The chief reason for opening to every soul the doors to the whole round of human duties and pleasures is the individual development attained, the resources provided under all circumstances to mitigate the solitude that must come to everyone. When one becomes acquainted with themselves and their own inner resources, they create a world of their own, a vast empire, that no jailer or king can invade. Such is the value of liberal thought and broad culture when shut off from all human companionship, bringing comfort and sunshine within the four walls of a prison. At such times the most timid women have shown a courage and heroism in saving their husbands and children that has surprised everybody. Inasmuch, then, as woman shares equally the joys and sorrows of time and eternity, is it not the height of presumption in man to propose to represent her at the ballot box as at the throne of grace as it is to do her voting in the state or her praying in the church.
Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.
Seeing that responsibilities of life rests equally on man and woman, that their destiny is the same, they need the same preparation for time and eternity. The talk of sheltering woman from the fierce sterns of life is the sheerest mockery, for they beat on her from every point of the compass, just as they do on man, and with more fatal results, for he has been trained to protect himself and survive. Such are the facts in human experience, such are the responsibilities of individual. Rich and poor, intelligent and ignorant, wise and foolish, virtuous and vicious, man and woman, it is ever the same, each soul must depend wholly on itself. Whatever the theories may be of woman's dependence on man, in the supreme moments of her life he can not bear her burdens.