g on our part of cherished prejudices
in society, that, as before stated, it is a most difficult work. But
however difficult, it must be accomplished--and by American women, too,
for men have no power to lead in such a matter as this: it must be
accomplished, or the hope of the freedom and progress of humanity will
be crushed, and democracy on earth die, even out of institutions of
government.

The action of a government, if not modified by the differing social life
of its people, is the practical realization of its theory: and social
life among the people, if not too far restricted by the arbitrary
interference of government, is also a practical realization of its
controlling spirit; consequently, the freer the government the more
plainly are evinced the prevailing principles of those who give the tone
to society; and under our democratic system, women--those who give this
tone to society--are with justice esteemed freer than elsewhere.

But of what value to the race is this greater freedom, if we employ it
in imitating the spirit and customs that are the result of the impeded
society of nations less beneficently governed; rather than in taking
advantage of our wider opportunities to develop a true womanhood, such
as would cause us to regard man neither as a natural foe nor as a model
for servile imitation--such as would prompt us to influence man, not by
any direct sharing in the performance of his peculiar work, but by doing
our own so intelligently and beautifully, that it shall sympathize with,
and elevate the spirit of his.

The society and government of a nation are two great institutions
equally important, and requiring for their wise development equal mental
capacity. And in the economy of Providence in regard to the distribution
of responsibility between the sexes, while man has hitherto modified
governments, woman, among Christian nations--and possibly among pagan
also--has always moulded society. We glance back thus to repeat our
leading idea, because we wish to add here, that to the minds of those
who realize the truth of it, the often vexed question of the comparative
intellectual ability of the sexes is put at rest. For where the imposed
responsibilities, though differing, are equally great, we may justly
infer that the Deity has bestowed on the differing sexes, upon whom
these responsibilities are respectively distributed, equal capacity for
wise performance in its own sphere, and equal power to intell