should compel woman to have no religion, or adopt that of her
husband. But, even if that objection were a good one, more than
half the adult women of the State are unmarried.

It is said, too, that as woman is not required to perform
military duty, and work on the roads, she ought not to vote. None
but "able-bodied" men, under a certain age, are required to do
military duty, and the effect is practically the same in regard
to the two days' work on the roads, whilst women pay tax for
military and road purposes the same as man. A _man's_ right to
vote does not depend on his ability to perform physical labor,
why should a _woman's?_ By the exclusion of woman from her due
influence and voice in the government, we lose that elevating and
refining influence which she gives to religious, social, and
domestic life. Her presence at our political meetings, all agree,
contributes greatly to their order, decorum, and decency. Why
should not the polls, also, be civilized by her presence?

Does not the morality of our politics demonstrate a great want of
the two qualities so characteristic of woman, heart and
conscience? The female element which works such miracles of
reform in the rude manners of men, in all the departments of life
where she has the freedom to go, is nowhere more needed than in
our politics, or at the polls.

We have endeavored to show that the constitutional prohibition of
female suffrage is not only a violation of natural right, but
equally at war with the fundamental principles of the government.
Let us now look at the practical results of this organic wrong.
After having taken away from woman the means of protecting her
person and property, by the peaceable, but powerful ballot, how
have we discharged the self-imposed duty of legislating for her?
By every principle of honor, or even of common honesty, we are
bound to see that her interests do not suffer in our hands. That,
if we depart at all from the principle of strict equality, it
should be in her favor. Let as see what are the facts.

When a woman marries she becomes almost annihilated in the eyes
of the law, except as a subject of punishment. She loses the
right to receive and control the wages of her own labor. If she
be an administratrix, or executrix, she is counted as dead, and
another must be appointed. If she have children, they may be
taken from her against her will, and placed in the care of any
one, no matter how unfit, whom the father may s