whatever party proves itself most friendly to the largest
freedom regulated by wise and equal laws.

With a cordial greeting to our sisters of the West and to
our brothers also, I wish you God-speed on your mission of
enfranchisement to half the human race.

WAYLAND, _November 12, 1872_. L. MARIA CHILD.

The Business Committee reported resolutions,[193] which after
much discussion were adopted. Officers[194] for the ensuing year
were then proposed and elected.

Miss EASTMAN was announced. As she stepped to the front she was
received with applause. She gave an able address, answering the
questions, "What is to be gained and what is to be lost, by
giving women the ballot?" She confined her attention to the
latter question principally, by reviewing the condition of women
in the past, and their condition in foreign countries. She
answered the charge that women are unfit to use the ballot. There
was quite an array of facts in her discourse, and extreme beauty
in her language, though the latter covered at times exquisite
sarcasm that was relished by all. She made a decided impression
upon the audience, and concluded amid demonstrations of applause.

LUCY STONE made the closing speech, and said that after the
golden words to which we had been listening, silence was most
fitting; what she had to say, therefore, would be brief and
without preliminary. The distinctions which are made on account
of sex are so utterly without reason, that a mere statement of
them ought to be sufficient to secure their immediate correction.

For example, here are twins, a baby boy and girl; they rock in
the same cradle; the same breast blesses their baby lips; the
same hand guides their first tottering steps. A little later they
play the same plays, recite the same lessons and hold the same
rank as scholars. They ask admission to Harvard college. The boy
is received, and the girl refused. Can any one tell me a good
reason why? At twenty-one their father gives them each a house.
They both pay taxes on this real estate, but the young man has a
voice, both in the amount of tax and its use, all of which is
denied to the young woman. Can any one tell a good reason why?

They assume the marriage relation. The young husband can sell