TO THE WOMEN OF AMERICA
The time has come, in the progress of Civilization, when the women of America may make themselves felt in politics as a recognized and beneficent power. This manifestation will naturally precede the establishment of the Equal Rights of Woman, as cause precedes effect.
The National Republican Convention recently held in Philadelphia unanimously adopted the following, as a part of its declaration of principles:—
14. The Republican party is mindful of its obligations to the loyal women of America for their noble devotion to the cause of freedom; their admission to wider fields of usefulness is viewed with satisfaction; and the honest demand of any class of citizens for additional rights should be treated with respectful consideration.
The cause of Woman is the cause of Civilization; and, in the providence of God, the Republican party has been pre-eminently the party of Civilization. It has effectually suppressed a most formidable rebellion, excited and carried on to perpetuate the worst form of tyranny ever inflicted upon mankind, and has maintained the Union and its free institutions at a priceless cost. It has liberated four million slaves,—one half of whom were women. It has lifted them from the auction block to the plane of American citizenship. It has essentially aided a grand educational movement at the South, which must ultimately be of inestimable value to that depressed and impoverished section of our country in all that pertains to popular enlightenment, general industry, business enterprise, accumulative prosperity, and public order. It has conferred political equality upon four hundred thousand colored men, once bought and sold in the market like cattle. It has gathered to itself an overwhelming proportion of the intelligence, virtue, patriotism, and piety of the land. It has evinced a disposition to enlarge its sphere of action for the furtherance of equal rights to the extent of its possibilities, in accordance with the progressive spirit of the Age. While, in all these and other matters of vital importance to our national unity and stability, it has been persistently and virulently opposed by the Democratic party, to the imperiling of our dearest rights and most precious interests as a people.
Therefore we hail the Republican recognition of woman’s devotion to freedom in the past as a tribute well-timed and well-deserved. We accept the Republican congratulation upon Woman’s admission to wider fields of usefulness as opportune and statesman-like; we receive the Republican assurance of respectful consideration for Woman’s rights in the future as a sincere expression of good-will, and as an initiatory step toward securing the elective franchise for all citizens irrespective of sex.
In submitting this grave issue to the “respectful consideration” of all parties, the Republican party has not only indicated an increasing sense of justice, but has done much towards hastening the hour for its satisfactory solution. Already, the Republicans of Massachusetts have responded by adopting a platform containing the following explicit declaration:—
8. Resolved—That we heartily approve of the recognition of the rights of Woman contained in the fourteenth clause of the National Republican Platform; that the Republican Party of Massachusetts, as the representative of liberty and progress, is in favor of extending suffrage on equal terms to all American citizens, irrespective of sex, and will hail the day when the educated intellect and enlightened conscience of woman will find direct expression at the ballot-box.
In marked and dishonorable contrast with this advanced action of the Republican Conventions at Philadelphia and Worcester, was the refusal of the so-called Liberal Convention at Cincinnati, and the Democratic Convention at Baltimore, to admit women as delegates, or to give the slightest heed to Woman’s claim which was respectfully submitted to them, thus evincing a settled purpose to discountenance any consideration of the “honest demand” of American women “for additional rights” or political enfranchisement.
We believe the utmost reliance may be placed upon the readiness of President Grant to sustain any Congressional action that may be taken, under his administration, in favor of basing the right of suffrage upon personality, and not upon sex; so that whatever may be the limitations to the exercise of that right, they shall cease to be proscriptive in reference to a natural distinction which ought not to affect the liberties and interests of a human being. In his numerous appointments of women to the superintendence of post-offices, and other public trusts, he has given practical proof that he is in favor of Woman’s admission to “wider fields of usefulness;” and in the employment of thousands of women in the various departments of the general government, a similar spirit has been indicated on an unexampled scale.
In the person of his Presidential competitor, Horace Greeley, we see one who formerly gave his hearty approval to the Woman’s Rights movement, but who has since treated it with hostility and contempt; and whose journal, the Tribune, has dealt it many an unmerited blow. It behooves every woman, therefore, who sees in the success of that movement the removal of an odious proscription and the abolishment of class legislation, to exert her utmost personal, social and moral influence to prevent his election.
In the nomination of Henry Wilson for the Vice-Presidency of the United States, we have additional evidence of the purpose of the Republican party to take no step backward, but to advance the standard of impartial liberty. In him we recognize the upright and sagacious statesman, the early and devoted advocate of the oppressed, and the outspoken supporter of the claim of Woman to a just share of political representation.
We are willing to trust the Republican party and its candidates as saying what they mean, and meaning what they say; and, in view of their honorable record, we have no fear of a betrayal on their part.
Let us show our country and the world that the women of America are capable of political responsibility, by wisely accepting the progressive platform of the Philadelphia Convention as prophetic of our complete enfranchisement at a day not far distant. Let us everywhere co-operate to create an overwhelming public sentiment in favor of the party that deems our claim to the ballot worthy of respectful consideration wherever fairly and properly presented, and to defeat the party that ignores our claim.
So shall the cause of Equal Rights continue to march on until its shining goal is attained, and A PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT is established on the indestructible basis of “THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.”
Signed in behalf of the Republican women of Massachusetts in Convention assembled,
LOUISA M. ALCOTT,
Committee.
BOSTON, Sept. 25, 1872.