es. Senator Dech of Saunders
favored the bill in remarks showing a broad and
comprehensive philosophy. Senator Butler of Pawnee made a
magnificent arraignment of the Republican and Democratic
parties, and an appeal to the anti-monopolists to oppose the
monopoly of sex. His speech was the longest and most
earnest of the session. Several persons expressing a desire
to continue the discussion, McShane withdrew his motion to
postpone. The Senate adjourned, and on Friday morning it was
moved and carried that this bill be made the special order
for that evening. Accordingly, the chamber and gallery were
filled. On motion, Mrs. Colby was unanimously requested to
address the Senate in behalf of the bill. Senator Butler
escorted her to the clerk's desk, and she delivered an
extemporaneous address, of which a fair synopsis was given
by the _Journal_ reporter. Foreseeing the defeat of the
bill, she said, in closing, "You may kill this bill,
gentlemen, but you cannot kill the principle of individual
liberty that is at issue. It is immortal, and rises
Phoenix-like from every death to a new life of surpassing
beauty and vigor. The votes you cast against the bill will,
like the dragons' teeth in the myth of old, spring up into
armed warriors that shall obstruct your path, demanding of
you the recognition of woman's right to 'equality before the
law.'" The grave and reverend senators joined in the
applause of the gallery, and carried Senator Reynolds'
motion "that the thanks of this Senate be returned to Mrs.
Colby for the able, eloquent and instructive address to
which we have listened"; but with no apparent reluctance, on
Senator McShane's motion being renewed, they postponed the
bill by a vote of 18 to 6.[474] Of the absent ones, Senator
Dech was known to be sick, some of the others were in their
seats a moment previous, and it is fairly to be presumed
that they did not dare to vote upon the question. Of those
voting aye, Senators Brown of Clay, and Walker of Lancaster
had favored the bill in the committee, and the friends were
counting on their vote, as also some others who had