me, but their wisdom needs to be newly interpreted in
order to apply to people of today."

In answer to a letter from Illinois asking the secret of her success in
life:

If I may be said to have made a success of my life, the one great
element in it has been constancy of purpose--not allowing myself
to be switched off the main road or tempted into bypaths of other
movements. It always has been clear to me that woman suffrage is
the one great principle underlying all reforms. With the ballot in
her hand woman becomes a vital force--declaring her will for
herself, instead of praying and beseeching men to declare it for
her. It has been a long, hard fight, a dark, discouraging road, but
all along the way here and there a little bright spot to cheer us
on. And now we have four true republics, whose women are
full-fledged citizens, and the prospects are hopeful for others
soon to follow in the wake of those blessed four. One of the most
cheering things in these days is the large number of young women
who are entering the work, bringing to it a new, strong enthusiasm
which will push on to victory. The women over all the country are
waking up to the fact that truly to possess themselves, to have
their opinions respected, they must have this right of suffrage.

A letter from the secretary of a national conference which was seeking
to bring about a union of reformers, Prohibitionists, Free Silver
advocates, etc., asked her assistance and called forth the following
response:

It is all very well for you men, who have the power to make and
unmake political parties, to form a third, fourth or fiftieth
party, as the case may be; but as for myself and all who are of my
class, disfranchised and helpless, we have nothing to do with any
of them--old or new--except to ask each and all to put a woman
suffrage plank in their platform and educate their members to place
a ballot in the hands of women. I never have identified myself with
any political party, but have stood outside of all, asking each to
pledge itself to the enfranchisement of women. Whenever any one of
them has asked me to speak in its meetings on the suffrage
question, I have accepted the invitation, but I never have
advocated the specific measures of any.

So, you see, I can be of no help to you, but I do know that no one