It
does not prevent the blacksmith from shoeing horses, or the
farmer from planting fields, or the lawyer from attending
courts; so I see no reason why it need to prevent women from
attending to their domestic duties. On certain subjects,
such as intemperance, licentiousness and war, women would be
almost universally sure to exert their influence in the
right directions, for the simple reason that they peculiarly
suffer from the continuance of these evils. In the discharge
of this new function, they would doubtless make some
mistakes, and yield to some temptations, just as men do. But
the consciousness of being an acknowledged portion of the
government of the country would excite a deeper interest in
its welfare, and produce a serious sense of responsibility,
which would gradually invigorate and ennoble their
characters.

THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON wrote: I believe that we fail to
establish a truly republican government, or to test the
principle of universal suffrage, so long as we enfranchise
one sex only.

A. BRONSON ALCOTT wrote: * * * Where women lead--the best
women--is it unsafe for men to follow? Woman's influence
cannot be confined to her household; woman is, and will be,
womanly wherever placed. No condition can unsex the sexes.
The ten commandments will not suffer in her keeping. Her
vote will tell for the virtues, against the vices all. Plato
said: "Either sex alone is but half itself." Socially, we
admit his assertion, and are just beginning to suspect that
our republican institutions need to be complemented and
rounded with woman's counsels, and administrations also.
Good republicans are asking if our legislation is not
unsettled, demoralized by the debauchery of hasty politics,
by private vices, and the want of manly integrity, woman's
honor. Let our courtesy to women be sincere--paid to her
modesty as to her person; her intelligence as to her
housekeeping; her refining influence in political as in
social circles. Where a husband would blush to take his wife
and daughters, let him blush to be seen by his sons. "Revere
no god," sa