you the desire for freedom lives in every heart. It may be hidden
as the water of the never-freezing, rapid-flowing river Neva is
hidden. In the winter the ice from Lake Lagoda floats down till
it is met by the ice setting up from the sea, when they unite and
form a compact mass over it. Men stand upon it, sledges run over
it, splendid palaces are built upon it; but beneath all the Neva
still rapidly flows, itself unfrozen. The presence of these women
before you shows their desire for freedom. They have come from
the North, from the South, from the East, from the West, and from
the far Pacific slope, demanding freedom for themselves and for
all women.

Our demands are often met by the most intolerable tyranny. The
Albany _Law Journal_, one of the most influential legal journals
of the great State of New York, had the assurance a few years ago
to tell Miss Anthony and myself if we were not suited with "our
laws" we could leave the country. What laws did they mean? Men's
laws. If we were not suited with these men's laws, made by them
to protect themselves, we could leave the country. We were
advised to expatriate ourselves, to banish ourselves. But we
shall not do it. It is our country, and we shall stay here and
change the laws. We shall secure their amendment, so that under
them there shall be exact and permanent political equality
between men and women. Change is not only a law of life; it is an
essential proof of the existence of life. This country has
attained its greatness by ever enlarging the bounds of freedom.

In our hearts we feel that there is a word sweeter than mother,
home, or heaven. That word is LIBERTY. We ask it of you now. We
say to you, secure to us this liberty--the same liberty you have
yourselves. In doing this you will not render yourselves poor,
but will make us rich indeed.

Mrs. STEWART of Delaware, in illustrating the folly of adverse
arguments based on woman's ignorance of political affairs, gave
an amusing account of her colored man servant the first time he
voted. He had been full of bright anticipations of the coming
election day, and when it dawned at last, he asked if he could be
spared from his work an hour or so, to vote. "Certainly, Jo,"
said she, "by all means; go to the polls and do your duty as a