June 22, 1872, pages 3-4
LETTER FROM AN OLD REFORMER.
BOSTON, JUNE 5, 1872.MRS. CAROLINA H. SPEAR :—My Dear Friend—I am honored by your note of invitation to attend the meeting to ratify the nomination of Mrs. Woodhull, and Frederick Douglass as President and Vice President of the United States.
As between Grant and Greeley, to me, there could be no choice. They are neither of them Republican nor Democrat, but both despots; the former, at least by silence, the latter, by open, deliberate, persistent determination and declaration. And so I hold them both utterly unworthy the suffrages of a free people, or would-be free people.
I am glad every colored man on our soil is a true citizen; but until every colored woman is alike free and equal, and every white woman also, I am determined to know nothing among the American people save woman, and her disfranchised and crucified.
Though I never voted for a President in all my anti-slavery mission of nearly thirty years, still, my position as between slave-holders and their abettors and other candidates, was never misapprehended. So I think my action will continue to report me truly on the still greater question.
It seems to me eminently fitting that your nominee for President should be a woman. And equally appropriate is it that the other candidate should be of the so recently, not only disfranchised, but absolutely enslaved class.
The Republicans emancipated the slaves to save the country. Let them now do one, and their first act of justice, by electing one of them, (and one every way worthy and capable,) to the second office in their gift.
It is not possible that I can be in New York in time for your meeting; but let me assure you in this way, that as between Grant, Greeley and Mrs. Woodhull, though the latter might not be my choice among American women, I do regard her as every way superior to either of her two competitors already named.
We are surely on the horizon of the most sublime revolutionary events, not the most remarkable of which may be the election of a woman to the Presidency of the United States[.] Till that be done, I will not advocate the election of any man, soldier, statesman, nor philosopher, whose doctrine of “universal suffrage,” does not include, as well every woman as every man.
Nor till that be, will I cease to be, as well your fellow worker, to the very best of my humble ability, as ever and always, I am your very sincere friend.
PARKER PILLSBURY
Webmaster’s Note: After the June 22, 1872 edition, the publication of Woodhull & Claflin’s Weekly was suspended until the “scandalous” and suppressed Nov. 2, 1872 issue. Financial difficulties caused in part by political persecution temporarily prevented publication.
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