n from the dead questions of the past
to the vital issues of the hour. The brute form of slavery ended
with the war. The black man is a soldier and a citizen. He holds
the bullet and the ballot in his own right hand. Consider his
case settled. Those weapons of defense and self-protection can
never be wrenched from him. Yours the responsibility now to see
that no new chains be forged by bondholders and monopolists for
enslaving the labor of the country.

The late war, seemingly in the interest of slavery, was fought by
unseen hands for the larger liberties of the whole people. It was
not a war between North and South, for the principle of class and
caste knows neither latitude or longitude. It was a war of
ideas--of Aristocracy and Democracy--of Capital and Labor--the
same that has convulsed the race through the ages, and will
continue to convulse future generations, until Justice and
Equality shall reign upon the earth.

I desire, therefore, an opportunity to urge on this Convention
the wisdom of basing its platform on universal suffrage as well
as universal amnesty, from Maine to California, and thus take the
first step toward a peaceful and permanent reconstruction.

In behalf of the Woman's Suffrage Association,

Respectfully yours, SUSAN B. ANTHONY.

The comments of the daily city press[110] on this "innovation" were
as varied as amusing. During the reading of this document, several
members of the Equal Rights Association occupied conspicuous seats in
the Convention. This was the first time in the history of that party
that any effort had been made to secure the attendance of their
mothers, wives, and daughters. But observing that women had been an
element of enthusiasm in Republican meetings all through the war and
the period of reconstruction, and seeing the improved tone and manner
their presence had given to the speeches, and the general conduct of
the proceedings, it was thought best to secure the same influence
henceforth in Democratic conventions. The attempt at this
time was quite satisfactory and successful. A large number of
handsomely-dressed ladies helped to swell the immense audience that
assembled in Tammany Hall, one of the most spacious and elegant
auditoriums in the city, to be dedicated on that day, July 4th, 1868,
to Democratic principles.

As there were stron