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^ 41 ••••••••• 10 • ECS to Clara Bewick Colby [New York, c. 5 February 1896]1 Dear Mrs Colby, I have written you pretty freely in regard to the situation but do not put one word I say to you in print. When I feel moved to review the recent action of the convention I will do so You hit the nail on the head when you said “personal spite” That is all there is of it in the minds of the leaders “a sense of duty” is mere hypocrisy. “Blood will tell” If Rachels grandfather had learned to weild a pen as well as cleaver2 she would have made a better literary critic. She is glad to see her resolution in all its illiteracy printed in Blackwells paper & he is only too glad to do it.3 Was there ever such a flimsy pretext for the action of an association fifty years old, “style”? If she had had the instincts of a lady, she would have framed her resolution in better taste. In trying to spite me she kills six other writers , the living & the dead, that is she tries to do so, & the new fledglings nallp saynngp amen. One of the strongest objections our most liberal class of men make against woman suffrage is that we would destroy the secular nature of our government, that the vast majority are under the power of the priesthood & would vote no end of restrictive measures if they had the power When the most liberal organization in the nation among women, do what is just done, the danger is apparent. If women may not comment on what the Bible says of women & decide whether man or God, said she was the author of sin, cursed in her maternity, subjugated in marriage, a mere afterthought in the creation sentiments that cannot be symbolized nor beautified in any language, Latin Greek nor Hebrew twist & turn as you may, then I would like to know what freedom we acquired under Christianity. This is the most pitiful spectacle we have had since the inauguration of our movement. The defeat of an amendment in a state is nothing to this surrender. Our flag is lowered just as the shining lights in the church are devoting themselves to higher criticism. Bishop Colenzo4 Goldwin Smith & others [cut?] on The Penteteuch denying nitsp inspiration & 5 february 1896 42 & much more beside, the suff association denounces the only women that dare express an opinion on the question. The most important work just now is to lift women out of their superstitions. As Susan said we better organize one woman on principle than 10,000 bigots in a suffrage club. One of our papers thus reports her. Another says, Miss Anthony said she did not think the Bible more sacred than the dictionary & the latter far the best book to be in our schools. Susan has just left She has had some hot scenes with her Lieutenants. She feels greatly outraged with their action in not consulting her.5 Are we to have any more of the birthday proceedings?6 Do you intend to continue a weekly. Could you not live cheaper & publish cheaper in Beatrice.Now since they will make the Wash con a movable feast & it will all pass into new hands, why stay there. Susan will resign at the end of this year & then Mrs Catt will no doubt take her place, & Blackwell will kill the association just as he did The American.7 Disintegration began when they joined the National, a few years more will do the work. My advice to you is to struggle no longer to keep your head above water in Washington. In your old home in Beatrice you can educate your children in the public edit your paper better, for you will have more time & less worry & live much cheaper. From what Susan tells me it is suicidal to struggle where you are. Think seriously of returning to Nebraska. Then you could slip round & campaign in those western states. I should like some more numbers of this weeks paper With kind regards sincerely yours U Elizabeth Cady Stanton [sideways in margin] Do you want more Bibles Y ALS, Clara B. Colby Papers, Archives Division, WHi. “Feb 96” added in unknown hand. 1. Dated with reference to SBA’s visit on 5 February 1896. 2. An “x”in the text directs the reader to a note at the bottom and in the margins of the page. It reads: “He was a butcher in my native town her mother & aunt were servants...

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