All of these six points concern and interest women as much as men.
Supplementary to this is the "Declaration of Independence." Here are
stated as self-evident truths:

1. "That all men are created equal,"

2. "That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness,"

3. "That to secure [not to grant] these rights, Governments are
instituted among men, _deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed_."

On this last passage the Americans comment with especial emphasis: they
say the right to vote is their right as human beings,--_they possess it as
a natural right_; the government cannot justly take it from them, cannot
even grant it to them justly. So long as the government does not ask the
women for their consent, it is acting _illegally_ according to the
Declaration of Independence. For it is nowhere stated that the consent of
one half, the male half, will suffice to make a government _legal_.

On the basis of this declaration of principles the American women have
made it a point to oppose every individual argument against woman's
suffrage. For this purpose they frequently use small four-page pamphlets,
which are issued as the "Political Equality Series" by the American
Woman's Suffrage Association. They say "It is generally held that:

1. "Every woman is married, loved, and provided for.

2. "Every man stays at home every evening.

3. "Every woman has small children.

4. "All women, when they have once secured political rights, will
plunge into politics and neglect their households."

"What is the exact state of affairs in these matters?

1. "A great many women are not married; many are widows who must
educate their children and seek a means of livelihood. Thousands
have no other home than the one they create for themselves, and
they must often support relatives in addition to themselves. Many
of the married women are neither loved, provided for, nor
protected.

2. "Many men are at home so seldom in the evening that their wives
could quietly concern themselves with political matters without
being missed at all. And such men, seconded by bachelors, clamor
most about the 'dissolution of the family' through politics.

3. "The children do not remain small