In England, in 1885, the "age of consent" was, by the influence of women, raised from thirteen to sixteen years of age; and without doubt the time is soon coming whencarnal knowledge of a girl under eighteen years of age will everywhere be punishable by law as rape.
In most of the interests of life the conditions affecting the sexes are identical; but one sex alone has never been able to and never can justly or intelligently govern the peculiar relationships of the two sexes; and for the proper adjustment of these natural differences the counsel of women is imperatively required.
How can legislators, many of whom are notoriously corrupt, be relied upon to legislate favorably for women when they have no proper respect for them, nor appreciation of the evils and dangers of prostitution and its concomitant disease, illegitimacy, and criminal abortion?
The mere sentiment of women has often proved sufficient to defeat the election of legislators of impure fame; and the time seems to be fast coming when they will have the franchise, which is far more powerful than sentiment; and when that responsibility is accorded, and when they have accepted it, it may confidently be predicted, so the author thinks, that the world will improve at a bound.
Respectfor womanhood is the great distinguishing mark of superiority of our modern times over the ancient civilizations, so we all believe; and we realize that when she who is the centre of home life ceases to be respected by men, or fails to uphold her own dignity, then society will be undermined and corrupted.
If men are wise, and if they are earnest in their desires for a high state of civilization, they will not oppose the noble efforts of women by ridicule, but rather seek their counsel for in the near future we shall be compelled to pay tribute to the justice, and humanity, and equality which they will have instilled into our hearts and into our laws.
It is not a question of intelligence, for certain women are far better equipped in this respect than many men. Unless they are capable of performing military service, obviously they should not have full powers of voting, for then they would have more than their rights.