Page:Randolph, Paschal Beverly; Eulis! the history of love.djvu/139

134 ,—meaning, one Moses Hull, the author of a shocking "Personal Experience,"—are the deliberate actions of lost and conscienceless human souls! in other words, of human brutes, not yet immortalized.

CVI. In September, 1873, I attended a convention of ultra Radicals in Chicago, led by a noted agitatress, with whose courage and persistence in advocating her views I was particularly pleased, and took my stand on her side, because of her sex, and a persecuted member of it besides; and not because it was, is, or ever could be, possible for me to view the social question from either her standpoint or that of her confreres; I do not, cannot, never did, believe in Promiscuity, as some claimed that woman did, but which I heard her emphatically deny,—a little while before either that convention closed, or some peoples' eyes were opened—as mine certainly were, through an incident that occurred in the hall. However, on the ground of her gender, her championship of Fair play for woman; her splendid attack upon the unjust and unequal Taxation laws, and because of her right to a fair and candid hearing, I maintained in Chicago, as in Boston the year previous, when the same woman was up for office—stout battle in behalf, not of her peculiar doctrines, but of human responsibility, individualism, and the sacred right of Free discussion; and I would have stood by the side of any other human being under similar circumstances, even though, as in this case, nearly every one of her points of doctrine were and are quite dissimilar and antipodal to those I hold upon the same questions. I defended her right to a fair hearing in her bold, iconoclastic attack upon the wrongs of woman, and the injurious marriage system of to-day. I by no means could see it right for one man or woman to share the favors of another's wife or husband,—for I was barbarian enough then to have Sickleized him who should victimize a loved and loving wife of mine; and I would have justified any other man or woman in the same procedure then; I justify them just the same to-day; and hope to till I pass away,—provided always that she was not to blame,—assisted not at her own disgrace.

At that convention I uttered no word either for or against "Social Freedom;" confining my speeches to the three points above named;