e pages, for
the first time, that there has risen in the United States, and in
the most Civilized and enlightened portion of them, an organized
agitation, on a new question, new not to thinkers, nor to any one
by whom the principles of free and popular government are felt,
as well as acknowledged; but new, and even unheard of, as a
subject for public meetings, and practical political action. This
question is the enfranchisement of women, their admission in law,
and in fact, to equality in all rights, political, civil, social,
with the male citizens of the community.

It will add to the surprise with which many will receive this
intelligence, that the agitation which has commenced is not a
pleading by male writers and orators _for_ women, those who are
professedly to be benefited remaining either indifferent, or
ostensibly hostile; it is a political movement, practical in its
objects, carried on in a form which denotes an intention to
persevere. And it is a movement not merely _for_ women, but _by_
them....

A succession of public meetings was held, under the name of a
"Woman's Rights Convention," of which the President was a woman,
and nearly all the chief speakers women; numerously reinforced,
however, by men, among whom were some of the most distinguished
leaders in the kindred cause of negro emancipation....

According to the report in the _New York Tribune_, above a
thousand persons were present, throughout, and "if a larger place
could have been had, many thousands more would have attended."

In regard to the quality of the speaking, the proceedings bear an
advantageous comparison with those of any popular movement with
which we are acquainted, either in this country or in America.
Very rarely in the oratory of public meetings is the part of
verbiage and declamation so small, and that of calm good sense
and reason so considerable.

The result of the convention was in every respect encouraging to
those by whom it was summoned; and it is probably destined to
inaugurate one of the most important of the movements toward
political and social reform, which are the best characteristic of
the present age. That the promoters of this new agitation take
their stand on principles, and do not fear to declare these in
their widest exten