The main obvious principle he urges is to be pushed until the community surrenders to it.  He adds:—­

“Then, when you have drawn them up to the top of the general principle, you can slide them down upon all the derivative principles all at once.  But if you attempt to start off on a derivative principle, from any other point than the summit level of the main principle, you must beat up stream—­yes, up a cataract.  It reverses the order of nature, and the laws of mind....

“You put the cart before the horse; you drag the tree by the top, in attempting to push your woman’s rights until human rights have gone ahead and broken the path.

* * * * *

“You are both liable, it seems to me, from your structure of mind, to form your opinions upon too slight data, and too narrow a range of induction, and to lay your plans and adopt your measures, rather dazzled by the glare of false analogies than led on by the relations of cause and effect.  Both of you, but especially Angelina, unless I greatly mistake, are constitutionally tempted to push for present effect, and upon the suddenness and impulsiveness of the onset rely mainly for victory.  Besides from her strong resistiveness and constitutional obstinacy, she is liable every moment to turn short from the main point and spend her whole force upon some little one-side annoyance that might temporarily nettle her.  In doing this she might win a single battle, but lose a whole campaign.  Add to this, great pride of character, so closely curtained as to be almost searchless to herself, with a passion for adventure and novel achievements, and she has in all an amount of temptation to poor human nature that can be overmastered only by strong conflicts and strong faith.  Under this, a sense of justice so keen that violation of justice would be likely to lash up such a tide of indignation as would drive her from all anchorage.  I say this to her not in raillery.  I believe it, and therefore utter it.  It is either fiction or fact.  If fiction it can do no hurt; if fact, it may not be in vain in the Lord, and then my heart’s desire and prayer will be fulfilled.  May the Lord have you in his keeping, my own dear sisters.

“Most affectionately, your brother ever,

“T.D.  WELD.”

“One point I designed to make more prominent.  It is this:  What is done for the slave and human rights in this country must be done note, now, now.  Delay is madness, ruin, whereas woman’s rights are not a life and death business, now or never.  Why can’t you have eyes to see this?  The wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err here, it is so plain.  What will you run a tilt at next?”

And he names several things,—­the tariff, the banks, English tithe system, burning widows, etc., and adds:—­