ys of
thinking--to you who have grown up in the light which flows from
thinking brains--to you whose hearts warmly cherish human rights
and human worth--who are not afraid of truth when it speaks of
such deep, clear, and universally important subjects as human
rights and human duties. He who fears truth will find hiding
places, but he who combats for it is worthy of it. The method of
its adversaries is to address themselves to thoughtless passion,
and thus arouse mockery and abuse against those who search for
scientific knowledge to appeal to easily moved feelings and
kindle sentiments of hatred and contempt. They can do this only
while truth is in the minority--only until right shall become
might.

You will learn to judge of woman's strength when you see that she
persists strenuously in this purpose, and secures, by her energy,
the rights which shall invest her with power. That which you can
no longer suppress in woman--that which is free above all
things--that which is pre-eminently important to mankind, and
must have free play in every mind, is the natural thirst for
scientific knowledge--that fountain of all peacefully progressing
amelioration in human history. This longing, this effort of
reason seeking knowledge of itself, of ideas, conclusions, and
all higher things, has, as far as historical remembrance goes
back, never been so violently suppressed in any human being as
in woman. But, so far from its having been extinguished in her,
it has, under the influence of this enlightened century, become a
gigantic flame which shines most brightly under the protection of
the star-spangled banner. There does not exist a man-made
doctrine, fabricated expressly for us, and which we must learn by
heart, that shall henceforth be our law. Nor shall the authority
of old traditions be a standard for us--be this authority called
Veda, Talmud, Koran, or Bible. No. Reason, which we recognize as
our highest and only law-giver, commands us to be free. We have
recognized our duty--we have heard the rustling of the golden
wings of our guardian angel--we are inspired for the work!

We are no longer in the beginning of history--that age which was
a constant struggle with nature, misery, ignorance, helplessness,
and every kind of bondage. The moral idea o