AN UNIQUE LEADERSHIP.
Mrs. Stanton was able to disarm every criticism made of the
early advocates of woman's rights. She was a wife, a mother, far
from angular, beautiful in person, and exquisite in dress. Her voice
was rich and musical, and the powerful philosophy and logic of her
arguments, with the keen sarcasm of which she was master, were
relieved by a fine humor and graceful wit that conquered prejudice
and captivated an audience. But it seemed as if no woman ever so
deeply felt the disgrace, the humiliation, of her legal and political
condition, — certainly none ever so strongly expressed it by voice or
pen. In lofty eloquence and noble patriotism many of her speeches
may be justly classified as masterpieces, among them "The
Degradation of Disfranchisement," "Self-Government the Best
Means of Self-Development," and that beautiful classic, "The
Solitude of Self." The world may indeed echo the words of Miss
Anthony as she gazed on the face of Mrs. Stanton in the grandeur of
death: "Oh, this awful hush! It seems impossible that voice is
stilled which I have loved to hear for fifty years."
