Eastman and Lucy Stone, showing the right and need of women in
politics, and the duty of law-makers to establish justice for
them. It was especially urged that the centennial celebration
would be only a mockery if the Fourth of July, 1876, finds this
government still doing to women what the British government did
to the colonists a hundred years ago. Rev. Mr. Gage of Lewiston
urged the right of women to vote in the interest of civilization
itself. In the perilous times upon which we have fallen in the
great experiment of self-government, some new force is needed to
check growing evils. The influence in the home is that which is
needed in legislation, and it can only be had by the ballot in
the hand of woman. Mrs. Quinby, from the Business Committee,
reported a series of resolutions. After their adoption Mrs. Abba
G. Woolson, in an earnest and forcible speech, claimed the right
of women to vote, as the final application of the theory of the
consent of the governed. She had personally noticed the good
effects of the ballot conferred upon the women in Wyoming, and
should be glad to have her native State of Maine lead in this
matter, and give an illustration of the true republic. Miss
Lorenza Haynes, who had been the day before ordained over the
Universalist Church in Hallowell, followed with a speech of
remarkable wit and brilliancy, to which no report can do justice.

A writer in the _Woman's Journal_ about this time said:

During the early part of the session of our late legislature
woman suffrage petitions were numerously signed by the leading
men and women throughout the State receiving an earnest and
respectful consideration from the people generally, even from
those who were not quite ready to sign petitions. Consequently,
it seemed an easy matter to get a bill before the legislature,
and we were almost certain of a majority in one branch of the
House, at least, especially as it was generally understood that
our new governor favored the cause; and it is believed yet that
Governor Dingley does sympathize with it, even though he failed
to mention it in his otherwise admirable message. The petitions
were duly presented and referred to a joint committee, where the
matter was allowed to quietly drop.

It is neither riches, knowledge, nor cultu