nts upon moral and
philanthropic questions, agitated the whole community. Although I
do not regard myself as excessively conservative, I remember
very well when the appointment of women, by the Anti-Slavery
Society of New England, to act on committees with men, grievously
shocked my prejudices; and I said to myself, "Well, where will
this matter end?" I remember very well that when many persons,
whose names are now quite familiar to the people, first began to
speak on the anti-slavery question, I felt that if the diffidence
and modesty and delicacy of woman had not been sacrificed, it
had, at any rate, been put in peril; and that, although a few
might survive, the perilous example would pervert and destroy the
imitators and followers.

It was in the year 1856 that I first made a profession of my
faith in Woman's Rights. During the Fremont campaign I had so far
had my eyes opened and my understanding enlightened, as to see
that if it is right for the people of Great Britain to put a
politician at the head of their government, and she a woman--if,
in all the civilized nations of the world, it is deemed both
seemly and proper for women to be in public meetings and take
part therein, provided they are duchesses or the ladies of
lords--if it is right, in other words, for aristocracy to give to
their women the right of public speech, then it is right, also,
for democracy to give their women the right of public speech.
Does any one question whether Lucy Stone may speak? or Mrs.
Livermore? or Mrs. Stanton? There is not a city or town in the
nation that does not hail their coming; and there are no persons
so refined, and no persons so conservative as not to listen to
them; and there are none that listen who do not always admit that
women may speak. God does not give such gifts for nothing.

We are in a community that is constantly growing, expanding,
developing. We do not believe that human nature has reached its
limits. There are new combinations, new developments, taking
place. Nor do we believe that men have reached the ultimatum of
their practical efficiency, any more than women have. It is in
the order of things, that having met, tried, and settled this
question--the right of woman to public speech--we should meet the
next question, the rig