wherever fair opportunity is permitted women are
equal to men. In moral perception and practice women are at least
equal--generally the superiors, if such comparison must be made.
There is, therefore, no justification in saying that the right of
suffrage, on whatever founded, belongs to man rather than to
woman.

Considered as a _privilege_, little needs to be said on either
side.... Every citizen is under moral obligation to take part in
the social interests and welfare of the community, whether
national or municipal. Woman equally with man is under that moral
law. In a republic she can not rightly be deprived of the
opportunity to do her full share as a citizen in all that
concerns good government.

This seems to be the whole story. I have read with astonishment
the arguments (so called) of Francis Parkman, the Rev. Brooke
Herford and Mrs. Kate Gannett Wells. They scarcely touch the real
merits of the case.

Dr. Mary F. Thomas, of Indiana, wrote:

As I see pictured before me all of you gathered from different
parts of this great sisterhood of States to discuss the grand
principle of human freedom, I can but compare this assembly with
one convened in Philadelphia over a hundred years ago with this
difference--they declared for the civil and political freedom of
all men; you ask to-day that all human beings of sound mind shall
enjoy the civil and political rights which they are entitled to
by virtue of their humanity. As the judicious management of the
family circle requires the combined wisdom and judgment of father
and mother, so this great political family, whose interests are
identical, can only be consistently managed by the complete
representation and concurrence of each individual governed by its
laws.

It is not necessary for me to show argument for this statement,
as your meeting to-day, composed of men and women thoroughly
imbued with the spirit of the great truth contained in the
Declaration of Independence, will supply words glowing with
fervor that can not be written, that comes with a full conviction
of the magnitude of this great question, involving even the
perpetuity of our government.... But without other reasons than
that it is right, let the united voice of your meeting demand
full recognition of the polit