Independence goes on to state: "Whenever any form of government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on
such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

This is the use of the Declaration of Independence. Women, as a class, may
not be quite ready to use it. It is the business of this book to help make
them ready. But so far as they are ready these plain provisions are the
axioms of their political faith. If the axioms mean anything for men, they
mean something for women. If men deride the axioms, it is a concession,
like that of Rufus Choate, that these fundamental principles are very much
in their way. But so long as the sentences stand in that document they can
be made useful. If men try to get away from the arguments of women by
saving, "But suppose we have nothing in our theory of government which
requires us to grant your demand?" then women can answer, as the
straightforward Traddles answered Uriah Heep, "But you have, you know:
therefore, if you please, we won't suppose any such thing."




SOME OLD-FASHIONED PRINCIPLES


There has been an effort, lately, to show that when our fathers said,
"Taxation without representation is tyranny," they referred not to personal
liberties, but to the freedom of a state from foreign power. It is
fortunate that this criticism has been made, for it has led to a more
careful examination of passages; and this has made it clear, beyond