No more brilliant galaxy of men and women ever assembled than at this Syracuse convention, and the great question of the rights of woman was discussed from every conceivable standpoint.  Hundreds equally able have been held during the last half century, and these extensive quotations have been made simply to show that fifty years ago the whole broad platform of human rights was as clearly defined by the leading thinkers, and in as logical, comprehensive and dignified a manner, as it is today.  There was as much opposition among the masses of both men and women against all that they advocated as exists today against their demand for the ballot, perhaps more; yet the close of the century finds practically all granted except the ballot; the full right to speak in public; nearly the same educational and industrial opportunities; in many States almost equal legal rights, and not one State now wholly under the English common law, which everywhere prevailed at that time.  The prejudice against all these innovations is rapidly disappearing but it still lingers in regard to the yielding of the suffrage, except in the four States where this also has been given.  In not one instance have these concessions been made in response to the “voice of the people,” but only because of the continued agitation and unceasing efforts of a few of the more advanced and progressive thinkers of each generation.

[Footnote 11:  The Tribune, at this time, was the only paper in New York, and, with few exceptions, the only large newspaper in the country, which treated the question of woman’s rights in any but a contemptuous, abusive manner.]

[Footnote 12:  They may have been preceded by the Moral Reform Societies for the Rescue of Fallen Women, which originated in New York City, and by a few Female Anti-Slavery Societies.]

[Footnote 13:  At the first Woman’s Rights Convention in 1848, Mrs. Mott and Mrs. Stanton were so opposed to having a woman for chairman that they came near leaving the hall.  Four years later Mrs. Mott is herself the presiding officer.]

[Footnote 14:  Several of the speakers had weak, piping voices which did not reach beyond a few of the front seats and, after one of these had finished, Miss Anthony said:  “Mrs. President, I move that hereafter the papers shall be given to some one to read who can be heard.  It is an imposition on an audience to have to sit quietly through a long speech of which they can not hear a word.  We do not stand up here to be seen, but to be heard.”  Then there was a protest.  Mrs. Davis said she wished it understood that “ladies did not come there to screech; they came to behave like ladies and to speak like ladies.”  Miss Anthony held her ground, declaring that the question of being ladylike had nothing to do with it; the business of any one who read a paper was to be heard.  Mr. May, always the peacemaker, said Miss Anthony was right; there was not a woman that had spoken in the convention