News._

What "particular phase of social and political wrong" could have
been in the mind of the clear-seeing judge when he gave forth
these utterances?

Gentlemen and ladies, when I stand in the presence of and
contemplate for a moment this great XIV. Article, the crown of
the now perfected Constitution, I bow with amazed reverence to
it. It shines upon me with the light of a new revelation. And
this argument is great from no effort of mine, but great in its
power of self-enunciation. This article is one of those great
principles that come, Messiah like, to announce themselves. It
needed no forerunner, and it works its own miracles in its own
good time, and will convert all to its own sway, and to its own
purposes. And, I trust that ere long we shall hear from the
committee of the House upon this question, and that we shall get
enlightened and intelligent discussion of it in the House of the
American Representatives.

Here the argument closes, but suffer a word further. It is said
that woman does not want the suffrage. Who says that she does not
want it? Man says so and nobody else. Man asks the question, and
answers it himself. I know it often comes from female lips, but
it is man's answer.

I deny that women have declared that they don't want the ballot.
They have never been asked whether they want it. When we want a
response from men how do we propound the question? We submit it
formally to be voted upon by the ballot. That is the way we
propound a political question to men. How do they answer it? They
answer it by their solemn votes at the ballot box. Propound this
question, and in this solemn way to the women of the United
States. Pass a law to that effect and take a vote, or else
forever stop--close up all gabble on this subject, that women do
not want it. Offer her the chance by which she can speak and see
whether she wants it or not, and let her vote "yes" or "no." Then
from that we will take another start. But don't refuse to let her
answer, and assume to answer for her, and say you represent her.
You barely succeed in misrepresenting men at your best, let alone
this atrocious twaddle about representing women. Let her vote,
and then we can tell whether you have a right to represent her or
not.

We men ha