than the
science of government, and when their wives are intelligent on
all the questions it comprises they will be far more valuable
companions than they are to-day. Marriage means companionship, a
similarity of tastes and opinions, and where one of the parties
has no interest in or knowledge of those subjects most absorbing
to the other, the bonds of union necessarily are weakened. So
long as woman's thought is centered in personal and family
aggrandizement, her strongest influence will be used to keep
man's interest there also. The virtue of patriotism would be far
greater among men, their devotion to the public good far more
earnest, if the influences of home life were not continually
drawing them into a narrow selfishness.

Women naturally take no interest in questions where their
opinions have no weight, in a sphere of action from which they
are excluded. They are not supposed to know what is necessary for
the public good, hence how could they influence their husbands to
make that their first duty when in public life? But when women
are enfranchised their interest in the State will deepen. They
will see that the welfare of their own children depends as much
on the conditions of the outside world as on the environments of
their own homes. This settled discontent of women is exerting an
insidious influence which is undermining the very foundations of
the home as well as the State. We must rouse them to new hopes,
new ambitions, new aspirations, through the enjoyment of the
blessings of freedom and self-government.

Moreover, an active participation in the practical duties of
government by educated women would bring a new and needed element
to the State. We can not overestimate the influence women exert,
whether for good or ill, hence the immense importance of their
having right views on all questions of public interest and some
knowledge of the requirements of practical politics. But their
power to-day is wholly irresponsible and hence dangerous. Lay on
them the responsibility of legislating, with all the criticism
and odium of a constituency and a party, in case they make some
blunder, and you render them wiser in judgment and more
deliberate in action. To secure this large disfranchised class as
allies to one of the leading parti