nd here, your honor, are the
wounds upon my head, here are the bruises that he has left. I can
not live with him any longer; I can not be reconciled, until he
abjures rum and comes home resolved to live a sober life."
"Well," said the husband's lawyer, "we claim our paramount
rights--that the father shall have the custody of the children."
Then came up this very law again, and this lawyer was as much
surprised as the one to whom I first referred. There is a clause
in that law which declares that, from this time forward, there
shall be no such thing as "paramount rights." It is declared in
that statute that from this day "every married woman is
constituted and declared to be the joint guardian of her
children, with equal powers, rights, and duties in regard to
them, with her husband." In view of that law, I said, "I can not
take the children away from the mother; she has just as much
right to them as her husband, and if she says she must have them,
I will let her have them." (Loud applause).

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have never been identified with this
Woman's Rights movement, but I tell you what it is, we have got
to admit some things. We have got to admit that these
indefatigable laborers, amid obloquy and reproach, in Church and
State, by buffoons and by men, have at last set the under-current
in motion. The statute-book is their vindication to-night. The
last measure passed has relieved woman, to a great extent, from
the disabilities under which she was placed. I am one who
believes that she may go forward. There will come a time,
friends, when we shall see the ballot-box open, and one
particular department (as we have at the post-office) where the
ladies will all march up and vote. (Applause, and a few hisses).
Now, you men that hiss, you would like to have them help you
elect your candidate this year, wouldn't you? I wish most
sincerely that they could help elect our Republican candidate.
(Applause). There is to be a still further advance in this
matter. I do not think it at all degrading to say, that there
will come a time when ladies will sit in the jury-box, to pass
upon certain cases that come particularly within their sphere;
and I will say (now that I am off the bench) that they would make
better judges than some who are