women are more economical, peaceful and law-abiding than men, and
all these qualities are lacking in the Government today.... But
whether this be so or not, it is right that every class should be
heard in behalf of its own interest....

Now, gentlemen, I hope you will try to make this case your own.
It is simple justice and fair play, and it is also a fundamental
principle of the Government. Here we are trying to have a
complete republic, and yet there are twelve millions of
disfranchised adults. I believe that among the great people--and
by the people I do not mean men, but men and women, the whole
people--nothing creates such disrespect for a fundamental
principle as not to apply it. The Government was founded upon the
principle that those who obey the laws should make them, and yet
it shuts out a full half. As long as this continues to be done,
it certainly tends to create disrespect for the principle itself.
Do you not see it? Why not reach out a hand to woman and say,
"Come and help us make the laws and secure fair play"?

At the close of this argument Miss Anthony said: "We have with us one
not so old in our cause as Mrs. Stone--I never call myself old because
I shall be young until the crack of doom--and that is Mrs. Hooker, a
sister of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher. The world has
always made special place for the family of Beechers."

Mrs. Hooker (Conn.) spoke very briefly, saying: "You all know those
old Jewish words in the Decalogue, 'Honor thy father and thy mother
that thy days may be long in the land that the Lord thy God giveth
thee.' If we want to help the republic, if we want to perpetuate the
institutions our fathers brought across the water, we must honor the
mothers equally with the fathers in the Government. To-day the laws
compel our sons the moment they are twenty-one to come to us and say:
'My mother, I owe you much; sometimes I think all that is good in me
has come from you, but to-day you will retire and I will rule. I will
no longer listen to your counsel; but I will make the laws for you and
my sisters, and you must obey them. Henceforth I am your ruler.' Now,
friends, a Government can not last long which teaches its sons
disrespect to its mothers. It is in line with our principles that we
recognize the mother element in the Government as well as in the
family."

Miss Anthony closed the hearing