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In order to bring out clearly the results of the teachings of reason
and of experience on the question of extending the field of women's
industry, I shall place before you a brief summary of the arguments
on both sides, and examine how far they are borne out by the facts
alluded to.
To a candid thinker, with no preconceived notions on the subject,
it could scarcely appear otherwise than a hardship and an injustice
to make an accidental circumstance, such as that of colour, birth,
age, or religion, the ground of conferring any peculiar privileges or
withholding any generally conceded rights. The accident of sex
stands on the same footing as that of colour, or birth, or religion;
and, prima facie, therefore, it is as unjust to exclude a woman from any
employment which she might be disposed to enter, as to deny to a
Negro his liberty, to a Jew the right of sitting in parliament, or to a
man of humble origin the opportunity of becoming a lawyer or a
physician.
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