The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions
伊麗莎白·凱蒂·斯坦頓 / Elizabeth Cady Stanton
伊麗莎白·凱蒂·斯坦頓（1815—1902），美國女權運動的偉大領袖，1848年7月19日至20日，她與另外四位婦女籌劃召開了一次會議，“討論社會、公民、宗教狀況和婦女的權利問題”。在斯坦頓的領導下，小組起草了一個模仿《獨立宣言》的《感傷宣言》。大約100名婦女和男士聚會紐約的塞尼卡福爾斯，討論、修改並接受了她們的《宣言》。比起普遍蔑視婦女權利，尤其是蔑視婦女投票權的輿論來，她們要進步得多。
Ace in the Hole
Understand these new words before you read this article.
1. destructive adj. 引起破壞（或毀滅）的；破壞
（或毀滅）性的
2. disfranchisement n. 剝奪公民權
3. preeminent adj. 卓越的， 傑出的， 超群的
4. assembly n. 集會， 集合； 集合的人們；立法機構， 議會
1. Declaration of Sentiments
When， in the course of human events， it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied， but one to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them， a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.
We hold these truths to be self-evident： that all men and women are created equal； that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights； that among these are life， liberty and the pursuit of happiness； that to secure these rights governments are instituted， deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends， it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it， and to insist upon the institution of 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. Prudence， indeed， will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes； and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer， while evils are sufferable， than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations， pursuing invariably the same object， evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism， it is their duty to throw off such government， and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government， and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled. The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman， having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her.