When Eastern Republicans learned that the action of their party in
Kansas was doing more damage than the question of woman to the negro,
since the pioneers, who knew how bravely the women had stood by their
side amid all dangers, were saying, "if our women can not vote, the
negro shall not;" they began to take in the situation, and a month
before the election issued the following appeal, signed by some of the
most influential men of the nation. It was published in the New York
_Tribune_ October 1st, and copied by most of the papers throughout the
State of Kansas:

_To the Voters of the United States_:

In this hour of national reconstruction we appeal to good men of
all parties, to Conventions for amending State Constitutions, to
the Legislature of every State, and to the Congress of the United
States, to apply the principles of the Declaration of
Independence to women; "Governments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed." The only form of consent
recognized under a Republic is suffrage. Mere tacit acquiescence
is not consent; if it were, every despotism might claim that its
power is justly held. Suffrage is the right of every adult
citizen, irrespective of sex or color. Women are governed,
therefore they are rightly entitled to vote.

The problem of American statesmanship is how to incorporate in
our institutions a guarantee of the rights of every individual.
The solution is easy. Base government on the consent of the
governed, and each class will protect itself.[83]

But the appeal was too late, the mischief done was irreparable. The
action of the Republican party had created a hostile feeling between
the women and the colored people. The men of Kansas in their speeches
would say, "What would be to us the comparative advantage of the
amendments? If negro suffrage passes, we will be flooded with
ignorant, impoverished blacks from every State of the Union. If woman
suffrage passes, we invite to our borders people of character and
position, of wealth and education, the very element Kansas needs
to-day. Who can hesitate to decide, when the question lies between
educated women and ignorant negroes?" Such appeals as these were made
by men of Kansas to hundreds of audiences. On this appeal the New York
_Tribune_ said editorially:

KANSAS--WOMAN AS A VOTER.--We publish herewith an appeal, most
influentially signe