However, women learned one important lesson—­namely, that it is impossible for the best of men to understand women’s feelings or the humiliation of their position.  When they asked us to be silent on our question during the War, and labor for the emancipation of the slave, we did so, and gave five years to his emancipation and enfranchisement.  To this proposition my friend, Susan B. Anthony, never consented, but was compelled to yield because no one stood with her.  I was convinced, at the time, that it was the true policy.  I am now equally sure that it was a blunder, and, ever since, I have taken my beloved Susan’s judgment against the world.  I have always found that, when we see eye to eye, we are sure to be right, and when we pull together we are strong.  After we discuss any point together and fully agree, our faith in our united judgment is immovable and no amount of ridicule and opposition has the slightest influence, come from what quarter it may.

Together we withstood the Republicans and abolitionists, when, a second time, they made us the most solemn promises of earnest labor for our enfranchisement, when the slaves were safe beyond a peradventure.  They never redeemed their promise made during the War, hence, when they urged us to silence in the Kansas campaign, we would not for a moment entertain the proposition.  The women generally awoke to their duty to themselves.  They had been deceived once and could not be again.  If the leaders in the Republican and abolition camps could deceive us, whom could we trust?

Again we were urged to be silent on our rights, when the proposition to take the word “white” out of the New York Constitution was submitted to a vote of the people of the State, or, rather, to one-half the people, as women had no voice in the matter.  Again we said “No, no, gentlemen! if the ‘white’ comes out of the Constitution, let the ‘male’ come out also.  Women have stood with the negro, thus far, on equal ground as ostracized classes, outside the political paradise; and now, when the door is open, it is but fair that we both should enter and enjoy all the fruits of citizenship.  Heretofore ranked with idiots, lunatics, and criminals in the Constitution, the negro has been the only respectable compeer we had; so pray do not separate us now for another twenty years, ere the constitutional door will again be opened.”

We were persistently urged to give all our efforts to get the word “white” out, and thus secure the enfranchisement of the colored man, as that, they said, would prepare the way for us to follow.  Several editors threatened that, unless we did so, their papers should henceforth do their best to defeat every measure we proposed.  But we were deaf alike to persuasions and threats, thinking it wiser to labor for women, constituting, as they did, half the people of the State, rather than for a small number of colored men; who, viewing all things from the same standpoint as white men, would be an added power against us.