If Susan Anthony really believed she had the right to
vote for president and members of Congress, why didn't she exercise that right before 1872? For one thing, the
14th amendment wasn't passed until 1868. For another, Horace Greeley had some positive things to say about women's rights:
The best women I know do not wish to vote...but when a sincere Republican is asked in sober earnest why we deny women suffrage, he must answer "for no reason." It must be acceded for it is the assertion of a natural right."
(A "natural right," although he was "dismayed" that Molly, his wife, supported the women's movement.)
At least
a candidate was finally addressing issues important to women. Many men resisted suffrage, however. Cartoons of the time depicted male fears of role
reversals and female fears of boredom.
Woman devotes her time to gossip and clothes because she has nothing else to talk about. Give her broader interests and she will cease to be vain and frivolous.
Susan Anthony was neither vain nor frivolous when she went to the convention that nominated Horace Greeley as a presidential candidate. She and her "broader interests" were
not welcomed with open arms.