as our
brothers, and we inherit equally with them the substance of our
fathers. So long as we are minors the Government treats us as
equals, but when we come of age, when we are capable of feeling
and knowing the difference, the boy becomes a free human being,
while the girl remains a slave, a subject, and no moral heroism,
no self-sacrificing patriotism, ever entitles her to her freedom.
Is this just? Is it not, indeed, barbarous?

If American men intend always to keep women slaves, political and
civil, they make a great mistake when they let the girl, with the
boy, learn the alphabet, for no educated class will long remain
in subjection. We are told that men protect us; that they are
generous, even chivalric in their protection. Gentlemen, if your
protectors were women, and they took all your property and your
children, and paid you half as much for your work, though as well
or better done than your own, would you think much of the
chivalry which permitted you to sit in street-cars and picked up
your pocket-handkerchief?

Each one of you is responsible for these laws continuing as they
are, and you can not avoid responsibility by saying that you did
not help to make them. Great injustice is done us in the fact
that we are not tried by a jury of our peers. Great injustice is
done us everywhere by our not having a vote. Human nature is
naturally selfish, and, as woman is deprived of the ballot, and
powerless either to punish or reward, man, loving his bread and
butter more than justice, will ever thrust her aside for the
benefit of those who can help him, those with ballots in their
hands.

....All that is good in the home, and largely the highest
principles taught in your youth, were given by your mothers. How
then it is possible for you to return this love and interest, as
soon as you are capable of acting, by riveting the chains which
hold them still slaves, politically and civilly?

You need woman's presence and counsel in legislation as much as
she needs yours in the home; you need the association and
influence of woman; her intuitive knowledge of men's character
and the effect of measures upon the household; you need her for
the economical details of public work; you need her sense of
justice and moral courage to execute t