of woman?” Thus confronted, he only babbled in reply, “A celestial sphere, madam!” But the force of this compliment is now abated; for the persons who above all others are dignified with the title of “Celestials” are the Chinese; and these the Congress of the United States seems determined to banish from our soil as unworthy—­not only of the right of citizenship and the right of suffrage, but the right of residing in our democratic republic.  Accordingly, we must find some more appropriate sphere for women than the Celestial.  Nobody, I take it, however bitterly he may be opposed to what are called the rights of women, objects to their residing in this country, or to their coming here in vast numbers. [Applause.]

Do you remember to what circumstance Chicago owed its fame?  When the spot where a great city now looks out on Lake Michigan was the habitation of a small number of men only, a steamboat was seen in the distance, and the report was that it contained a cargo of women, who were coming to the desolate place for the purpose of being married to the forlorn men.  Every bachelor hastened to the pier, with a telescope in one hand and a speaking-trumpet in the other.  By the aid of the telescope each lover selected his mate, and by the aid of the speaking-trumpet each lover made his proposals.  In honor of the women who made the venturesome voyage, the infant city was named “She-Cargo.” [Laughter and applause.]

Therefore, there is no possibility of a doubt that there is no objection to women as residents of this country.  The only thing to be considered is, whether or not they shall have the right of voting.  I think nobody present here this evening has conceit enough to suppose that he is more competent to give an intelligent vote on any public question than the intelligent ladies who have done the Club the honor to be present on this occasion.  The privilege of voting is simply an opportunity, by which certain persons legally qualified are allowed to exercise power.  The formal power is so subdivided that each legally qualified person exercises but little.  But where meanwhile is the substance of power?  Certainly in the woman of the household as well as in the man.  Indeed, I recollect that when an objection was raised that to give the right of suffrage to women would create endless quarrels between husband and wife, a married woman curtly replied that the wives would see to it that no such disturbance should really take place. [Applause.] And, as the question now stands, I pity the man who is so fortunate to be married to a noble woman, coming home to meet her reproachful glance, when he has deposited in the ballot-box a vote for a measure which is base and for a candidate who is equally base.  Then, in his humiliation before that rebuking eye, he must feel that in her is the substance of power, and in him only the formal expression of power. [Applause.]