WOMAN AND FREEDOM IN WHITMAN 377 
endures but personal qualities. ,, And does he not say, too, “A 
great city is that which has the greatest men and women?” 
If it be a “few ragged huts it is still the greatest city in the 
whole world.” Whitman, in accord with the sages of past 
times, brings his message into relation with our day and ex¬ 
istence; and though we are divested and stripped in our strife, 
and go out naked and alone into the world, we are yet the 
possessor of all riches and all gain in the possession of the 
freedom of soul which is Whitman’s everlasting theme. 
It cannot be disputed that Whitman allows for women all 
constitutional rights in state and country; and if stress on 
my part is laid on this point, it is out of deference to those 
who believe woman’s complete emancipation will come through 
suffrage. 
Whitman more than once refers to the subject: but, speak¬ 
ing on general suffrage, elections, etc., he expresses himself 
as doubtful whether these will ever secure officially the best 
results. “ Officers, candidacy for them, caucusing money, the 
favoritism, the interest of rings, the superior manipulation 
of the ins over the outs,” are indeed at best the mere busi¬ 
ness agencies of the people, are useful as “formulating neither 
the best and highest, but the average of the public judgment 
(or sometimes want of judgment).” But he says, “as to the 
general suffrage, after all, since we have gone so far, the more 
general it is the better. I favor the widest opening of the 
doors. Let the ventilation and area be wide enough, and all 
is safe.” 
In Whitman’s plea for equality, and in all due considera¬ 
tion of material rights, which to him are only substrata to in¬ 
crease man’s and woman’s height towards spirituality, and 
in his greetings to worldly prosperity and material comforts 
and progress, he declares that “the soul of man will not with 
such only — nay, not with such at all — be finally satisfied; 
but needs what (standing on these and on all things, as the 
feet stand on the ground) is address’d to the loftiest, to itself 
alone.” 
The basis of Whitman’s plea for equality is his belief in 
immortality. He leaves the earth and its belongings below 
