“Before we pass to a vote,” said Manfreda flushing, as she stilled the outburst of angry protests, “it is well to take up the challenge that this barbaric man has flung out. We are accused of oppressing the male sex. I shall answer, and my answer is directed to all those mistaken emotional minds who have allowed themselves to be tricked into an advocacy of male equality. But first how have we oppressed the male sex? What have men been deprived of? We have abolished poverty, so that no man need longer work. We have abolished sickness, so that every man may indulge his appetites and luxuries without fear of consequence. We have taken from him the conduct of public affairs where even Bogardus has admitted he has been a tragic failure. We have ended crime and war so that no false sentiment demands the sacrifice of his life. We have freed him from monogamy so that his natural instincts need no longer be repressed. Is this oppression or what once was man’s idea of a heavenly paradise?” I rose and bowed. “Paradise, oh Manfreda, but how did you guess it?” A sense of humor has always misled me. From this moment I felt the assembly turn against me. “Now to pass to the major consideration,” continued Manfreda. “To restore male equality means just one thing--to destroy authority. One thing is certain--history has always been the record of the war of the sexes. One or the other must dominate. Authority cannot be shared. Read history. The world was at its worst when a divided authority broke down the standards of morality. The age this man represents was an age of compromise and anarchy. Restore the male--you will bring back the hypocrisy of marriage with its lies and its treachery, its mutual tyranny. You will restore the family and permit the weak to prey upon the strong, the unfit to ride upon the backs of the fit. You will return to the jealousy and irreverence of the younger generation, impatient to crowd out the older. For the family is nothing but the battleground of the sexes and the clash of opposing generations. You are now free and self sufficing individualities. Do you wish to return to a society of sacrifice and mutual tyranny?” I sprang up, through the applause and exclaimed indignantly: “It is for me to recall you to the point, Manfreda. You have made an ex-parte statement, with the evident intention of prejudicing my judges by an appeal to their emotions, and this from a woman who feigns to hold up to ridicule our system of justice. Enough. Let me state the issue and save you the waste of your adroit pleadings. I am guilty of being too intelligent for you, and that is my crime. Have the courage to admit it. Remove me because you cannot, you dare not allow me to remain here any longer. But for heaven’s sake, ladies, please don’t try to be logical. Let us ignore the charges. You have decided to condemn me, please, please don’t try to justify your actions!”