It is because, as many of my predecessors have said, of the
different elements represented by the two sexes, that we are
asking for this liberty. When I was recently in the capitol of my
own State of New York, I was reminded there of the difference of
temperament between the sexes by seeing how children act when
coming to the doors of the capitol, which have been constructed so
that they are very hard to open. Whether that is because they want
to keep us women out or not I am not able to say; but for some
reason the doors are so constructed that it is nearly impossible
to open them. I saw a number of little girls coming in through
those doors--every child held the door for those who were to
follow. A number of little boys followed just after, and every boy
rushed through and let the door shut in the face of the one
who was coming behind him. That is a good illustration of the
different qualities of the sexes. Those boys were not unkind, they
simply represented that onward push which is one of the grandest
characteristics of your sex; and the little girls, on the other
hand, represented that gentleness and thoughtfulness of others
which is eminently a characteristic of women.
This woman element is needed in every branch of the Government.
Look at the wholesale destruction of the forests throughout our
nation, which has gone on until it brings direct destruction
to the land on the lines of the great rivers of the West, and
threatens us even in New York with destroying at once the beauty
and usefulness of our far-famed Hudson.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176