beer in peace and not be confined to that same "sphere," which they always described to us as so beautiful, but which they were wont to honor with their presence only when they were hungry or sleepy. Should we leave them in the lurch? Let us rather come to their assistance, not in a magnanimous spirit, however, but in order to do our share in securing liberty and justice. And that we may be prepared for this work it is necessary to make our appearance upon the field of battle, and to begin to drill in good season.
But while we are thus assisting the German men to combat temperance tyranny and religious fanaticism, we have, at the same time, the best of opportunities to set an example of intellectual freedom to American women, and to thus show our gratitude for the example they gave us in their struggle for political freedom.
But even that is not the whole of our mission. Our public activity and its consequences will not be limited to this country; it will serve as an incentive to our country-women on the other side of the ocean, and I hope that we shall succeed in successfully co-operating with them and especially in convincing them that without political freedom, and without a republic, the female sex cannot hope for an improvement of their lot.
Before closing permit me to say a few words concerning the attitude we must take in this struggle for reform in order to gain our end. Are we to iso-
