agraph in my letter of acceptance."

In order to exhaust every resource, Miss Anthony, on August 17,
addressed this letter to each of the presidential candidates:

As vice-president-at-large of the National Woman Suffrage
Association, I am instructed to ask you if, in the event of your
election, you, as President of the United States, would recommend
to Congress the submission to the several legislatures of a
Sixteenth Amendment to the National Constitution, prohibiting the
disfranchisement of United States citizens on account of sex. What
we wish to ascertain is whether you, as President, would use your
_official influence_ to secure to the women of the several States a
_national guarantee_ of their right to a voice in the government on
the same terms with men. Neither platform makes any pledge to
secure political equality to women--hence we are waiting and hoping
that one candidate or the other, or both, will declare favorably,
and thereby make it possible for women, with self-respect, to work
for the success of one or the other or both nominees. Hoping for a
prompt and explicit statement, I am, sir, very respectfully yours.

General Hancock did not so much as acknowledge the receipt of this, but
General Garfield answered promptly, writing with his own hand:

Your letter of the 17th inst. was duly received. I take the liberty
of asking your personal advice before I answer your official
letter. I assume that all the traditions and impulses of your life
lead you to believe that the Republican party has been and is more
nearly in the line of liberty than its antagonist, the Democratic
party; and I know you desire to advance the cause of woman. Now, in
view of the fact that the Republican convention has not discussed
your question, do you not think it would be a violation of the
trust they have reposed in me, to speak "as their nominee"--and add
to the present contest an issue which they have not authorized?

Again, if I answer your question on the ground of my own private
opinion, I shall be compelled to say that, while I am open to the
freest discussion and fairest consideration of your question, I
have not yet reached the conclusion that it would be best for woman
and for the country that she should have the suffrage. I may reach
it; but whatever time may do to me