INTRODUCTION. THE writing of this book has been a labor of love; and I publish it in the hope that it may be ́found useful as a book of reference, and also, that it may help to keep the memory green of some of the earlier workers in the Woman's Rights Movement. When writing upon certain phases of this question, I have often been very much hampered for want of authentic data upon which to base my statements. The cyclopædias say comparatively little, and there is no book of reference that enters into details on this subject. The need of such a book has no doubt been felt by others as well as by myself, and I sincerely hope that, so far as it goes, this work will supply that need. In 1870, when I began to work for woman suffrage, I found in the ranks, many earnest men and women who had labored long in the weedy field of this reform. There were also, dim traditions of others whose names were half forgotten and the memory of whose services was fast becoming obliterated. A reformer is the Rip Van Winkle in the history of his time. If he leaves the procession, remains inactive for a period of years, or dies, he and his work are very soon forgotten. Already, the names of many of those who helped to lead the antislavery movement are to be found only in dusty reports or files of old newspapers. Without an authentic record of the woman suffrage movement, the coming generation might in a similar way forget its early workers. In presenting the part Massachusetts has taken, I have described its aspect as one who sees a landscape from a height-the general effect has been given, instead of minute details upon single points. I have not dwelt upon individual action, nor made a record of the work done by the leaders, since this is the province of the biographer rather than that of the historian. I should gladly have devoted some space to the doctrine of woman's rights, as expounded by those whose names are found in these pages; but within the limits of this book it would have been impossible to do justice to such authors or to such a theme. My sources of information have been, carefully preserved reports of meetings; legislative documents and records; "Warrington's" letters and writings in the Springfield Republican, New York Tribune, and other newspapers; letters from friends of the cause from all parts of the country, and the personal reminiscences of old time workers. To all the friends who have aided me in collecting material, I desire to express my thanks. I am especially grateful to Louisa M. Alcott and Wendell Phillips for their encouragement, and sympathy with my work; also to Frank.B. Sanborn and Samuel E. Sewall, who have kindly helped me in the revision of my proofs, and thus secured for these pages technical and legal accuracy. MALDEN, Mass., Oct., 1881. H. H. R. INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE second edition, now offered to the public, is carefully revised and corrected. In the Addenda will be found new matter, and also verifications of certain statements made in the first edition, which have been called in question by those who are as anxious as I am to have the history of the movement correct; but who have not, like myself, gone to the proper sources of information to substantiate them. In behalf of the book, I thank its friends for their cordial and substantial support, and also its critics for their timely and valuable suggestions. HARRIET H. ROBINSON. MALDEN, Mass., Jan., 1883. |