Last updated: October 24, 2024
Article
Citizen Suffrage Association Meeting, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 1876
Courtesy of Newspapers.com
Title: Citizen Suffrage Association Meeting, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 1876
Date: July 20, 1876
Location: 333 Walnut Street (18th Century Garden)
Object Information: Paper document
Repository: "Citizen Suffrage," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 1876 (available on newspapers.com, behind paywall)
Description:
This article details the Citizens' Suffrage Association meeting that took place on July 19, 1876 at 333 Walnut Street (now the 18th century Garden in Independence National Historical Park). In addition to white female suffragists, attendees included people of color. Black poet and educator Frances Ellen Watkins Harper spoke at the meeting, referencing her color as well as her gender. Social activist Robert Purvis was mentioned as serving on a committee alongside white suffragist Susan B. Anthony, tasked with responding to Centennial Commission president, General Joseph Hawley's attempt to silence women at the July 4, 1876 celebration on Independence Square. The meeting took place on the anniversary of the Seneca Falls women's rights convention in 1848. Although the women's suffrage movement often excluded women of color from prominent roles—or even participation, in this meeting, Frances E.W. Harper had a voice.
Date: July 20, 1876
Location: 333 Walnut Street (18th Century Garden)
Object Information: Paper document
Repository: "Citizen Suffrage," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 1876 (available on newspapers.com, behind paywall)
Description:
This article details the Citizens' Suffrage Association meeting that took place on July 19, 1876 at 333 Walnut Street (now the 18th century Garden in Independence National Historical Park). In addition to white female suffragists, attendees included people of color. Black poet and educator Frances Ellen Watkins Harper spoke at the meeting, referencing her color as well as her gender. Social activist Robert Purvis was mentioned as serving on a committee alongside white suffragist Susan B. Anthony, tasked with responding to Centennial Commission president, General Joseph Hawley's attempt to silence women at the July 4, 1876 celebration on Independence Square. The meeting took place on the anniversary of the Seneca Falls women's rights convention in 1848. Although the women's suffrage movement often excluded women of color from prominent roles—or even participation, in this meeting, Frances E.W. Harper had a voice.
TRANSCRIPT
CITIZEN SUFFRAGE
TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT-RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING GENERAL HAWLEY’S ACTION ON THE FOURTH OF JULY
The stated meeting of the Citizens’ Suffrage Association was held yesterday afternoon at No. 333 Walnut street; Mr. E. M. Davis occupied the chair; Mrs. Virginia Barnhurst secretary. It was announced that this was the twenty-eighth anniversary of the woman suffrage movement in this country.
Mrs. Lucretia Mott addressed the meeting, and alluded to the progress made during that period.
Miss Susan B. Anthony read a letter from Miss Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It stated that twenty-eight years ago the Woman’s Suffrage Convention had been held in the Methodist Church, at Seneca Falls, New York. Notwithstanding the attack from press and pulpit the women have maintained their position.
Mr. Davis said that one-half of the adult population of this country were compelled to obey laws they did not help to make.
Miss Anthony read letters from Catharine Neff Stebbins, one of those present at the first meeting in Seneca Falls; from Mrs. Nichols, now in California, and one of the earliest workers in the cause, and from Ernestine L. Rose, an earlier pioneer in the woman suffrage movement.
Miss Dr. Waterhouse, of Sacramento city, Cali., said she had resided there twenty-three years, and had been an active worker in the cause.
Rev. Chauncey Barnes, who was so conspicuous at the recent meeting of the Universal Peace Union, said he hoped Susan B. Anthony would put a plank in the platform that would supersede all creation. He had advocated the woman suffrage movement for twenty-five or thirty years.
Mr. John Dexter, from England, said that for nearly 800 years women have exercised in England, although in small numbers, the very rights that are being urged to-day. In the time of Bloody Mary women acted as judges, and the right to plead still exists there.
In England a woman has every other right except voting for members of Parliament. There are as many as 30,000 women in London voting for offers of the school board. Most of the leaders in the suffrage movement in England are very highly educated women. There are 1,400,000 women earning their own livelihood in England and Scotland alone, and a great many are earning their husbands’ as well.
Miss Hindman, of Pittsburg, in reviewing the past, considered a great work had been done for woman. Until women learn to work in organizations like men they will accomplish nothing. It has been said that the Roman Catholics are all against woman suffrage, but this is not true.
Miss Ellen Watkins Harper said the great thing was to get the women interested themselves. There were days when she had suffered as a negro. Women should struggle for the vote in order to make society more holy.
Miss Anthony admitted that the act was impertinent, her intruding on the platform in Independence Square on the Fourth of July, but that otherwise the people could not have been notified of the protest of the women against the refusal to allow them to participate in the proceedings.
In reply to a question, Miss Anthony stated that on the Fourth of July she had handed the document (the Women’s Declaration of Independence) to Vice President Ferry, who thought it ought to be preserved. General Hawley, however, had decided that it should form no part of the proceedings.
She then proceeded to the platform in front of Independence Hall under the very shadow of the Washington Monument, and read the document to the assembled thousands.
Miss Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Caroline Spear and Mr. Robert Purvis, representing a committee appointed with reference to the Fourth of July affair, made a report with a resolution annexed, condemning the action of General Hawley in his efforts to prevent the presentation and reading of the Women’s Declaration of Independence on the Fourth, and also charging him with a subsequent attempt to suppress its publication. The resolution was adopted.
CITIZEN SUFFRAGE
TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT-RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING GENERAL HAWLEY’S ACTION ON THE FOURTH OF JULY
The stated meeting of the Citizens’ Suffrage Association was held yesterday afternoon at No. 333 Walnut street; Mr. E. M. Davis occupied the chair; Mrs. Virginia Barnhurst secretary. It was announced that this was the twenty-eighth anniversary of the woman suffrage movement in this country.
Mrs. Lucretia Mott addressed the meeting, and alluded to the progress made during that period.
Miss Susan B. Anthony read a letter from Miss Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It stated that twenty-eight years ago the Woman’s Suffrage Convention had been held in the Methodist Church, at Seneca Falls, New York. Notwithstanding the attack from press and pulpit the women have maintained their position.
Mr. Davis said that one-half of the adult population of this country were compelled to obey laws they did not help to make.
Miss Anthony read letters from Catharine Neff Stebbins, one of those present at the first meeting in Seneca Falls; from Mrs. Nichols, now in California, and one of the earliest workers in the cause, and from Ernestine L. Rose, an earlier pioneer in the woman suffrage movement.
Miss Dr. Waterhouse, of Sacramento city, Cali., said she had resided there twenty-three years, and had been an active worker in the cause.
Rev. Chauncey Barnes, who was so conspicuous at the recent meeting of the Universal Peace Union, said he hoped Susan B. Anthony would put a plank in the platform that would supersede all creation. He had advocated the woman suffrage movement for twenty-five or thirty years.
Mr. John Dexter, from England, said that for nearly 800 years women have exercised in England, although in small numbers, the very rights that are being urged to-day. In the time of Bloody Mary women acted as judges, and the right to plead still exists there.
In England a woman has every other right except voting for members of Parliament. There are as many as 30,000 women in London voting for offers of the school board. Most of the leaders in the suffrage movement in England are very highly educated women. There are 1,400,000 women earning their own livelihood in England and Scotland alone, and a great many are earning their husbands’ as well.
Miss Hindman, of Pittsburg, in reviewing the past, considered a great work had been done for woman. Until women learn to work in organizations like men they will accomplish nothing. It has been said that the Roman Catholics are all against woman suffrage, but this is not true.
Miss Ellen Watkins Harper said the great thing was to get the women interested themselves. There were days when she had suffered as a negro. Women should struggle for the vote in order to make society more holy.
Miss Anthony admitted that the act was impertinent, her intruding on the platform in Independence Square on the Fourth of July, but that otherwise the people could not have been notified of the protest of the women against the refusal to allow them to participate in the proceedings.
In reply to a question, Miss Anthony stated that on the Fourth of July she had handed the document (the Women’s Declaration of Independence) to Vice President Ferry, who thought it ought to be preserved. General Hawley, however, had decided that it should form no part of the proceedings.
She then proceeded to the platform in front of Independence Hall under the very shadow of the Washington Monument, and read the document to the assembled thousands.
Miss Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Caroline Spear and Mr. Robert Purvis, representing a committee appointed with reference to the Fourth of July affair, made a report with a resolution annexed, condemning the action of General Hawley in his efforts to prevent the presentation and reading of the Women’s Declaration of Independence on the Fourth, and also charging him with a subsequent attempt to suppress its publication. The resolution was adopted.