n chains; and that
Africa remains afflicted with slavery: it was in the name of public
expediency that the Bastille was crowded; that the censorship of the
press was instituted; that accused persons were not allowed to
communicate with their advisers; that torture was resorted to.
Nevertheless, we will discuss these objections, so as to leave nothing
without reply.

It is necessary, we are warned, to be on guard against the influence
exercised by women over men. We reply at once that this, like any
other influence, is much more to be feared when not exercised openly;
and that, whatever influence may be peculiar to women, if exercised
upon more than one individual at a time, will in so far become
proportionately lessened. That since, up to this time, women have not
been admitted in any country to absolute equality; since their empire
has none the less existed everywhere; and since the more women have
been degraded by the laws, the more dangerous has their influence
been; it does not appear that this remedy of subjection ought to
inspire us with much confidence. Is it not probable, on the contrary,
that their special empire would diminish if women had less interest in
its preservation; if it ceased to be for them their sole means of
defence, and of escape from persecution?

If politeness does not permit to men to maintain their opinions
against women in society, this politeness, it may be said, is near
akin to pride; we yield a victory of no importance; defeat does not
humiliate when it is regarded as voluntary. Is it seriously believed
that it would be the same in a public discussion on an important
topic? Does politeness forbid the bringing of an action at law against
a woman?

But, it will be said, this change will be contrary to general
expediency, because it will take women away from those duties which
nature has reserved for them. This objection scarcely appears to me
well founded. Whatever form of constitution may be established, it is
certain that in the present state of civilisation among European
nations there will never be more than a limited number of citizens
required to occupy themselves with public affairs. Women will no more
be torn from their homes than agricultural labourers from their
ploughs, or artisans from their workshops. And, among the richer
classes, we nowhere see women giving themselves up so persistently to
domestic affairs that we should fear to distract their attention; and
a really ser