Page:The rights of women and the sexual relations.djvu/305

Rh freedom in love? Because it would be the death of freedom in prostitution! Our male teachers, who can discourse so wisely on our nature, nowhere show their incapacity to judge of our nature more than in their anxiety that freedom will lead us whither it has led them. Give woman freedom, and she will love according to her own tastes and emotional needs, give man freedom — he already has it — without giving it to woman, and he will prostitute himself according to his habit. Prostitution does not proceed from woman any more than slavery does from the slave; as the latter must be charged to the oppressor, so the former must be charged to man. "Free love" for woman signifies the end of prostitution, just as free self-determination for the slave signified the end of slavery.

What more I have to say on the subject I will say in the words of one who is gone, who died and was forgotten too soon, and whose memory I consider it an honor to revive. Years ago one of the first woman conventions took place in Rutland, in the ‘State of Vermont. On this occasion — there were also a great many spiritualists present — much absurd and foolish stuff was brought up for discussion, but at the same time several women speakers created general consternation by their talent and boldness. A hitherto unknown woman attracted the greatest attention. The chief organ of the prostitution party, the "New York Herald," describes her personality thus: "She is a pale, delicate looking woman, with