f the people
ignored, half the people taxed without being represented, and
governed without their consent. I know it is held that the
expression "the people" in the Constitution does not include
women, and should not be interpreted literally; but it appears to
me that if we engage in this method of interpretation of
constitutions and laws we shall soon get things mixed. If the
expression does not include women in the sense of voters it does
not include them in the sense of tax-payers, nor in the sense of
criminals, nor does it even include them as being entitled to
the enjoyment of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness"--as the Declaration of Independence declares "a
people" to be entitled to these.

Surely it will not be said that the rights of half the people of
the United States were ignored by the men who framed the
Constitution of the United States. It was evidently the object of
the Constitution to secure equal rights to all. The Constitution
of the United States recognizes the great principle of human
equality, and the rights of women can not be delegated to or
represented by their husbands. Women who believe that they are
responsible to God only, are not willing to be circumscribed by
men.

Mrs. HANNAH M. TRACY CUTLER said that this was a progressive, a
growing, and a glorious country. All people came here and found
protection under its generous shelter, more or less. We had been
digging away at this suffrage question until, in her opinion, we
are getting pretty near the foundation of government. We are
pulling up the old ideas and throwing them out of the way and
making room for the grand tree of liberty to grow. That tree has
already grown to considerable size, and flourished more or less
under the generous protection of our institutions--less a good
deal, the negro said a few years ago, though now he begins to
realize that it is more.

We women are quite well protected. Sometimes we are protected a
great deal more than we want to be. [Several ladies in the
audience, "That's so!" and laughter.] The American men are the
best men under the sun. Each one of them is a prince of the blood
royal. That's a reasonably good compliment. Now, gentlemen, turn
round and say to the women of America, "You are each and every