* * * * *
I believe in woman-suffrage for the sake of woman herself. I believe in
it because I am the son of a woman and the husband of a woman and the
father of a prospective woman. I remember that at one of the first
woman-suffrage meetings I ever attended one of the first speakers was an
odd fellow from the neighboring town, considered half a lunatic. That
didn't make much impression in those days when we were all considered a
little crazy, but he was a little crazier than the rest of us. He pushed
forward on the platform, seeming impatient to speak, and throwing his
old hat down by his side, he said, "I don't know much about this subject
nor any other; but I know this, my mother was a woman." I thought it was
the best condensed woman-suffrage argument I ever heard in my life.
THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON.
From "For Self-respect and Self-protection." When the people complain
they must either be right or in error. If they be right, we are in duty
bound to inquire into the conduct of the ministers and to punish those
who appear to have been most guilty. If they be in error, we ought still
to inquire into the conduct of our ministers in order to convince the
people that they have been misled. We ought not, therefore, in any
question relating to inquiry, to be governed by our own sentiments. We
must be governed by the sentiments of our constituents if we are
resolved to perform our duty both as true representatives of the people
and as faithful subjects of our king. LORD CHATHAM.