tandard-bearer? Who
among you will achieve immortality by standing up in these halls
in which we are forbidden to speak, and in the magnanimity of your
own free wills and noble hearts champion the woman's cause and
make us before the law, as we of right ought now to be, free and
independent?

REMARKS BY MRS. CAROLINE GILKEY ROGERS.

Miss ANTHONY. I now call upon Mrs. Caroline Gilkey Rogers, of
Lansingburg, N.Y., to address the committee.

Mrs. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, in our
efforts to secure the right of citizenship we appeal only to your
sense of justice and love of fair dealing.

We ask for the ballot because it is the symbol of equality. There
is no other recognized symbol of equality in this country. We ask
for the ballot that we may be equal to man before the law. We urge
a twofold right--our right to the Republic, the Republic's right
to us. We believe the interests of the country are identical with
the interests of all its citizens, including women, and that the
Government can no longer afford to shut women out from the affairs
of the State and nation, and wise men are beginning to know that
they are needed in the Government; that they are needed where our
laws are made as well as where they are violated.

Many admit the justice of our claim, but will say, Is it safe? Is
it expedient? It is always safe to do right; is always expedient
to be just. Justice can never bring evil in its train.

The question is asked how and what would the women do in the State
and nation? We do not pledge ourselves to anything. I claim that
we can not have a better government than that of the people. The
present Government is of only a part of the people. We have not
yet entered upon the system of higher arbitration, because the
Government is of man only. If we had been marching along with you
all this time I trust we should have reached a higher plane of
civilization.

We believe that all the virtue of the world can take care of
all the evil, and all the intelligence can take care of all the
ignorance. Let us have all the virtue confront all the vice.

There is no need to do battle in this matter. In all kindness and
gentleness we urge our claims. There is no need to declare war
upon men, for the best of men in this country are with us heart