WOMAN'S POLITICAL STATUS

T

HE tone of the foregoing introduction increased the difficulties of my task, but I at once arose and plunged into my subject, saying—

Ladies, our kind friend has never heard me express my opinion of woman's position either in democratic or aristocratic government. But the fact that I am an American,* I greatly fear, has led both you and her to infer that I, of course, favor her status in the former. (Subdued murmurs.)

Nothing could give me greater pride or pleasure than to assure you that women in Republics have greater influence in the State and home, are better protected, enjoy a purer fire-side, and receive greater public and private consideration,

*When I use the word "American" I mean a citizen of the United States of North America. Public and political, I use as synonymous words. American Republic is the name people generally give to the United States Republic.

than women in any other form of government; but my conscience forbids and prompts me to tell you "the plain, unvarnished truth." (Continued murmurs.)

I can easily understand how the reading of the fundamental or basic principles of any republic would lead you to believe that woman's condition and position amid such teachings would be preferable and superior in every respect to her condition and position in any aristocracy. It is not difficult to see how you would expect the disciple of democratic doctrines to live up to loftier liberty, truer justice and broader freedom than all others. You look for them to be the most chaste, the most sober, the most unselfish of men. It is a beautiful dream -but it is only a dream. Much as I regret it I must tell you that there is absolutely no correspondence between their principles and their practices, which are, in reality, as different as light and darkness.

If you will impartially examine facts, you will find that every privilege granted to woman by a republic is also accorded to her by a mon

archy; and that there are many privileges granted her by the latter that the former can never accord. (Hisses.) I defy you to show me a single right, liberty, or privilege, either political, legal, civic, or social, ever allowed woman by a republic, that is not allowed her by a monarchy. (Hisses.) But on my part I can show you numerous rights, liberties, and privileges, political, legal, and social, enjoyed by our sex in an aristocracy, which it will never enjoy in a democracy, even should such government endure until the end of time. (Moans.)

Should a republic grant the ballot to woman generally (which, believe me will never occur), even then no member of our sex could ever reach its zenith of power-the Presidency; for in a republic the Salic Law reigns, as inexorable as death. Even should a woman possess the talents and merits of a goddess, the sex prejudices of men in the mass are so ineradicable, that they would never elect her to their Chief Magistracy, and the Salic Law, I would remind you has never been absolute in any mon

archy, for even in France women as Regents could act as rulers.

Republicanism is, in its entire nature and construction, a masculine monopoly and must necessarily confer all its pinnacles, authorities, powers, honours, glories, favours, distinctions, exclusively upon men. It is woman's implacable foe-between it and her an irreconcilable conflict exists and the two can have no other issue than a mortal duel. (A voice: "You deceitful little Yankee!")

A monarchy on the contrary has no heights. which woman has not ascended-she is Empress and Queen-no barriers she cannot surmount, no forces hostile to her which she cannot conquer. An aristocracy is nature's realm, nature's arena for womankind; and her highest destiny can only be reached therein. It is connected with her past, is in unison with her present and contains the embryo of her future. (A voice: "Traitress!") A monarchy agrees with all known facts touching men's relations to one another, and comprehends the laws of justice, free'dom and morality; and it is only in such institu