on
the only just plane of equal human rights. What a power to hold,
and not use! I could not sleep the other night, just for thinking
of it; and if I had got up and written the thought that burned my
very soul, I do believe that Greeley and Tilton would have echoed
the cry of the old crusaders, "God wills it;" and rushing to our
half-sustained standard, would plant it high and firm on
immutable principles. _They_ MUST take it up. I shall see them
the very first thing when I go home. At your meeting next Monday
evening, I think you should insist that all of the Hovey fund
used for the _Standard_ and Anti-Slavery purposes, since slavery
is abolished, must be returned with interest to the three causes
which by the express terms of the will were to receive _all_ of
the fund when slavery was abolished. You will have a good
meeting, I am sure, and I hope you will not fail to rebuke the
cowardly use of the terms "universal," and "impartial," and
"equal," applied to hide a dark skin, and an unpopular client.
All this talk about the infamous thirteen who voted against
"negro suffrage" in New Jersey, is unutterably contemptible from
the lips or pen of those whose words, acts, and votes are not
against ignorant and degraded negroes, but against every man's
mother, wife, and daughter. We have crowded meetings everywhere.
I speak as well as ever, thank God! The audiences move to tears
or laughter, just as in the old time. Harry makes capital
speeches, and gets a louder cheer always than I do, though I
believe I move a deeper feeling. The papers all over the State
are discussing pro and con. The whole thing is working just
right. If Beecher is chosen delegate at large to your
Constitutional Convention, I think the word male will go out
before his vigorous cudgel. I do not want to stay here after the
4th, but Wood and Harry have arranged other meetings up to the
18th or 20th of May, so that we shan't be back even for the
Boston meetings.

Very truly, LUCY STONE.

In a letter dated Atchison, May 9, 1867, Lucy Stone says: I
should be so glad to be with you to-morrow, and to know this
minute whether Phillips has consented to take the high ground
which sound policy as well as justice and statesmanship require.