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26. West 61,
N.Y. Jan 23

Mr. Thomas
Dear sir,
For fifty years in this republic a large intelligent class of women have demanded the right to suffrage, under a constant fire of ridicule. I called the first woman’s convention ever held and penned the first resolution demanding political and civil rights
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Thousands of women have joined the cry ever since We have held conventions all over this country every year. In Washington regularly for the last quarter of a century with hearings before Congressional Committees We have published books and papers on this subject,
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Now what reasonable man could think we would do all this, to no purpose for something we did not desire.
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Look at the action of women where suffrage has been extended.
Under the English flag, widows and spinsters have the right to vote on
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all municipal questions The London Times says they vote in as large a proportion as the men They have voted on all questions in the state of Wyoming 24 years, They now vote in the state of Colorado (full suffrage)
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They have had municipal suffrage in Kansas for three years, and all gladly voted, We have school suffrage in half the states of the Union and women by the thousands have voted. It is too late to speculate on what women desire or would do
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It is evident that we do want to vote, and that we have, wherever we have had an opportunity. The right of suffrage is simply the right to govern oneself, Did you ever see a woman that preferred absolute government by another? Of what sort of stuff,
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do you suppose women are made of that having been brought up here under republican institutions they should all prefer to live under a male oligarchy
I send you some leaflets by this male, to enlighten that coterie of gentleman of whom you speak,
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Yours truly
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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[typed transcript]

Alma Lutz Collection

26, West 61,
N.Y. Jan 23
(1898)

Mr. Thomas

Dear Sir:

For fifty years in this republic a large, intelligent class of women have demanded the right of suffrage, under a constant fire of ridicule. I called the first woman’s convention ever held and penned the first resolution demanding political and civil rights. Thousands of women have joined the cry ever since. We have held conventions all over this country every year. In Washington regularly for the last quarter of a century with hearings before Congressional Committees. We have published books and papers on this subject.

Now what reasonable man could think we would do all this to no purpose for something we did not desire.

Look at the action of women where suffrage has been extended. Under the English flag, widows and spinsters have the right to vote on all municipal questions. The London Times says they vote in as large a proportion as the men. They have voted on all questions in the state of Wyoming twenty five-years. They now vote in the state of Colorado (full suffrage). They have had municipal suffrage in Kansas for three years, and all gladly voted. We have school suffrage in half the states of the Union and women by the thousands have voted. It is too late to speculate on what women desire or would do. It is evident that we do want to vote, and that we have, wherever we have had an opportunity. The right of suffrage is simply the right to govern oneself. Did you ever see a woman that preferred absolute government by another? Of what sort of stuff, do you suppose women are made of, that having been brought up here under republican institutions they should all prefer to live under a male oligarchy.

I send you some leaflets by this mail to enlighten that coterie of gentleman of whom you speak.

Yours truly,

Elizabeth Cady Stanton