truth and justice, and build a spiritual column, she is out of
her sphere! and the honorable men turn aside, and leave her to be
the victim of rowdyism, disorder, and lawlessness! It is not out
of character that Fanny Kemble should read Shakespeare on the
stage, to large circles. The exercise of the voice on the stage
is womanly, while she gives out the thoughts of another; but
suppose (and it is not unsupposable) a living female Shakespeare
to appear on a platform, and utter her inspirations, delicacy is
shocked, decency is outraged, and society turns away in disgust!
Such are the consistencies of the nineteenth century! (Great
uproar).

This is simply and merely prejudice, and it reminds me of the
proverb, "If you would behold the stars aright, blow out your own
taper." I say there is a special reason why woman should come
forward as a speaker; because she has a power of eloquence which
man has not, arising from the fineness of her organization and
the intuitive power of her soul; and I charge any man with
arrogance, if he pretend to match himself in this respect with
many women here, and thousands throughout our country. (Hissing).
I take it, the hissing comes from men who never had a mother to
love and honor, a sister to protect, and who never knew the worth
of a wife. Woman's power to cut to the quick and touch the
conscience, is beautifully accompanied by her unmatched
adaptation to pour balm into the wound; and though the flame she
applies may burn into the soul, it also affords a light to the
conscience which never can be dimmed.

There is an exquisite picture by Retsch, which represents angels
showering roses on devils; to the angels they are roses, but the
devils writhe under them as under fire. On sinful souls the words
of women fall as coals from the altar of God. And here let me
offer my humble gratitude to the women who have borne the brunt
of the test with the calm courage which women alone can exhibit;
to the women who have taught us that, as daughters of God, they
are the equals of His children everywhere on earth. (Cheers and
stamping).

Let me add another word upon this interference, or, rather,
entrance of woman into the sphere of politics. As a spiritual
being, her duties are like those of man; but, inasmuch as she