But who are citizens? Why, those who possess and enjoy, or who have the
right to acquire and enjoy, an equality of political and civil
privileges. Only certain classes of men possess these rights. These
certain classes having possessed themselves of the machinery of the
Government, tread upon the Constitution and spit upon the declarations
of the Supreme Court. They have stolen the birthright of the “many,”
and, putting their thumbs to their noses, say “Help yourselves if you
can.” The despoiled people are not able to help themselves now, but let
these usurpers be warned that the judgments of God are upon this nation,
and that He will come to help those who cannot help themselves against
such tyranny; come to deliver His people out of the hands of the
“Egyptians,” who have imposed tasks upon them grievous to be borne; come
to send them some “Moses,” who shall cause “Pharaoh” to let the people
go, and who shall bring down from “Sinai’s Mount” a new and better code
of laws.
But who are not citizens, who neither possess or enjoy, nor have the
right to acquire or enjoy, an equality of privileges, civil and
political? There are three classes of these people: Indians, Chinese,
and women, and these constitute by a million more than one-half of all
the people. The political lords have selected nice company for the women
to keep politically, and yet they put on such monstrous airs if they are
told that in this matter they show no respect for their mothers, wives
and daughters. Here is a subject for some Raphael, who should have
reduced it to canvas and exhibited it at the Centennial, in honour of
the mothers and daughters of the land. Upon the one hand there should
have been grouped the women of the country, flanked upon the right and
left by Indians and Chinese, and the subject named—Political Slaves;
while upon the other the citizens should have been grouped, and labelled
Political Sovereigns.