inor she wanted to say one word about the
work Mrs. Minor had done for the soldiers, during the sanitary
fair and all through the war. She had canned fruit, refusing the
money offered in payment, returning it all to be used for the
sick and wounded soldiers [applause]. Mrs. Minor spoke in a calm,
deliberate manner, with perfect conviction in the truth of her
statements and with a winning sweetness of expression that
indicated the highest sensibilities of a refined nature. She
showed that women voted in the early days of the country, and
that undoubtedly it was the intention of the framers of the
constitution that they should do so. This right had been taken
away when the constitution was amended and the word "male"
inserted. What is now desired is simply restoration of that which
had been taken away. She believed that this restoration was made,
unwittingly, by the addition of the fourteenth amendment, which,
without doubt, makes women citizens. It is men who have abused
the republican institution of suffrage; it is women who desire to
restore it to its proper exercise. Miss Anthony read a letter
from Mrs. Wallace, the wife of one of the former governors of
Indiana:

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., January 21, 1883.

DEAR MISS ANTHONY: When in the call I read that for fourteen
consecutive years the National Woman Suffrage Association
had held a convention in Washington, I was oppressed by two
thoughts: First, how hard it is to overcome prejudice and
ignorance when they have been fortified by the usages and
customs of ages; and secondly, the sublime faith, courage
and perseverance of the advocates of woman's
enfranchisement, and their confidence in the ultimate
triumph of justice. After all, by what are governments
organized and maintained? By brute force alone? Despotisms
may be, but republics never. What are the qualifications for
the ballot? The power to fight? Are they not rather
intelligence, virtue, truth and patriotism? I scarce think
the most obstinate and egotistical of our opponents will
assert that men possess a monopoly of these virtues, or even
a moiety of them. As to their fighting capacities, of which
we hear so much, I think t