May 28, 1870

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS

The N. Y. Herald says:

The two hostile divisions of women's righters, under the belligerent lead respectively of Henry Ward Beecher and Theodore Tilton, are passing all their time in refusing to coalesce with each other and in flooding the country with resolutions and chatter, there are, at least, two advocates of the women's movement that endeavor to show by example and precept that their sex, with ordinary fair play and industry, can take care of itself. We refer to the lady brokers who recently created a stir among the bulls and bears of Wall Street by setting up, so to speak, a china shop right in the midst of that disorderly locality, and who have even more recently opened the eyes of the slow old fogies who think woman not fit for much, by starting an excellent weekly newspaper, under the business-like title of WOODHULL & CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY, right in the midst of the periodicals of Park row. The paper itself, of which the first number only has been issued, already give evidence of talent and aptness in that most difficult of all arts, the art of journalism. It is a neat sixteen page paper, about the size and shape of the usual literary hebdomadal; but, in addition to the stories, essays and poetry inseparable from these papers, it launches boldly into politics, finances, out-door sports and fashions, and even thus early rejoices in a cheering amount of advertisements. The WEEKLY, bearing for its motto "Upward and Onward," strongly advocates women's rights, and even nominates and supports a woman for the next Presidency. There can, therefore, be no reasonable doubt of its devotion to the woman cause, and we would suggest to the female agitators who waste their breath and their hearers' patience at conventions and mass meetings that, while the press is not so noisy an organ as the tongue, it is heard much further. The example of Messrs. Woodhull & Claflin, if we can prefix that title to the firm name, is therefore a highly commendable one, as they do more and talk less than the two divisions of female agitators put together.

The Star says of us:

Woodhull-Claflin--Mesdames Woodhull & Claflin have entered the field of journalism in characteristic good shape. They apologize very properly for the shortcomings and blunders of their "first side," but as, like all women, they also have a right side, they need feel no cause to blush. Their WEEKLY is well-looking journal of sixteen neatly-printed, well-made-up pages, containing great variety, considerable novelty, and matter of decided interest. The avowed purpose of the venture is to make Mrs. Woodhull President of the United States, which is all very well for Mrs. Woodhull, but how about the rest of us? The poet's corner, with which the WEEKLY opens, says:

"For life is but a passing day,
   No lip may tell how brief the span,
Then, oh, the little time we stay,
    Let's speak of all the best we can."

From which pleasant sentiment one might infer that the editors are somewhat in doubt as to the period of their tarrying. We believe there is ample room and plenty of verge here for a woman's paper, devoted to the sex, her needs, her wants, her aspirations, even her "rights," and we can see no reason why "Upward and Onward" should not take the field. The ladies whose names are at its head are known to us only by their works, and from them we judge they are thoroughly competent; discreetly zealous, and not all backward in coming forward. If they can go upward and onward as well, they will be satisfied, and we shall be glad. Good luck to them.

The Standard says:

We acknowledge the receipt of WOODHULL AND CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY, a handsome and readable newspaper, to advocate suffrage without distinction of sex, and support Victoria C. Woodhull for President. It regards the Democratic Party as "effete," and the Republican Party as little better, and will always be lively, readable, and intelligent, largely devoted to Progress and Liberty.

The Otsego, N. Y. Democrat says:

WOODHULL & CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY made its appearance from 21 Park Row, New York, on the morning of the 14th inst. It is a neatly-dressed, well-worked sixteen page sheet, and runs under the motto "Onward and Upward." We hope it won't go up. It declares its devotion to the vital interests of the people, and its main ambition the promotion to the Presidency of Victoria C. Woodhull. It will take the highest ground on the diffusion of religion, philosophy and science, recognizes no vitality in either of our great political parties, repudiates conservatism, and holds progression to be the only principle worthy of a live and intelligent and independent sheet. We are under compliment to the publishers for the first number. We wish it success.

The Niagara, N.Y., Gazette says:

WOODHULL & CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY is the title of a new paper, the first number of which was issued in New York, Saturday. It is a handsome sixteen page paper, owned and edited by those ladies who have lately made so much stir in Wall street as financiers. They announce their principal object to be the support of the senior member of the firm for next President. As a good-looking lady always has numerous worshippers, why wouldn't one of them be popular as a candidate? Nice paper--$4 per year.

The Revolution (N.Y.) says:

WOODHULL AND CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY--The Women Brokers have also become journalists, and certainly with excellent promise, judging from their first issue. The WEEKLY is in form like the Revolution, in size a fourth larger, handsomely printed on fine paper, and the contents discover editorial ability of a high order on the one hand and, of truly radical tendency on the other. Not only does the paper advocate Woman Suffrage, but one of its proprietors presents herself as candidate for the next presidency. An editorial headed, "Watchman, what of the Night?" closes thus:

"We are emphatically, as a nation, in a transition state. Let the scoffers laugh, let the wits sneer, or the careless and indifferent turn aside to tend to their business and their bread-winning, but earnest souls know that there are in these days more important things to be settled than the transitory issues which seem to absorb the souls of our Congress and our Legislatures."

A good article on Woman Suffrage has these periods:

"We demand suffrage for women. Primarily, as of right, secondarily for its uses."

"What good will Woman's Suffrage do for the women? is the frequent inquiry of men. Not the least in life, perhaps. Which answer, if true, demolishes male suffrage at a blow. Suffrage is either valuable or valueless. If valueless, why cling so pertinaciously to its exercise? If a precious privilege, vital to the saving health of a nation, wherefore withhold it from one-half the people. Utility, however, is not the main issue in the adjustment of rights. It is for you to give me my own; for me to do as I will with my own."

The enterprising proprietors of the WEEKLY have spacious offices for its use at 21 Park Row, and the friends of human progress, especially of woman's advancement and elevation, cannot but wish them a success commensurate with their highest expectations and hopes.

The Valley Index, Waterbury, Conn., says:

At Work--WOODHULL & CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY is the title of a new paper, started in Park Row, New York, by two ladies who evidently "mean business." Instead of going upon the platform to advocate woman suffrage, they have taken their right to labor in the broad field of human effort and to enter into competition with the male portion of creation for a living; while at the same time they advocate woman's advancement in whatever tends to improve her condition and influence. "Upward and Onward" is the motto of the new paper, which, even at this early stage of its existence, shows evident marks of enterprise and success.

The Wyoming Democrat, Warsaw, N.Y., says:

WOODHULL & CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY--This is the name of a new candidate for public favor, edited and published by the two ladies who made such a stir on Wall street during the past few months in the capacity of Stock Brokers. We don't know whether they have "broke" in the broker business or continue among the bulls and bears on Wall street; at all events they have found time to start a very readable paper the size of Harper's Weekly, and if it avoids the extreme partisan character of that sheet, it will claim and deserve to receive as good a support. As a clue to its politics, we learn from its salutatory "that the Democratic party has long been only a shade of a name" (so be it, we are content with a "shade" that gave us a stiff-backed Governor and an entire State ticket); "that the Republican party is effete, and only coheres by reason of place and power" (sound, ladies, we begin to like your paper already) "that Conservatism is impracticable" (we think not so much as Radicalism), "while Progress is the only principle worthy of a live, intelligent, independent journal."

All right, ladies, persevere with the right kind of "Progress" and we are with you. But we were never an advocate of Woman's Rights as popularly known, and cannot yet see the use of women dabbling in politics any more than preachers, and if they do not advance their standing and influence in their legitimate callings any more than the latter have done they had better retire in good order from the field.

But, perhaps on reading the WEEKLY we may change our views on this matter, and may even vote for "Victoria C. Woodhull for President."

The N.Y. Daily Times says:

A New Weekly--The lady-brokers of Wall street have extended their sphere of operations so as to include the issue of a bright little newspaper entitled the WEEKLY, the first number of which bears the date of Saturday last. It is a sprightly, well-edited sheet of sixteen pages, and in appearance closely resembles Mr. Beecher's Church Union.

The Attica Atlas (N.Y.) says:

SELF-NOMINATED FOR '72--We have before us No.1, Vol.1 of WOODHULL AND CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY. It is a fair and presentable sixteen-page large quarto hebdomedal--Victoria C. Woodhull and Tennie C. Claflin, editors and proprietors.

This Woodhull and Claflin we suppose to be the great financial firm that meet the bears in their dens and take the bulls by the horns in Wall street.

From its tone we conclude this new WEEKLY expects to bury the Democratic party, the Republican party, and that old fogy called Conservatism all in one common grave, while in its "progress" "onward and upward," it shall distance the Revolution itself.

It modestly disclaims all privileges of sex in journalism; offers thanks for fair criticism and scorn for illiberal comment; demands suffrage for woman, and no distinction on account of sex to shut her out from the "enlarged sphere of action and use" vulgarly yeleped "women's rights;' urges elevating females to the dignity and responsibility of public office; and nominates and sustains for the Presidency of the United States,

VICTORIA C. WOODHULL,
of New York.

We expect to see Wendell Phillips take this nomination and hitch on the name of some gentleman of color as tail to the Woodhull kite.

However, we fear that failure awaits Victoria in the Presidential contest. Neither Tennie nor Dinah is a voter yet; and with both Cuffee and his white brother, Victoria's boldly claiming "Our late war is the greatest blunder in all history" may prove a word too much.

The Delaware Gazette, Delaware, Ohio, says:

Woodhull & Claflin, the Wall street brokeresses, have commenced the publication of a paper to be called WOODHULL & CLAFLIN'S WEEKLY, which will support Victoria C. Woodhull for President, advocate free trade and female suffrage, and play the mischief generally. The new journal proposes to "take the highest ground in the diffusion of religion, philosophy and science;" to advocate "the widest action of the citizen compatible with the dignity of the State;" and to "treat of all matters freely and without reservation." Inasmuch as the ladies propose to speak their minds with as much frankness, we would have been grateful to have some inkling as to what creed of religion, school of philosophy or branch of science they propose to disseminate. In the midst of this ambiguity, we are prone to suspect that if the new journal shall succeed in giving notoriety to the firm of Woodhull & Claflin, its mission will be fully accomplished.