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“John Wesley was less eloquent, but was a disciplinarian. an organizer, and the result is, the Methodist de*, nomination, which is one of the most powerful sects of Christendom. We that are assembled here to-night require but little preaching to. We have all thought this matter seriously over. We are all imbued with a thorough love for equal rights. Let us organize, then. I will, therefore, not take up more time in mere generalities in regard to equal rights, but will, with your consent, read a declaration of principles and plan of orgau-ization, which I have prepared for your consideration.”DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.“1. This organization shall be known as the Ohio State Equal Rights Association.“2. We hold that all persons—male and female—are endowed in their creation with the right to life and its attendant blessings, viz.: Liberty, the profits of whatever their minds conceive, or bauds produce, and the free exercise of all their faculties and powers, not Infringing upon the same inherent rights of others.“3. But, as these natural rights, by the usurpation of tvrants, and the establishment of unjust, cruel and oppressive governments, have been, in all ages and all countries, trampled upon, curtailed, or entirely withheld from the many and confined to afavored few, and this being also the case in regard to them other country, our forefathers, smarting under op]) essiou, and conceiving and daring to maintain their rights, inaugurated a successful revolution, established our Government virtually upon the inherent, and inalienable rights of humanity; but they, doubtless startled at their own temerity in making such a sweeping innovation upon all other governments in existence, failed to carry out their own beautifully-expresseddeclarations; and, in direct conflict therewith, established or permitted slavery—‘the sum of all villainies,! and worst form of despotism; and further, they also politically ignored tbeexistence of woman, not allowing her the right of sullfage, or any voice in their Government. We, therefore, as American citizens, believing that all Just governments are founded upon the consent of the governed, and that all citizens are entitled to all their natural rights, among which are included the right of suffrage, claim and demand that the ballot should be given to woman; and. not only so, but that all qualifications in regard to suffrage shall be impartial, applying equally to all citizens, of either sex, or of whatever race.“4. As all experience hath shown that the rich can not be trusted to make laws for the poor, nor one race to legislate for another, so man is not qualified and can not be trusted to make laws for woman: and therefore, in order that all laws shall be impartial, and eaually beneficial to all, there should be no class legislation, nor one sex be allowed to make laws for the other, but that all should take part in the elections, and, through officers of their choice, have a voice in making the laws by which they are to be governed. mb. As woman especially—as mother, wife and widow *ias suffered great injustice and cruelty, from the law's made by man, therefore it is of the highest importance that the ballot should be placed immediately in her hands, as the only safeguard against unjust and cruel laws.
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Commercial
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Fri, Dec 04, 1868
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 11 Mar 2021
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