oration, this is not
woman's sphere." Then if we say, "Shall a woman vote?" they say,
"Oh! vote! vote! Let her speak if she wants to speak; but as for
voting, that will never do!"

Therefore, as I have said, if I could but see the next point
ahead, I would immediately proclaim it, because then people would
say, "Let women vote if they want to vote, but that is as far as
we can go." I rejoice in your presence this morning. I, for one,
need not assert that I am from my whole heart and conviction
thoroughly of opinion that the nature of woman, the purity and
sweetness of the family, the integrity and strength of the State,
will all be advantaged when woman shall be, like man, a
participator in public affairs.

* * * * *

Rev. JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE said--Ladies and gentlemen:--This is a
very serious question, whichever way we look at it. I do not
suppose that, if the women of the country were to be admitted
to-day to vote, the consequences would appear to-day, or for some
time to come, because women everywhere would vote very much as
those around them are in the habit of voting. Young men growing
up generally vote as their fathers and brothers are in the habit
of voting--those with whom they are in the habit of
communication; so it would be with women. They would probably,
for some time to come, vote very much as their husbands, fathers,
and brothers do now. The ultimate result, however, is of the
greatest consequence; and nobody can tell exactly what it will
be. I, for one, believe that it will be very beneficial, and it
is for that reason that I am here to-day.

I believe, in the first place, that women ought to vote, because
it seems to me that this is in the direction of all human
progress, and in the direction of civilization. Civilization,
thus far, has constantly occupied itself in bringing woman up to,
and putting her by the side of man. In the barbarous stage of
society, woman is the slave and tool of man; in the Asiatic age
she is the plaything and ornament with which man amuses himself;
but in Christendom there is a tendency to place woman side by
side with man in everything, and just as far as it has been done
we find the benefit of it. Woman ought to be made the companion
of man in his gre