opportunities with those possessed by American women during that time. Every Chinaman has had every privilege of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, which the highest nobleman possessed; every office in the government, with one exception that of Emperor-was open to him; he was at liberty to enter any university and get the best education in the realm; no trade, no occupation, no profession was closed to him by law; he legally owned his children, his personal property, the results of his labor, the profits of his real estate, and could make a will or legacy. Now compare all that with the political, legal, educational, civic and commercial opportunities afforded American women since 1776. If you still say Chinamen have been slaves, what have American women been? (A voice: "The word has not been coined!") If you still say the Chinese government has been a despotism for its men, what has the American government been for its women? (A voice: "He-he-Hades!" -Laughter.) On China's throne there sits

а

woman-the one absolute ruler over its

more than two hundred million men is

to-day a member of our sex. (Cheers and applause.)

Years ago I saw republican institutions just as they are and just as I am showing them to you. I then realized that a republic is a government of males, for males, and by males; and that no other intelligent or truthful definition thereof could be given. I then determined to do all in my power to preserve and augment Christian aristocracies, for I realize that it was a question for my sex of self-respect and opportunity against humiliation and ostracism. I have abandoned all attempts to reconcile republics with justice for my sex; such reconciliation, I know, is impossible. I realize that republicanism must ever try to prove the unjust just, the unnatural natural, the immoral moral, and my constant prayer is that the monstrous delusion may die. (A voice: "We should like to attend the funeral-but not as mourners!")

WOMAN'S CIVIL STATUS

I herewith cite to you, absolutely from memory, things which I have gleaned from different sources at various times, for loyalty to my sex 'has been my life's hobby, and I have always noted everything bearing upon woman's condition. And let me beg just here, as I have promised the strictest secrecy towards you that you will never divulge that I told you all these things; for no American woman can publicly announce such truths and not be crucified. Instead of attacking the arguments the individual who makes them will be attacked, and I am not seeking martyrdom.

A diplomat has said: "In the United States Republic marriage is easily made, boys and girls entering into it with little or no ceremony and at an age when they should be at school. But if marriage is easy, divorce is no less so, and is so frequent it creates no comment. When we consider that, in addition to legal divorce, there is an appallingly large number of separations

and desertions; and when we reflect on the noble nature and unselfish devotion of women, their maternal instinct and their dislike of publicitywe can safely assume that an enormous proportion of the marriages contracted therein result in misery. Not only are the various easy marriage and divorce laws most unfortunate for these women, but the whole social organization bears most heavily upon them. The prevailing belief amongst people in Europe is that women in the Republic enjoy an enviable lot; whereas a glance at the laws and customs affecting them shows how helpless and unprotected they are. They have no legal claim upon parents except in childhood, and so feel forced to marry, but with the melancholy consciousness that marriage is no certain or reliable bond. As a disguised selfishness prevents the father from giving a dowry, the husband also selfishly makes no settlement, and the poor dowerless girl enters married life with no assurance of any provision for herself and children, save that which depends solely upon the good will of her husband, Worse than all, the ease with which divorce can

be obtained renders the length of married life very uncertain. The different systems of laws, the sovereignty of the States, the existence of trust estates, render any decree of court for allowance or alimony practically nugatory."*

"Yet from a glance at the Constitution of this government and the utterances of its public men, a stranger would imagine that an ideal condition of society exists therein for women. But such are transparent screens which deceive none but novices.”

Women are often imprisoned, fined, or punished there for immorality (the men never are);

*"There are over 20,000 divorces granted annually in the American Republic. Ten years of the most thorough and impartial investigation has convinced me that for every woman who has been divorced, at least 100 were legally entitled to divorces; and that 98 men in every 100 (in the upper and middle classes) who are entitled to divorce obtain such. Practically the entire womanhood of the lower classes is lewd. On account of children or financial dependence, wives submit to wrongs which husbands would not countenance for a moment. At least 90 per cent. of the men whose wives divorce them, or who desert their families, are nativeborn."