l is nearest and dearest in
the estimation of God, be that one male or female. When we look upon
creation, we find the male and female principle apparent in all phenomena
of existence. In the vegetable kingdom we find the male and female fig
tree, the male and female palm, the mulberry tree and so on. All plant
life is characterized by this difference in gender, but no distinction or
preference is evidenced. Nay, rather, there is perfect equality. Likewise,
in the animal kingdom gender obtains; we have male and female, but no
distinction or preference. Perfect equality is manifest. The animal,
bereft of the degree of human reason and comprehension, is unable to
appreciate the questions of suffrage, nor does it assert its prerogative.
Man, endowed with his higher reason, accomplished in attainments and
comprehending the realities of things, will surely not be willing to allow
a great part of humanity to remain defective or deprived. This would be
the utmost injustice. The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the
male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in
strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree
as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary
attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way
to heights of real attainment. When the two wings or parts become
equivalent in strength, enjoying the same prerogatives, the flight of man
will be exceedingly lofty and extraordinary. Therefore, woman must receive
the same education as man and all inequality be adjusted. Thus, imbued
with the same virtues as man, rising through all the degrees of human
attainment, women will become the peers of men, and until this equality is
established, true progress and attainment for the human race will not be
facilitated.

The evident reasons underlying this are as follows: Woman by nature is
opposed to war; she is an advocate of peace. Children are reared and
brought up by the mothers who give them the first principles of education
and labor assiduously in their behalf. Consider, for instance, a mother
who has tenderly reared a son for twenty years to the age of maturity.
Surely she will not consent to having that son torn asunder and killed in
the field of battle. Therefore, as woman advances toward the degree of man
in power and privilege, with the right of vote and control in human
government, most assuredly war will cease; for woman