nciple of
equal rights, barrier after barrier in the path of human progress
falls. If we are still far from its full comprehension and
further from perfect conformity to its law, it is in that only
like the spirit of Christianity, to whose full glory even
Christendom but slowly approaches. From the heat and tumult of
our politics we can still lift our eyes to the eternal light of
that principle; can see that the usurpation of sex is the last
form of caste that lingers in our society; that in America the
most humane thinker is the most practical man, and the organizer
of justice the most sagacious statesman.

Mr. Gould, of Columbia, followed with a long speech in opposition,
and the discussion[104] continued through several days; but Mr.
Curtis's amendment, in the Committee of the Whole, received 24 ayes
against 63 nays; and on the final vote in the Convention, 19 ayes[105]
against 125 nays.

Mr. Greeley, seemingly to atone for the disappointment of the women of
the State in his adverse report, published the following editorial in
_The Tribune_ of July 26th, 1867:

WOMEN IN POLITICS.

The Constitutional Convention of our State, yesterday,
negatived--yeas 19, nays 125--the proposition that women should
share with men the duties and responsibilities of voters at
elections. This decision was preceded by an earnest, protracted
discussion, in which the right and expediency of extending the
elective franchise to women were most eloquently urged by George
William Curtis, and less elaborately by several others. The
judgment pronounced yesterday by the Convention must therefore be
regarded as final.

We do not, however, regard it as a verdict against a
participation in public affairs by women. On the contrary, we
hold that woman's influence not only is, but should be felt in
legislation and government, and must increase in power as the
race becomes more enlightened and humane. We only insist that she
shall speak and be heard distinctly as woman, not mingled and
confused with man. To make women voters at our elections as now
held, and eligible to office in competition with men, would be
far better calculated to corrupt woman than to reform man and
purify politics. To have women mingle freely with men in primary
meetings, caucuses, nominating conventions, investigating