A short time thereafter Miss Anthony, Mrs. Stanton, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Tilton were in the Standard office discussing the work.  Mr. Phillips argued that the time was ripe for striking the word “white” out of the New York constitution, at its coming convention, but not for striking out “male.”  Mr. Tilton supported him, in direct contradiction to all he had so warmly advocated only a few weeks before, and said what the women should do was to canvass the State with speeches and petitions for the enfranchisement of the negro, leaving that of the women to come afterward, presumably twenty years later, when there would be another revision of the constitution.  Mrs. Stanton, entirely overcome by the eloquence of these two gifted men, acquiesced in all they said; but Miss Anthony, who never could be swerved from her standard by any sophistry or blandishments, was highly indignant and declared that she would sooner cut off her right hand than ask the ballot for the black man and not for woman.  After Phillips had left, she overheard Tilton say to Mrs. Stanton, “What does ail Susan?  She acts like one possessed.”  Mrs. Stanton replied, “I can not imagine; I never before saw her so unreasonable and absolutely rude.”

She was obliged to leave immediately to keep an engagement, but as soon as she was at liberty went straight to Mrs. Stanton’s home, and found her walking up and down the long parlors, wringing her hands.  She threw her arms around Miss Anthony, exclaiming:  “I never was so glad to see you.  Do tell me what is the matter with me?  I feel as if I had been scourged from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet!” They sat down together and went over the whole conversation, and she then saw and felt most keenly the insult and degradation concealed in the proposition of the two men, and agreed with Miss Anthony that she would sacrifice her life before she would accept it.

This incident illustrates one marked difference in these two women, each so strong in her own characteristics.  Mrs. Stanton in the presence of brilliant intellect and elegant culture at times would seem to be entirely psychologized, even though the arguments used were in direct conflict with her own instincts and judgment.  On the contrary, no eloquence, no persuasiveness of manner, no magnetic power could induce Miss Anthony for one moment to abandon her convictions of truth and justice.  Mrs. Stanton’s disposition was one of extreme suavity which loved to please, while Miss Anthony’s nature was rugged, unflinching and stern in upholding the right without regard to expediency.

On May 31 both the Anti-Slavery Society and the Equal Rights Association held large meetings in Boston.  The latter, in conformity with its new name, announced that “any member of the audience, man or woman, was entitled to speak on the topics under debate and would be made welcome.”  This had been the rule always in the old woman’s rights conventions, but it was reaffirmed now in order to show the broad and catholic spirit of the new organization.  At this Boston meeting Anna Dickinson made her first speech for the rights of woman.  It was one of those bursts of inspiration which no pen can reproduce, and was received by the audience with cheer upon cheer.  She gave $100 to the cause, assuring them of her services henceforth, and Miss Anthony wrote of her, “She is sound to the heart’s core.”