gratulating Frederick Douglass upon his marriage to a
white woman and sympathizing with him because of the adverse criticism
it had called out! She especially urged that he be given a prominent
place on the program at the approaching convention. Miss Anthony replied
at once:

I do hope you won't put your foot into the question of
intermarriage of the races. It has no place on our platform, any
more than the question of no marriage at all, or of polygamy, and,
so far as I can prevent it, shall not be brought there. I beg you
therefore not to congratulate him publicly. Were there a
proposition to punish the woman and leave the man to go scot free,
then we should have a protest to make against the invidious
discrimination.

The question of the amalgamation of the different races is a
scientific one, affecting women and men alike. I do not propose to
have it discussed on our platform. Our intention at this convention
is to make every one who hears or reads believe in the grand
principle of equality of rights and chances for women, and if they
see on our program the name of Douglass every thought will be
turned toward the subject of amalgamation and away from that of
woman and her disfranchised. Neither you nor I have the right thus
to complicate or compromise our question, and if we take the bits
in our teeth in one direction we must expect our compeers to do the
same in others. You very well know that if you plunge in, as your
letter proposes, your endorsement will be charged upon me and the
whole association. Do not throw around that marriage the halo of a
pure and lofty duty to break down race lines. Your sympathy has run
away with your judgment. Lovingly and fearfully yours.

It is hardly necessary to say that the "open letter" was not published.

Everybody's burdens were laid upon Miss Anthony's shoulders. In looking
over the mass of correspondence it seems as if each writer wanted
something and looked to her to supply it. All expected her to take the
lead, to do the planning, to bear the responsibility, and usually she
was equal to the demand, but even her brave spirit could not resist an
occasional groan on the pages of the diary. When a new accession to the
ranks, from whom she expected great assistance, wrote, "I do not know
how to plan but tell me what to do and I will obey," she says, "My heart
s