CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL HISTORY. 1870-1880.

IF birthright, if American democratic ideas, confer the right to vote, or if capacity alone confers it,—either way, the claim of woman is irrefragable; and all there is left, is the debate among the voters, as to whether they will, or how soon they will, yield that mere exercise of forceful authority, which is the only tenure of their superiority in politics, and in government. "WARRINGTON."

POLITICAL agitation on the Woman Suffrage

question began in Massachusetts early in 1870, and a mass convention was held in Boston to discuss the feasibility of forming a Woman Suffrage political party. Julia Ward Howe presided and Rev. Augusta Chapin offered prayer. The subject was ably discussed by Lucy Stone, Rev. J. T. Sargent, A. Bronson Alcott, H. B. Blackwell, Dr. Mercy B. Jackson, S. S. Foster, Mary A. Livermore, Rev. B. F. Bowles, F. B.

Sanborn, W. S. Robinson ("Warrington "), Gil. bert Haven and many others.

The question of a separate nomination for State officers was carefully considered. Delegates were present from the Labor Reform and the Prohibitory party, and strong efforts were made by them to induce the Convention to nominate Wendell Phillips, who had already accepted the nomination of these two parties, as candidate for Governor. The Convention at one time seemed strongly in favor of this action, the women in particular, thinking that in Wendell Phillips, they should find a staunch and well tried leader. But wiser or more politic counsels prevailed, and it was finally concluded to postpone a separate nomination until after the Republican and Democratic conventions had been held.

A Woman Suffrage State Central Committee was formed, and began at once active political work. A memorial was prepared to present to each of the last-named conventions, and the candidates on the State ticket of the four political

parties of Massachusetts, were questioned by letter concerning their opinions on the right of the women of the State to the ballot. In answer to this letter many of the candidates for State offices of the Republican, the Prohibitory, and the Labor Reform parties responded favorably.

When the Memorial prepared by the State Central Committee was presented to the Democratic State Convention, that body, in response, passed a resolution conceding the principle of women's right to suffrage, but at the same time declared itself against its being enforced, or put into practice. To finish the brief record of the dealings of the Democratic party, with the Suffragists of the State, and the question of women's rights according to Democratic principles, it may as well be said here, that until 1882 it had never responded to the appeals of the Suffragists, nor taken action of importance, in Convention, on this question. The Democratic party has broken no promises to the women, because it has made none. Though a party of the people, as its name implies (in the dictionary), it has hitherto been

inconsistently against equal suffrage—or a government "by the people."

At the Republican State Convention held October 5, 1870, the question was fairly launched into politics, by the admission (for the first time) of two women, Lucy Stone and Mary A. Livermore, as regularly accredited delegates. Both ladies were invited to speak, and Mrs. Livermore at the close of her address presented the following memorial:

To the Republican Convention of the State of Massachusetts:

The undersigned, having been appointed a State Central Committee by the friends of Woman Suffrage assembled in Convention at Tremont Temple in Boston, on the 29th day of September, 1870, are instructed by and on behalf of said Convention to lay before your Honorable Body the following

MEMORIAL.

We respectfully represent

That in violation of the Bill of Rights of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which expressly

affirms that "all power resides originally in the People and is derived from them," the women of Massachusetts-one-half of the entire people— are excluded from political power.

That in violation of the Declaration of Independence, which declares that "Governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed," all the women of Massachusetts are governed without consent.

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That in violation of the fundamental principle of Representative Government that Taxation without Representation is Tyranny," every woman in Massachusetts who is the owner of property is taxed without representation and has no voice in the amount or expenditure of the taxes she is compelled to pay.

We therefore respectfully request that this Convention of the Republican party, which has abolished political distinctions on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude, will declare itself by resolution opposed to political distinctions on account of sex, and in favor of so. amending our State Constitution as to extend