19th-century suffragettes decried abortion as murder

19th-century suffragettes decried abortion as murder

The writer of the July 20 column, “Lessons of Seneca Falls, 165 years later ” in The Vindicator, provided readers with an interesting synopsis of events in the history of the women’s rights movement. The author recounted the work of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her colleagues in the early days of the movement and demonstrated that these women and their supporters were ahead of their time.

At the end of the column, however, the writer lists a number of rights that women are still denied, chief among them the right to an abortion. Would she have us believe the early suffragettes would have supported abortion?

My research into the work of early feminists and their thoughts on the subject revealed these quotes:

“There must be a remedy even for such a crying evil as this. But where shall it be found, at least where begin, if not in the complete enfranchisement and elevation of women?” (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, The Revolution, 3/12/1868.)

“Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; but oh thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime.” (Susan B. Anthony, The Revolution, 1869)

“... so when a woman destroys the life of her unborn child, it is an evidence that either by education or circumstances she has been greatly wronged.” (Emma Goldman, The Revolution, 9/02/1869.)

“Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women.” (Alice Paul, author of the original Equal Rights Amendment, as quoted in a speech given in 1923.)

It’s inaccurate, at the very least, to imply that the Founding Mothers of the women’s rights movement supported abortion or would support it today. Their writings indicate they saw it as a great social evil, even referring to it as “murder.”

For more accurate information about early women’s rights advocates, let me recommend the website, Feminists for Life.

Elizabeth A. Dreier, Poland

New math on the top 1 percent?

I almost fell off my chair laughing when I read in The Vindicator that billionaire Charles Koch (one of the two right-wing Koch brothers) whose TV ad states that if you earn over $34,000 a year, you are one of the top 1 percent.

I have just one question for Mr. Koch: Are you willing to live on $34,000 a year? Come on, Chuck — you can make it. After all, you’ll still be one of the top 1 percent, right?

Just another ludicrous statement by the super rich far-right wing who thinks all middle-class working Americans are just plain stupid.

Lee Guy, Boardman