It is the opinion of many of us that woman’s power is greater without the ballot or possibility of office-holding for gain.  When standing outside of politics she discusses great questions upon their merit.  Much has been achieved by women in the anti-slavery cause, the temperance cause, the improvement of public and private charities, the reformation of criminals, all by intelligent discussion and influence upon men.  Our legislators have been ready to listen to women and carry out their plans when well framed.

Women can do much useful public service upon boards of education, school committees, and public charities, and are beginning to do such work.  It is of vital importance to the integrity of our charitable and educational administration that it be kept out of politics.  Is it not well that we should have one sex who have no political ends to serve who can fill responsible positions of public trust?  Voting alone can easily be exercised by women without rude contact, but to attain any political power women must affiliate themselves with men; because women will differ on public questions, must attend primary meetings and caucuses, will inevitably hold public office and strive for it; in short, women must enter the political arena.  This result will be repulsive to a large portion of the sex, and would tend to make women unfeminine and combative, which would be a detriment to society.

It is well that men after the burden and heat of the day should return to homes where the quiet side of life is presented to them.  In these peaceful New England homes of ours, great and noble men have been raised by wise and pious mothers, who instructed them, not in politics, but in those general principles of justice, integrity, and unselfishness which belong to and will insure statesmanship in the men who are true to them.  Here is the stronghold of the sex, weakest in body, powerful for good or evil over the stronger one, whom women sway and govern, not by the ballot and by greater numbers but by those gentle influences designed by the Creator to soften and subdue man’s ruder nature.

    Clara T. Leonard.

Mr. Hoar.  The Senator from Missouri has alluded to me in connection with the name of this lady.  Perhaps he will allow me to make an additional statement to that which I furnished him, in order that the statement about her may be complete.

All that the Senator from Missouri has said of the character and worth of Mrs. Leonard is true.  I do not know her personally.  Her husband is my respected personal friend, a lawyer of high standing and character.  All that the Senator has said of her ability is proved better than by any other testimony, by the very able and powerful letter which has just been read.  But Mrs. Leonard herself is the strongest refutation of her own argument.