are self-refuting and how few
even seem to warrant further antagonism.

They cite the physical superiority of man, but offer no amendment
to increase the voting power of a Sullivan or to disfranchise the
halt, the lame, the blind or the sick. They regard the manly head
of the family as its only proper representative, but would not
exclude the adult bachelor sons. They urge disability to perform
military service as fatal to full citizenship, but would hardly
consent to resign their own rights because they have passed the
age of conscription; or to question those of Quakers, who will
not fight, or of professional men and civic officials, who, like
mothers, are regarded as of more use to the State at home.

They are dismayed by a vision of women in attendance at caucuses
at late hours of the night, but doubtless enjoy their presence at
balls and entertainments until the early dawn. They deprecate the
appearance of women at political meetings, but in my State women
have attended such meetings for years upon the earnest
solicitation of those in charge, and the influence of their
presence has been good. Eloquent women are employed by State
committees of all parties to canvass in their interests and are
highly valued and respected....

They object that many women do not desire the suffrage and that
some would not exercise it. It is probably true, as often
claimed, that many slaves did not desire emancipation in
1863--and there are men in most communities who do not vote, but
we hear of no freedman to-day who asks re-enslavement, and no
proposition is offered to disfranchise all men because some
neglect their duty.

The minority profess a willingness to have this measure
considered as a local issue rather than a national one, but those
who recall the failures to extend the ballot to black men, in the
most liberal Northern States, by a popular vote, may be excused
if they question their frankness in suggesting this transfer of
responsibility. The education of the people of a whole State on
this particular question is a much more laborious and expensive
work than an appeal to the several Legislatures. The subject
would be much more likely to receive intelligent treatment at the
hands of the picked men of a State, where calm discussion may be