I have read with much interest your letter of March 12th.

It is well known that I have not been impressed with the wisdom of or the necessity for Woman Suffrage in North Carolina. There has never been laid before me evidence tending to show that a majority of the women in this state desire to go to the polls. I greatly fear that the women who desire to go are all unconsciously offering to barter a very precious birthright for a very sorry mess of pottage.

It has never occurred to me that woman would hurt politics, but I have been profoundly disturbed about what politics might do to woman. My attitude has been that of the Western cow boy to whom a woman suffragist said, “We want to be made equal to the men". The cow boy lifted his sombrero, bowed low and said, “And why does my lady wish to come down?”

Again, I have been fearful that the entrance of woman into politics might disturb the peaceful relations that now exist between the races in this state, and for continuance of which all good men and women pray. When I think of this phase of the situation I am haunted by the lines of the Scotch Bard,

“But, Och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects drear:
An’ forward, though I canna see,
I guess an’ fear.”

These fears may not be well founded, but I have honestly entertained them, and the utmost candor requires me to state them.

But, my dear Mr. Everett, my fears do not blind my eyes, and I clearly see that today a condition and not a theory confronts the Democratic party in North Carolina. Woman Suffrage is coming. It is as irresistible as the tides, and I am convinced that it is the part of wisdom for the Democratic party in North Carolina to accept it gracefully.

During the war Dr. Cyrus Thompson and myself were making some patriotic speeches up in the mountains. In the course of one of his speeches Dr. Thompson said, “I have reached that position in human philosophy where I have learned to accept the inevitable, and to require of it that it shall give me pleasure.” This is a sentiment worthy of Emerson, and is applicable to the condition that today confronts the people of North Carolina. Woman Suffrage is inevitable. He is a deaf man who does not hear the swish of its skirts. He is a blind man who does not see its legions advancing in flouncing, flower waves. Gentlemen of Tarhelia! let’s be good sports and join lustily in the chorus, “Come along Ladies!”

Some time ago I definitely decided to advise the General Assembly at the special session in July to ratify the Federal Amendment. It is the sensible and the graceful thing to do. It follows that I am in favor of the Democratic Convention endorsing the amendment when it meets in April. I do not desire to go before the Convention and make a speech on the subject, but I am giving this letter and yours to the press in order that my views may be known to all the people of the State.