Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
The National Woman Suffrage Association calls your attention to
the fact that the Republican party has itself reopened this
battle, and now holds the anomalous position of having settled
the question of State sovereignty in the case of black men, and
again opened it, through the Minor-Happersett decision, not only
in the case of women citizens, but also in the case of men
citizens, for all other causes save those specified in the
fifteenth amendment. Your party has yet one opportunity to
retrieve its position. The political power of this country has
always shown itself superior to the judicial power--the latter
ever shaping and basing its decisions on the policy of the
dominant party. A pledge, therefore, by your convention to secure
national protection in the enjoyment of perfect equality of
rights, civil and political, to all citizens, will so define the
policy of the Republican party as to open the way to a full and
final adjustment of this question on the basis of United States
supremacy.
Aside from the higher motive of justice, we suggest your adoption
of this principle of equal rights to women, as a means of
securing your own future existence. The party of reform in this
country is the party that lives. The party that ceases to
represent the vital principles of truth and justice dies. If you
would save the life of the Republican party you should now take
broad national ground on this question of suffrage.
By this act you will do most to promote the general welfare,
secure the blessings of liberty to yourselves and your posterity,
and establish on this continent a genuine republic that shall
know no class, caste, race, or sex--where all the people are
citizens, and all citizens are equal before the law.
MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE, _Chairman Executive Committee_.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY, _Corresponding Secretary_.
_Centennial Headquarters_,
1,431 Chestnut street, _Philadelphia_, June 10, 1876.
_To the President and Members of the National Democratic
Convention assembled at St. Louis, June 27, 1876_:
GENTLEMEN: In reading the call for your convention, the National
Woman Suffrage Association was gratified to find that your
invitation was not limited to voters, but cordially extended to
all citizens of the United States. We accordingly send delegates
from our association, asking for them a voice in your
proceedings, and also a plank in your platform declaring the
political rights of women.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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