
the question, and there will be a vote,
in November next, to decide whether women
shall vote. I take real pleasure in seeing the
advance ground taken by Michigan, so much
beyond what Massachusetts has taken, a State
which by turns I hate and love. I hate it for
the wrong it does to Woman always. I hate 
it for the wrong it does to women everywhere
throughout the Commonwealth but then it was
here that I was born; it was here that my
young feet played about its laughing brooks;
and I have coveted for this old Bay State the
honor of having done justice first to the women
of the State. In the shadow of Bunker Hill
monument, which was not completed till Woman
aided in the work, and with the memories
of Concord and of Lexington, and of the Harbor
where the tea was thrown over, it seemed
to me that first and foremost Massachusetts
should have done impartial, political justice
to Woman. But we have lost the opportunity,
and have lost it because we have deserved
to lose it, and I hope in my heart of
hearts that the women of Michigan will be the
first to vote. Our Executive Committee have
voted to send two speakers to Michigan, and
to pay their expenses during the campaign.
Some others have volunteered their services.
and will go without cost to the Association,
Mrs. Livermore will go, Miss Eastman will go,
I shall go, and Mr. Blackwell will go. In
Ohio they held a Constitutional Convention
last summer, and an amendment relating to
the Woman question came up. In Cincinnati
Mrs. Margaret V. Longley, with her motherly
face, has been day after day to members of
the Convention. At first she was told by
numbers, that Woman Suffrage meant every
vile and mean thing, but when they looked into
her face and found no meanness visible therein
her words had weight, and week by week she
saw prejudice give way, and when it came to
the very last, it was voted down by only a
small vote. 40 voted in favor, only 41 against
it. But 53 votes, a majority of all the members, 
were needed, and so it failed by only 4
votes. But such an amount of work has been
done in that Constitutional Convention of Ohio,
by tracts and by voices of Gen. Voris and
others, that whenever the question comes up
again, it never can be voted down in Ohio.
     To go back to Michigan. I wish to say
another word about the spirit of the work
there. As soon as the members of the Legislature
decreed that the voters of Michigan
should vote on the right of woman next November,
one woman, whose name is Stone (she
is no relative of mine, but I wish she were),
sold her piano and gave every dollar of the
price to help the cause, and the Michigan people
are doing nobly in the work. When their
Annual Meeting was held, a few weeks since,
they gathered from all parts of the State, for
the sake of being there to help plan for the agitation
of the question everywhere, and to
raise money to carry on the work. In a letter (I
wish I had it here to read), one of them says:
"Whatever help you at the East can give us,
when your great hour comes we will help you."
When I read of the spirit of work there, I felt
it was a baptism by fire that carries with it a
power which never can be resisted, an if they

[*May 26.1874*]
[*Lucy Stones Assn Report contd*]

can keep it alive until next November, I do
not believe it can be voted down.
     In Pennsylvania our question came up in the
Constitutional Convention, last summer, and
was discussed three weeks. The Suffrage was
not secured, but the Convention made it Constitutional
that women shall serve on the
School Boards. The Massachusetts Conservatives
may profitably take a note of that. Is it
not ridiculous to say that women may not
have anything to do about the education of
little children? You would think it a farce if
you did not know the shameful fact, but it is
only another proof of the barbarism of our 
time. We do not realize it, because we ourselves
are doing it, and don't think it is barbarous.
Just so, the men in England thought
they could conquer those ancestors of ours,
and could make them pay their taxes. And
so these men at the present day say, "You are
our wives, and must pay your taxes, and we
will protect you," but they have protected us
out of our rights. To serve on the School
Board is one of them.
     Our question has been in the Legislatures of
Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
New York, New Jersey, Maryland, South
Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan,
Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Oregon, and
Washington Territory, and in the District of
Columbia. And so it is going everywhere.
We must not forget that women in Wyoming
have voted for four years and Governor Campbell
pronounced Woman Suffrage "an unqualified
success."
     This last year has been a year that has
been full of good work, and full of the tokens
of true and genuine progress. But there is
another sign of progress which I must not forget
to mention. You know we married women
of Massachusetts could not sell our land. Not
a wife of us could sell the real estates we own
and give a title. We could not make a will
disposing of the property we possess without
permission. But what is the result? I am
afraid I have left my spectacles behind, and if
so I cannot read a paper I have in my hand.
[Laughter.} When I began this work I was
young. There was not a wrinkle in my face
then, nor was my eye dim. [Great applause.]
My brother offers me his spectacles, and though
I have not yet reached sixty years, I will try
to read with his eyes. The law of Massachusetts
this winter has been changed. You will
never hear me say again in this State that the
wives of Massachusetts cannot sell their real
estate. Are you not glad? I have said it, and
ached when I have said it; during the last
quarter of a century I have told it, that the
wives of Massachusetts and mothers of our
law-markers, from Barnstable to Berkshire,
could not sell their land unless as their husbands
would allow them. 
     MRS. FOSTER. Well, Mrs. Stone, it is only
by sufferance that we can sell our land now.
To-morrow the right may be cut off.
     MRS STONE:--Mrs. Foster means that the
power that has given this right can take it
back again; but I think that revolutions never
go backwards. I hope I never shall see it
taken away.
     The change I refer to is as follows: By the
new enactment we have the right to convey
our shares in corporations, the right to lease
our houses, and sell our lands as if we were
single. In a little town that is half an hour's
distance from this city, where I lectured last
winter, there was a lawyer who did not say
anything in opposition while I was there, but
he said after I was gone: "Lie Number 1, told
by that woman; a wife can sell her real estate.
Lie second, she can convey her shares in corporations.
Lie third,"--and so he went on.
But if these were our rights, why are these
new enactments passed conferring this new
power upon us?
     Section 1. says: "But her separate conveyance 
real estate shall be subject to her husband's 
contingent interest therein." Do you
know what "contingent interest" means? It
means that he shall have the use of the whole
of her real estate as long as he lives. the
wife may sell it, but it is not to interfere with
his contingent interest.
     Section 4. says: A married woman may be
an executrix, administratrix, etc." Now, she
could be all these before, but she had to have
her husband's consent to let her, but now she
can be so without her husband's consent. On
these enactments, Samuel E. Sewall, says:
     What is especially worthy of notice in this act is
not merely that it does justice to married women, but
that every provision in it breaks some chain which has
hitherto fettered them. The act shows such a just
appreciation of the rights of women, that it must be
regarded as a direct step toward Suffrage, whether so
intended by all its supporters or not. The act says
clearly that the law no longer declares the husband to
be a master and the wife a slave; but that both are
equal; and that she has the care of her person, character
and property, in the same manner that he has
of his, and that maids and widows have of theirs.
The law does not change the sanctity of the marriage
relations, nor deprive either party of the aid and comfort
of the other; but, by destroying the bond of servitude,
it only strengthens the tie of love.
     So you see that in this State we have certainly
made a gain during the year, though we
have not made the gain which I could have
wished. This General Report includes the report
of Massachusetts. The other States will
be reported by the delegates who have been
sent here.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X 
     Mrs. Lucy Stone urged those present to renew
their contributions and record their
names as members of the Association.
X X X X X X X X X X X X X
     MRS. STONE called the Finance Committee together
for action.
X X X X X X X X X X X X XMRS. LUCY STONE said that words were inadequate to express the degradation to which women are still subjected, and the sharpest expressions were still needed to arouse many among us to a consciousness of this fact. And yet great progress has been made since this movement began and more is coming; patience is still needed with unceasing effort. Formerly most women accepted subjection as their natural and appropriate lot. Not so now. We must continue to work with such tools as we have. She knew but two men who would leave party and all else and vote for Women Suffrage, and those two were Stephan S. Foster and H. B. Blackwell.
   "Call men tyrants and hypocrites, then," said Mrs. Foster.
    Said Mrs. Stone: "When the Smith sisters' cows were sold I could not eat."
    "I eat and slept, and said nay," replied Mrs. Foster. "At our next election those who stand in Worcester as pious, conscientious gentlemen, honorable men will go and elect a Women Suffrage man, William S. Martin, and make hin swear that he will turn me out of doors, and we have been in this Convention and not passed such a resolution."
  MR. BLACKWELL offered the following resolution: 
   Resolved, That the men who believe in Woman Suffrage ought not to vote for any candidate for State Representative, State Senator, Congressman or Governor, who is not avowedly in favor of Woman Suffrage. 
    MR. BLACKWELL said he desired to to ascertain wha proportion of the friends of Suffrage would endorse that resolution. Therefore he hoped that none but friends of Suffrage would vote and that all friends of Suffrage would vote in accordance with their convictions. A rising vote was then taken. About three-fourths of the audience voted for the resolution and only two persons against it; one was a man, the other a woman. 
  The Convention then adjourned.

AN ADDED HELP FOR MICHIGAN.
   Everything seems to favor our cause in Michigan. But the last, best thing we give below.
   The Methodist Episcopal Church began the work, years ago, by striking out the word "obey" from its marriage service; then it licensed women to preach; then gave them a vote, by adopting the principle of lay delegation 
     All this was to be expected in a church where Bishops Simpson, Haven and Bowman are avowed advocates of Women Suffrage. But the greatest thing they have yet done for Woman is the resolution we print below.
  We have waited long for the Church to wheel its great army of women into line, on the side of their own political right and the reformation of Society. It is the one power we need to ensure success, and the sure sign of its coming is from the Methodist Conference of Michigan. All hail to it! L. S.

WELL DONE, METHODISTS!
   The following resolutions were passed unanimously, on the 28th of May, by the Michigan, at its recent session, submitted to the electors of the State a proposition to amend the State Constitution so as to admit the women of Michigan to the elective franchise; therefore, Resolved, That this Convention recognize the action of the Legislature as a step towards a higher and purer administration of the Government of our country, and we hope the provision will be adopted. 

NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S CLUB.
  The Annual Meeting of the New England Women's Club was, this year, as it has been every year, a very pleasant occasion. The interesting Reports of the various Committees showed how much and how well the Club had served the purpose of its existence. They were a new proof, if any were necessary, of the value to women of interests outside of their daily cares and duties.
    Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, as the President of the Club, called the meeting to order and made the opening address.
    Mrs. Sewell presented her report as Treasurer, showing a balance in the treasury of $75. Mrs Cheney reported for the Committee on Art and Literature. The Committee on Work, reported through Mrs. Channing, the report having been written by Miss Abby W. May. The Committee on Education reported through Miss Lucia Peabody. The Committee on Discussion reported through Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Martha P. Lowe reported for the committee on Correspondence. 
   These reports will all be published in the Annual Report of the Club, and will be well worth reading, not only for their own sake but as suggestive of means and methods to others. 
   Mrs. Governor Bagley, of Detroit, who was present, was invited to speak. She responded briefly and gracefully, giving information of the Woman's Clubs of Michigan and of the West. 
    Lucy Stone in a few brief remarks said that the presence of such women as she saw before her, and the reports just read, ought to be set against a late article in The Nation, which predicted that the presence of women in politics would bring unheard of corruption. 
    The list of officers was read and accepted but as the ladies nearly all were announced by their husband's name, Lucy Stone expressed the wish that the ladies would use their own Christian names. John was not a woman's name. 
   After the adjournment the ladies repaired to their Club room for a lunch, at which, in addition to the usual refreshments and pleasant conversation. Mrs. Woods, of Salem (Kate True,) recited her poem, entitled, "Dan's Wife," which was greeted with applause. The members of the Club then separated till next September.  
  
THE PEACE FESTIVAL.
  The Peace Festival was well attended. Earnest speeches were made by Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Rev. Mr. Miles, Mrs. Livermore, Rev. Mr. Tilden, Lucy Stone, Mrs. E. D. Cheney, Mrs. Bruce, Wm. Lloyd Garrison Elizabeth P. Peabody, and others. The sweetest singing was volunteered by young ladies, and pupils from the Blind Asylum gave instrumental music. The platform of Mechanic's Hall was literally covered with flowers, and the whole proceedings manifested a graceful, womanly way of work.

THE SISTERS SMITH BEFORE THE CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE
  The most visible point of injustice to women, just now, is the sale of their property for taxes while they have no representation. 
   Everybody knows the cruel and shameful way in which the town of Glastonbury dispossessed the Sisters Smith of seven cows, for a tax of about one hundred dollars, and how, when they went to the town meeting to state the case, they were not allowed to be heard, and could find their only opportunity to do so from an old cart whch stood outside. 
   After this, they petitioned the Legislature for a law, which should "put Women on an equality with man," and asked to be heard on the case. 
  In so serious a matter, which involved the question whether one set of persons might take and appropriate the property of another without her consent, it would have been supposed that adequate notice would have been given to the parties personally interested, and that the attention of the public would have been called to it, in a manner commensurate with its importance. How it was really done by the Connecticut Legislature will appear by the following
LETTER FROM THE SISTERS SMITH
  The report of the Committee has not reached us, but it will be published at the earliest moment, that the on-looking world may know what is to be done or what is to be expected from the State of Connecticut for the protection of women.

Fourth of July!
A WOMEN SUFFRAGE CELEBRATION
Of the Fourth of July, will be held in HARMONY GROVE
South Framingham, at 11:30 A.M., at which there will be
Addresses, Music, Songs, Refreshments, and a Social Reunion of the friends of Suffrage from all parts of the State accessible by railroads. An Excursion Train will leave Boston for the grove at 10.10 A. M. Additional trains at 11 A. M. and 1.30 P. M. Return Trains at 5.50 P. M. Reduced fares have also been granted upon all railroads termination in Framingham, so as to accommodate the friends in Southern, Western and Northern Massachusetts. 
   Distinguished speakers have been invited, whose names will be announced next week. Let all friends of Equal Rights for Women gather to this Celebration. Let it be an occasion both of pleasure and of profitable conference. In this cool grove, where the Massachusetts Abolitionist declared their allegiance to the Higher Law, let us renew our vows to Universal Liberty, and animate each other to more efficient and practical effort.
  Women Suffrage Clubs are especially invited to send numerous representatives, and thus to become acquainted with each other. 
  Excursion tickets are for sale at the office of the WOMAN'S JOURNAL- price 95 cnts., which includes
   railroad fares both ways and admission to the grove. The Hall of Framingham has been engaged in case of rain, and there will be no postponement under any circumstances. 
    COME ONE ! COME ALL ! 
    On behalf of Ex. Com.,
        JULIA WARD HOWE.
        MRS. ISSAC AMES.
        MRS. A.A. FELLOWS.
        MARY A. LIVERMORE.
        CAROLINE M. SEVERANCE.
        ABBY W. MAY.
        SUSIE C. VOGL.
        MARIA F. WALLING. 
        KATIE T. WOODS.
         LUCY STONE.

   THE REAL ESTATE OF WIVES.
  The present Legislature of Massachusetts has improved the laws which affect the property rights of wives in several important particulars, which have already been noticed in the WOMAN'S JOURNAL.
    It is a great gain, when a wife who owns shares in a corporation, may legally convey these shares, if at any time, in her judgement, it is best to do so.
    It is a great gain, when a wife is legally entitled to what she earns outside of her family. All that a wife earns in her family still counts for nothing, unless her dower, which is the use of a third of the husband's real estate, and never paid until after hsi death, is to be reckoned as earnings.
    It is a great gain, when a wife can make a contract as though she were unmarried.
    It is a great comfort and gain, when no one has a legal right to prevent a wife and mother from being the guardian of her own or any children 
    These several advantages are now secured to the wives of Massachusetts.
    In regard to the real estate of wives, the gain is much less. As the law now stands, "a married woman may convey and lease her real property without her husband's consent, but her separate conveyance shall be subject to her husband's contingent interest therein." That is to say a married woman may sell her real estate, and give a valid title, provided any one will buy property of which another person may have the entire use as long as he lives. This is what a husband's contingent interest means. It is the "estate by the curtesy" which entitles every husband to the life use of all his wife's lands whenever they have had a child born alive, and it is this right which the present law does not remove. 
    Every one knows how seldom real estate is sold while it is encumbered with the wife's right of dower, which is only the use of one-third of the land. It is easy to see how much more difficult it will be to sell land which is encumbered with the husband's right to the use of the whole of it. 
     Practically, though a married woman is now legally entitled to sell her real estate, she will not find a purchaser upon the only terms which the law allows her to give. A married woman, who has never had children, is a gainer by the passage of this law, for she can sell her real property as though she were unmarried. But the great majority of married women are mothers. And more legislation is needed in this case to give them any control of their real property, worth naming. 
    
  MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN FUND.
  Michigan is the battle-ground of Liberty in 1874, as Kansas was the battle-ground of Free Soil in 1857. Now, as then, the struggle is of national importance and will be the prelude to national issues. Let the friends of Suffrage realize the gravity of the situation and take prompt measures to raise money for expenditure in the Campaign. In an urgent appeal, the secretary of the Michigan Executive Committee, Mr. George Stickney of Grand Haven says:
   And now comes the all important subject: Money to carry on the work before us. Without it we are powerless. With it all would be easy. We have not to consider either of these extremes; but we have planned work far in excess of the means at our command, and rely on our friends everywhere to aid us in this particular. We have no office holders or office seekers to assess. Our strength is as missionaries not as politicians. We do not wish to appear to those we would proselyte as beggars. but our friends must be brought to appreciate our necessities and respond to them. Will you not give the matter of raising funds in your county especial attention, and act as your best judgement dictates. 
   With proper effort, Michigan can be carried for Woman Suffrage next fall. It is a simple question of men, women, and money. Success in Michigan means speedy success everywhere. Let every friend of Woman Suffrage contribute. Such an opportunity as the present we have been struggling for years to obtain. It may be long before so favorable an opening occurs again Therefore no effort should be spared; no stone should remain unturned. 
   We have opened a Michigan Subscription Book at the office of the WOMAN'S JOURNAL and the New England Woman Suffrage Association has headed the list with a subscription of $500. The State Association of Missouri has subscribed $300. Pennsylvania has contributed $100. Now then, friends send in your names. All contributions will be acknowledged in our columns. During the next sixty days we ought to raise $5000 at least. 
           Lucy Stone.

A HIGH-HANDED OUTRAGE.
  The property rights of the Sisters Smith have again been invadedby the Tax Collector of the town Glastonbury, Conn., with more audacious violation of the law than before. 
   The tax amounted to less than forty dollars. The collector, by a private bargain made before teh advertised auction, sold eleven of their best acres, worth many times that sum, to satisfy the tax.
    The sisters warned him that his act was unlawful. All the same, he proceeded, contrary to law and to our theory of government, but with the old tory spirit, and in worse than the old tory manner, to dispossess these women of lands which they had occupied during a lifetime.
     This flagrant violation of personal and property rights was committed in open day, under the clear sky of June, after Miss Smith had sought in vain to state her case, in the Town Hall, to her fellow citizens, after she had appealed to the Legislature, which so far as we know had taken no step, either to punish the Collector or to protect the sisters. 
     If the same crime had been committed against the rights of any man in Connecticut, the Press would ring out its clear notes of alarm and indignant protest. Eloquent lips would rouse the old revolutionary spirit. The Legislature would build new safeguards to give additional protection to personal rights, and the Collector would receive the same treatment as was awarded to one of old King George's officials a century ago. 
     We wait now to see how it will be when it is the right of a woman, and not of a man, that is invaded; of a subject from whom Power withholds the right to protect herself. The officers of the State, by so doing, trample under foot the very idea of a free government. 
     Meantime Gen. Hawley, who is to-day the most conspicuous man in Connecticut, is moving heaven and earth to bring together the means by which to celebrate the praises of men who, a hundred years ago, resisted unto death the taxation which had no representation. In his own State are two women, educated, intelligent, and venerable with years, who are standing for the defense of the same principle. 
    Gen. Hawley, the sisters Smith and the State of Connecticut, are each making history which will be read a hundred years hence. 
  For the Sisters Smith it will be recorded that at nearly three score and ten years of age, with rare courage and heroism, they successfully resisted the government which taxed while it gave them no representation. And so long as the love of justice endures, their names will be held in grateful and tender remembrance. 
   For Gen. Hawley, and the State of Connecticut the recording angel waits. For the one may it be written, that while with his left hand he built the tombs of the old prophets, who refused to submit to despotic government, he gave the might of his right hand to the living heroes, who by peaceful means resisted the same tyranny, and by his help saved Connecticut from the historic shame whih a few of her men sought to attach to the State. 
    Quite a different page may possibly be written. God knows which it will be.    L. S. 
THE SMITH SISTERS LAND ILLEGALLY SOLD.
   The following letter from Miss Smith gives a picture of crime perpetrated in the name of law, which should arouse every friend of law and order, as well as every friend of justice, to see that due punishment is inflicted upon the perpetrators of this outrage. 
  The same spirit, which, to-day, takes theJune 27 1874
Smith Sisters Land
Illegally Sold.

property of a women contrary to law and
without law, to-morrow will usurp the right
of men as well, and neither properly nor per-
sonal rights will be safe anywhere. 
The collector of Glastonburg should be ar-
restedand held to trial for abuse of trust in 
his office. His accomplices should be fined
for trespass, and the severest punishment
known to the law should be accorded to both.
L.S.

July 4, 1874
WORK DURING VACATION.
Hundreds of Woman Suffragists will spend
the next two months away from their homes.
This time, in the new places, can be made of
essential service for our ideas, if each person
will take a set of Suffrage tracts to lend, and
cause them to be read, and then talked over
afterwards,
In many out-of-the-way places, which are
the resort of those who seek real rest, our
question is entirely new. If attention is
called to it, in the witty and convincing way
in which it is done by each of our tracts, there
will surely result a large increase of intelligent
understanding on the subject. The opportu-
nity should not be lost. Copies of the WO-
MAN'S JOURNAL, also should be circulated,
and new subscribers solicited for three months
or a year. Let every friend of Suffrage pro-
cure at once a supply of these documents,
and make the most of them for the next few
weeks.                                         L.S.

ANOTHER SIN AGAINST JUSTICE.
If republics were ungrateful, in the old time,
they are not less so in the new. When this
country was at its bitterest need for clean
strong hands to help rid of it of the Slavery,
which was sapping its life, Abby Kelly,
young, strong, with a clear intellect and a
high sense of justice, left the school where she
was teaching, and gave all she had; time,
strength, money, for the slave's sake. 
I met her at one of the Anti-slavery fairs,
where were then held every year in Faneuil
Hall. She was looking so ill and suffering 
that I asked if were ill? "Oh no," said she.
"But I have left my little daughter with my
husband's sister in new Hampshire, and I feel
as though I should die. But I have done it,
for the sake of the mothers whose babies are
sold away from them." In that spirit, no mat-
ter what it cost her, she held nothing back.
When the long strife was over, and Slavery
abolished, the country gathered its new laurels,
proud of the great boon which had been 
earned for it. But what did it do for Abby
Kelly Foster.
First it took her house and land, and sold
them at public auction, solely because she
stood for justice for women, as she had stood
for justice to the slave; because she demand-
ed that the property of women should be held
as sacred as that of men; and that it should 
not be taken from women, any more that it is 
from men, without their consent. 
It was for the application of the very foun-
dation principle of our government, that she
was contending. All the same, the city of
Worcester disgraced itself, soiled its historic
page, and sold the home of her one woman
whose name History will gratefully preserve.
When the shameful deed was done it was
proposed to give Mrs. Foster a shelter in the
"Home for Aged Women."
To this Abby Kelly Foster replied, "If I
am turned out of house which we have
built by little and little, which is hallowed to
me by joy and sorrow, by life and death, by
all the nameless ties which make a home sa-
cred, no roof shall ever shelter me. I will
go up and down the streets of the city of Wor-
cester, and upbraid every man I meet, with
his sin against justice and against the very es-
sence of Republican Government."
The city of Worcester holds the deed of that
home. And last week, one week before the
Fourth of July, the same city sold Mrs. Foster's
cow, and means to continue to sell all
the earnings of her life time, to gather money
enough to pay for the protection (?) that city
gives to Mrs. Foster. 
Worcester is the home of Geo. F. Hoar, whose
name is a tower of strength and stands for jus-
tice. What will he do, in this trial hour, to re-
kindle reverence for human rights, to renew the
fast fading sense of justice, and to save the
honor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?
No man can be silent and be innocent.    L.S.

July 4, 1874 Continued
WHAT SHALL I DO?

EDITORS WOMAN'S JOURNAL: - For several
years I have been endeavoring, in my feeble
way, to do something for the freedom of our
sex; but I have met with so many discourage-
ments, that I have almost settled into the be-
lief that unless one has very strong health and
very large wealth, endeavor is useless. Still,
I know this ought not to be so, and it has oc-
curred to me at last, to come to you, who have
worked so nobly and successfully in the cause,
and beg for instruction. What can a "poor
woman do, who hasn't strong health and is de-
pendent upon friends for the absolute necessi-
ties of life? My time and what little brain I
have, I could devote to the cause. Ought not
I to do something? Can't you "organize"
me? If there were only a Woman's Club
here, perhaps I might be of some use.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I beg of you to give me your counsel. You
must know all about the best methods; I have
 endeavored to lay myself open to you spiritual-
ly, so that you might be able to advise me.
ASENATH COOLIDGE
Withertown, Jefferson, Co., New York.
Our advice to this friend and to all others
similarly situation is to procure a hundred Wo-
man Suffrage tracts, price two two dollars, from
the New England Woman Suffrage Associa-
tion, and circulate them among the men and
women of your acquaintance, making each
tract do duty many times. As soon as you 
have awakened an interest in one or two, meet
and plan for concerted action of a similar kind.
Obtain subscribers for the WOMAN'S JOURNAL
at fifty cents for three months on trial. Agi-
tate the question on its merits. Avoid unnec-
cessary personalities, but criticize earnestly and
frankly every case of injustice to women. Re-
form, like charity, should begin at home.
L.S.

DORCHESTER WOMAN SUFFRAGE CLUB
 The Club held its third meeting last Mon-
day evening at the residence of H. B. Blackwell,
Pope's Hill, Dorchester; thirty ladies and
gentlemen being present. The Committee, ap-
pointed at the previous meeting to prepare a
circular for distribution at every house in Ward
16, reported through its Chairman, Mr. C. H.
Codman, the following
CIRCULAR
To the Citizens of Ward 16, Boston:
The Dorchester Woman Suffrage Club in-
vites the attention of the men and women of
Ward 16 to the formation of this Organization,
the objects of which are thus stated in the
Constitution.
CONSTITUTION.
The name of this organization shall be "The
Dorchester Woman Suffrage Club."
Its objects shall be to unite in an organiza-
tion all the friends of Woman Suffrage, for the
purpose of spreading correct views in regard
to the Equal Rights of women, - by lectures,
by the circulation of tracts and newspapers,
and in every possibly way, creating public
sentiment and legislation in favor of this Re-
form.
Its officers shall consist of a President, Vice
President, and Secretary (who shall act as
Treasurer), and three Directors, who shall to-
gether form an Executive Committee, the du-
ties of these officers being such as are usual in
similar societies.
Membership shall consist in attaching one's
name to the Book of Membership, and the pay-
ment of an annual fee of not less than twenty-
five cents.
Believing that this Reform will result in
wide-spread and permanent benefit to all class-
es in society, to men as well as to women, we
present herewith some of its claims upon your 
attention, and ask you to give them the 
thoughtful and candid consideration to which
all movements for social improvement are en-
titles.
Woman Suffrage with us means:
1. Justice to one-half of our citizens now
governed without their consent.
2. The purification of politics, now generally
regarded as corrupt and corrupting.
3. Ward rooms protected from vulgarity,
violence and trickery, and made attractive to
all.
4. Caucuses more largely attended by all
classes, and as a result, nominations more ful-
ly expressing the popular will.
5. The introduction into public affairs of
that moral and social refinement which charac-
terizes assemblies of which women form a 
part.
6. The introduction of measures for doing
away with intemperance and kindred evils.
7. The consideration of the wrongs of work-
ing women and the adoption of steps to remedy them.
   8. The admission of women to all occupations and professions upon the same conditions as men. 
   9. The improvement of our School Board and Schools, by the election of competent women, as members of the School Committee. 
   10. The recognition of Woman's equal right to the highest education in all institutions of learning. 
   11. Equal pay for equal work, whether done by Man or Woman.  
   These and many other advantages will result from giving ballots to women. We respectfully urge all who have not fully investigated this subject to examine its claims and to give it their sanction and support. In this connection we especially request you to read the accompanying tract, to induce your neighbors to read it, and to preserve it until called for. 
   We ask all Women Suffragists, men  and women, to give in their names without delay to our local District Committee, so that we can combine our forces for immediate effort. Do not wait to be again solicited but consider this as addressed to yourself personally, and attend to the matter at once. We wish to rally our entire strength, this fall, to ensure the election of women and of friends or women to the School Board, and the Women Suffragists to the Legislature. 
     It behooves the friends of Impartial Suffrage in Massachusetts to be active. Our Western sister, Michigan, seems about to take the lead in giving Suffrage to women . Iowa and other States are rapidly traveling in the same direction, and England has already granted the franchises to large classes of English women. Let us sustain the old reputation of Massachusetts as  being the first in all just and noble and beneficent reforms. 
             Lucy Stone, President
    Rebecca Butterfield, Secretary

SPEECH OF LUCY STONE.
    We are surely entitled to congratulate ourselves, in view of this large audience, drawn from all parts of the State by a common interest in the great question of Woman's rights to her share in making the laws which she must obey.
     But before I proceed, I want to express my cordial and full agreement with the position of Stephan and Abby Foster. Until it is seen and felt, that what this government does to women, is a crime, as great as that which was done by the government of England to our ancestors, women will continue to be fined, imprisoned, taxed and hung, with no more voice about it all, than though they were brutes.
      As the basis of my remarks, I will therefore offer these resolutions:
     Resolved, That when the Government of this State taxes the property of women, while it denies them any voice or share in this government, it places itself on the same level with George III. and will hold the same historic rank. 
       Resolved, That if it was worth a revolution a hundred years ago to get rid of the tyranny of George III., it is equally necessary now, in the interests of liberty and justice, to rid this Commonwealth of its tyranny over Woman, which is just as odious, and more cruel, than any which George III. ever exercised.
       Resolved, That no Centennial celebration to honor the memory of the men who resisted unto death the taxation which had no representation, can, with any fitness, be made by a government or by men, who are taxing all the women of the country, while they deny them any representation. 
      The British Parliament did not think it was doing any wrong. It argued, "we have the power, and protect our colonies. It is reasonable that they should pay for that protection." But the muttered discontent, first faintly heard across the Atlantic, swelled into the roll of battle, and the thunder of cannon, and seven years of bloody war brought the day we celebrate.
     Both parties in that fearful strife, now know, that the right was with those who refused to be taxed until they were represented. 
     The slaveholders did not think it was wrong to sell babies by the pound, and men and women on the auction block. They had always done it. They held high places in the Church and in the State, and were eminently respectable. 
     They, and the world were shocked, when William Lloyd Garrison called slaveholders thieves and robbers. Until that hour, slavery had not even been thought of as a crime. But the blinded eyes saw, the deaf ears heard, and hand joined with hand to break the chains of the slave, who at last, at the cost of millions of lives and no end of treasure stood up a free man. 
    To-day, both parties in that contest, which took more than thirty years to settle, agree that freedom is the birthright of man, black as well as white.
     So, now, this government think it does no wrong to women, while it taxes our property on terms such as it imposes upon no man, while the statue books are covered with laws against women which are never made against men, while the old common law, which shames the civilization of the age, still holds its grin on the wives of half the States.
     The Sisters Smith, and Abby Kelley Foster, each more than three score years old, are the real representatives of the persons and principles which made the fourth of July worth celebrating. The Sisters Smith refuse to pay taxes, on the same ground that the Colonists did; but after reasoning with the men in town meeting, and after a vain effort to be heard there again, they appealed to the Legislature, which gave them "leave to withdraw"; and the State of Connecticut does not even know that it is as truly acting the part of a tyrant, as was George the III. But is proceeds to sell thousands of dollars worth of property, to pay the tax which is less than a hundred dollars, and the whole State, with but few exceptions, looks on with quiet unconcern at what it pleases to call, "two eccentric women," and is sure "the old ladies will have to give in!"
     In Massachusetts, when Abby Kelly Foster refuses to pay her tax, because she has no representation, just as other heroes did, a hundred years ago, the State gives no sign, either of shame or repentance, or sense of justice. But Collector Barton announces that it is with his "entire approval" that the Sheriff sells her homestead, and then takes her cow for taxes.
    It would be impossible now to establish a government that should operate in that way. Suppose the men and women of Massachusetts came together for the first time to build the State, and make its laws. Would the men dare propose that they alone should make the laws, and that the women should have nothing to say about it, that the men should take the property of the women, as much as they pleased, to help pay the expense of this oligarchy, without even consulting the women; that we should be punished for resistance, and our property taken by force; that fines, imprisonment, and death awaited our disobedience to such man made laws?
       No man would propose such a government, and no woman would submit to it.
      But the government, already established under which we are living, is exactly that. 
      Oh men, how can you do it? I look in your faces, and I marvel at you; you, who would scorn to inaugurate such a government, look on quietly without remonstrance or resistance to see your own mothers and daughters subjugated, you need to learn that this which is done to Woman, is not less a crime, because you let it be done. You need to learn that injustice is always a sin, and carries its own punishment with it.
     But the public sentiment is changing. Indeed, ever since the first notes of discontent were uttered, near thirty years ago, slowly but steadily the laws which afflict women, have been ameliorated all over the Union, until, in obedience to an enlightened public sentiment, the great State of Michigan, by its Legislature, proposes, four months hence, to try by the peaceful method of the ballot, whether the men of that State have learned the lesson taught through a hundred years, that the consent of the governed women is as necessary to a just government, as is the consent of the governed men. God grant them success!
     When the great West has led the way, may Massachusetts soon follow, where she could not lead, and the whole country learn that the laws of man, like the law of God, should make no distinction on account of sex.

FOURTH OF JULY IN SOUTH FRAMINGHAM.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE CELEBRATION.
    The Celebration of the Fourth of July by the Massachusetts friends of Woman Suffrage in Harmony Grove, South Framingham, was in every respect a remarkable success. The day, at times slightly overcast, was breezy and cool. Occasional gleams of sunshine, lighting up the clouds, gave cheerful animation to the scene. The beautiful grove never looked more lovely. The clear waters of Farm Pond studded with sail boars, sparked and rippled on one side while the green pastures and meadows stretched out invitingly opposite. 
    At 10.10, A. M., the excursion train left Boston with several hundred passengers on board, and at every station along the line it was joined by additional parties, so that when the meeting was called to order in the shady amphitheater in front of the platform, an audience was assembled, variously estimated from 1200 to 2000. The quality of the assembly was especially noticeable. It was largely composed of men and women of unusual character and intelligence. Among the throng were scores of old Abolitionists, who had met in the same grove during the Anti-Slavery conflict. Upon the platform were the familiar faces of Mr. Garrison, Hon.Sam. E. Sewall, Mr. and Mrs. Foster, Rev. Geo. W. Stacy, Robert F. Walcott, and other veterans in the cause of reform. Nor should we forget to mention the genial presence of Hon. Henry Wilson, Vice-President of the United States, who came to wish a hearty God-speed to the friends of Impartial Suffrage for Woman, although forbidden by his physician to speak upon the platform. 
[*July 18.1874*]

DISAGREEABLE BUT SALUTARY.
     When a child, who has always been called
"the angel of the house," "papa's darling,"
and every other pet name, suddenly receives
a hard box on the ear, and is told that he is
"a little plague, always in the way and making
trouble," his resentment, surprise and disbelief
must be something like that of women,
who have treated in much the same
way, and who read in the Nation of June 14,
new and until then unheard of reasons for
withholding the ballot from women.
     It has been the stereotyped custom to say
that women were "too pure to be defiled by
the filthy pool of politics," that they were
"too refined and delicate to mingle with the
rough crowd at the polls," that " they govern
the world now." In prose and poetry they
have been called angels; and now, all at once,
the Nation deals a stunning blow, and affirms
that these "angels," if they are admitted to
help make the laws under which they live, on
the same terms as men, will bring along with
them a power for evil, before which the strongest
and best men will go down, and that corruption,
unheard of before, will abound.
     These are not the words of the Nation, but
they give the meaning.
     Now truth is always better than falsehood.
This opinion, so flatly expressed by the Nation,
will be the means of a great undeceiving.
The woman, who is flattered and petted, called
angelic, taught that her use in the world is
to be pretty, sees all through this sweet seeming,
and knows it is sheer pretence, yet she
accepts it because it is so very pleasant. But
before a great issue, pending in Michigan, and
with possible success, in a serious moment the
Nation speaks its real opinion: "You are not
angels nor the weaker sex, and if men hold
their own, women must be kept from the
sources of power which men use, for if they
are on equal terms, men will be overpowered."
     So, the reign of pretence is coming to an
end, and that is good.
     But it will be found that when men and
women meet each other on a fair field, each
with his and her won special gifts, though different, 
they have equal powers. Women are
not angels, neither are they devils, but, like
men, they are very human. Like man, they
have great possibilities of good and evil and
there are abundant opportunities to use both.
     But in the nature of things Man and Woman
must be friends. No change of circumstances
can make it otherwise. If in the past,
with all the unequal conditions, women have
held a moral superiority to men, it is fair to
infer that when they have equal opportunities
for education, for business, for self-support,
and for the best use of all their powers, they
will in every way be the better for it. Superior
conditions will bring superior results.
     As now the great mass of men and women
accept life's cares and burdens, to bear and to
share, to help each other up and on over the
rough places as well as over the smooth, so in
the future they will go side by side, with equal
rights in the family, in the church and in the
State, and as equals be far better able to help
each other in all noble and worthy ways than
they can possibly do with unequal conditions.
                                                             L. S.

PROTEST FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE
     The New Hampshire Sentinel publishes the
following protest against taxation which has
no representation.
     The undersigned, disfranchised citizen of a
Commonwealth where the "powers that be"
claim faith in, and allegiance to, the Constitution
of the United States, as containing a full
programme of political principles, for the conduct
of the whole people, clearly stated, by its
framers, herein affirm, that contrary to, and in
defiance of the basic law of said Constitution, the
authorities of this city have again subjected me 
to "taxation without representation," and menaced
by penal law, in case of refusal to pay, I
have this day paid said tax under protest.
Who shall say that despotism has no lodgment
in the United States of America, when one-half
the people rule the other half, without
their consent, and men make laws for women
to obey, which they would die rather than conform
to?
     Keen, N. H.                    NANCY W. COVILLE.
     Thus the leaven is working, and the just 
resentment of women against tyranny is being
gradually aroused.                             L. S.

[*July 25.1874*]

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MICHIGAN.
     The Woman Suffrage Campaign in Michigan
seems so far to have been in every way
auspicious, and the results of the discussion
have surpassed the expectations of its most
sanguine friends. The Executive Committee
have wisely resolved not to hold too many
public meetings during the short evenings of
"the heated term. But they have perfected
a plan for the speedy organization of an association
in every township in the State, and
the efficient Secretary, Mr. George Stickney, of
Grand Haven, has been instructed to move in
the matter at once, and Woman Suffrage documents
are being widely circulated, and meetings
have been provided for, this month, as follows:
Tyrone township at Cassnovia, July
14. Alpine township, at the Town Hall,
July 14. Wyoming township at Grandville,
July 14. Browne township at Browne, July 
15. Grattan, at Grattan Center, July 15.
Sparta, at Sparta Center, July 17. Walker, 
at the Town Hall, July 17. Byron, at Byron
Center, July 17. Cascade, at Cascade, July
21. Cannon, at Cannonsburg, July 21. Paris,
at Bowen Station, July 22. Plainfield, at
Belmont, July 22. Caledonia, at Alaska, July 
22. Ada, at Ada, July 24. Gaines at Hammond,
July 24. Courtland, at Courtland Center,
July 24. Vergennes, at Bailey's School
House, July 29. Oakfield, at Oakfield Station,
July 29. Nelson, at Sand Lake, July 29.
     Among the speakers enlisted are Cold. Standish,
Judge Whitney, Ex-Mayor Pierce, Mrs.
Adelle M. Hazlett, Giles Stebbins, Matilda
Hindman, and others.
     This continued activity in Michigan is in
striking and favorable contrast with our experience
in Kansas, in 1867. In the Suffrage
campaign there, three distinct stages were apparent.
From April until June the movement
was vigorous and hopeful. During July
and August came a reaction and apparent decline;
so much so that many wary politicians
who had hitherto sat upon the fence, jumped
down and took sides against Suffrage, while
everything seemed to indicate our overwhelming
defeat. But in September and October a
reaction came. Every day Suffrage gained
by the discussion, and when November came
one-third of all the men of Kansas voted for
Woman Suffrage, which received about as
many votes as negro suffrage obtained, although
the latter had the machinery of the
Republican party behind it.
     We shall not be surprised or alarmed,
therefore, if the coming hot and busy six
weeks should seem to show a similar falling-off
of interest in Michigan, though such does
not yet appear. But if such should be the
case, it will afford no ground of discouragement.
On the contrary, it will be only a natural
breathing spell, and the temporary relaxation 
will be the prelude to a still more vigorous
and triumphant campaign, next fall.
                                                        L. S.

[*August 1 1874*]

GOLDWIN SMITH ON SUFFRAGE.
     We publish this week one-half of Goldwin
Smith's argument against Woman Suffrage.
The remainder will appear next week. It
will be found, together with a brief editorial
criticism upon his position, in the inside of
the paper.                                    L. S.

[*August 8. 1874*]
     Subscription and pledges already received are
as follows:
     N. E. Woman Suffrage Society. . . . . . . . $500
     Missouri Woman suffrage Society. . . . .  300
     Mrs. Eben Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
     Saml. May. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
     Ada C. Bowles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     Miss C. Scott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     Wm. H. Ladd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                                                                     _____
                                                                     $932
     All friends of Woman Suffrage who desire
to aid in employing speakers and circulating
tracts and newspapers in Michigan under
the auspices of the Michigan Woman Suffrage
Association are urgently requested to send in
their pledges without delay to the office of the
WOMAN'S JOURNAL.                             L. S.
[*August 8 1874 Continued*] 

Annual Meeting 
AMERICAN 
WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION. 

The AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION 
will hold its sixth ANNUAL MEETING for the election 
of officers and the transaction of business, in DETROIT, 
Tuesday and Wednesday, October 13 and 14, 
at the Opera House, commencing at 10 A. M. Reports 
of auxiliary State Societies during the past year will 
be rendered. 

The following auxiliary State Societies should be 
represented by their accredited delegates, viz: Maine, 
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 
Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Missouri, Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, California. 

Auxiliary Societies should take care to secure representation 
by their full quota of delegates, corresponding 
in number to the Congressional delegations 
of their respective States; and in every State where 
no such Societies exist, all friends of Woman Suffrage 
who concur in the objects and methods of the 
American Woman Suffrage Association are respectfully 
invited to organize in their respective localities. 

The necessity of a radical political reform grows 
every year more evident. To-day out government is 
Republican only in name. In every town, in every 
ward we are controlled by cliques of trading politicians 
through the machinery of parties. Our nominations 
are made in caucus by less than five per cent 
of our voters and are ratified at the polls by less than
one-fourth of our adult citizens. A real political reform 
must enlist all the virtue, intelligence and patriotism 
of the nation in a struggle against vice, and 
ignorance, and selfishness. The whole American 
people must become interested in political questions. 
In Impartial Suffrage irrespective of Sex, lies the 
only salvation of American Liberty. 

Come, then, friends of Equal Rights, to our Annual 
Convention! Help establish Impartial Suffrage, and 
thus check the despotism of monopolies, restore the 
supremacy of morals in public and private life, and 
redeem the future of the great American Republic. 

By order of the Executive Committee. 

JULIA WARD HOWE, President. 
LUCY STONE, Chairman Ex. Com. 

SMITH FEMALE COLLEGE. 

At the Convention of Educators lately held 
in Springfield, Mass., Rev. L. Clark Seelye, 
President of the new Smith College at Northampton, 
delivered an address upon "the need 
of collegiate education for women" of which 
the Springfield Republican gives the following 
report: 

He began by showing the benefit of a classical 
education for man in developing his intellectual 
forces as a means if ennobling life. 
Then he illustrated the intellectual capacity 
of Woman in all ages, from Lucretia, Sappho, 
Cornelia, down to Mrs. Browning in our own 
age; he instanced the patronage of literature 
by Queen Elizabeth, as also Woman's elevating 
influence in the reign of Louis XIV. "Therefore," 
said he, "Woman, as man, is capable 
of the same culture as the means of ennobling 
life." There should be a means provided to 
obtain this end. The question comes up, Shall 
we open male colleges to women, or incorporate 
others for the same? It is held by some that 
the presence of women would incite emulation. 
If the sexes are alike, it would simple be adding 
brain to similar brain. If not alike, the 
place is not fitted for them. The question of 
injury to health has been discussed by physicians, 
some of whom have proved it to be injurious; 
none have shown it to be beneficial. 
It is again urged that the presence of women 
would dissipate vice. The admission of women 
to the theaters to take the place of boys 
in effeminate parts has had a tendency to increase 
vice; the presence of women at the revelries 
of the old troubadours had a similar 
effect. Since the days of the French revolution, 
when the first foul novel was written by 
a woman, there has been no lack of female exhibitions 
of the same tenor, and, while we 
admit the fact of Mrs. Browning, we must admit 
that the admission of woman to the ranks 
of literature has not yet purified it. The many 
things that are not down in the curriculum of 
a college must be taken into consideration. 
The sports, the freedom of the students and 
general moral influence is wholly masculine, 
and the presence of Woman should be a restraint 
upon harmless pleasures. She would 
be in danger of losing her gentle womanhood, 
and, in return, gain a repulsive coarseness of 
manners. She should be perfect as her Father 
in heaven is perfect, and to this end we urge 
for her a separate education of equal attainments. 

If this report is a correct one, President 
Seelye has taken a very poor way to win sympathy 
for his college, or for himself as an honest 
educator. 

A fair-minded man would have stated that 
Oberlin and Antioch Colleges have tried for