ions built upon it, for the human
race is dual and heredity keeps the stock common from which both
men and women spring. Since the common stock is improved and
invigorated by the acquired qualities of individuals, without
regard to sex, it is to the advantage of both that all
possibilities of development shall be extended to both sexes. In
animals acquired qualities can be imparted to the stock only by
parenthood; in the human family they are imparted even more
widely and permanently through the influence of ideas. All that
woman has lost by social systems which denied to her education
and the free expression of her genius in literature, art or
statesmanship, has been lost to man also, because it has
diminished the inheritable riches of the nature from which he
draws his existence. He has been less, though unhampered by the
shackles which bound her, because she was less. The world is not
more called upon to rejoice in the triumphs of his genius in
freedom than to mourn over the wasted possibilities of hers in
bonds....
The forward movement of either sex is possible only when the
other moves also and the obstacles to progress exist in the
attitude of both sexes to it, not in that of one alone. So in
this woman suffrage movement we have learned that the apathy of
women to their own political freedom is as great an obstacle to
our success as the unwillingness of men to grant our claims. It
is of the same importance to us to educate women out of their
indifference as it is to educate men out of their unwillingness.
If it should happen that this education shall come to women
first, they will never need the argument of force to induce men
to remove the legal obstacles, for men and women cannot long
think unlike on any subject.
One of the most interesting reports was that of the Press Committee,
made by its efficient chairman, Mrs. Elnora Monroe Babcock (N. Y.).
Illustrating its work she said: "About 50,000 suffrage articles have
been sent out from the press headquarters since our last annual
convention; 2,400 of these were specials; 5,155 articles and items
advertising the Bazaar; many articles on prominent women were
furnished to illustrated papers and newspaper syndicates; a page of
plate matter was issued every six weeks and seven large press
associations were supplied with o
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