The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions
伊丽莎白·凯蒂·斯坦顿 / Elizabeth Cady Stanton
伊丽莎白·凯蒂·斯坦顿（1815—1902），美国女权运动的伟大领袖，1848年7月19日至20日，她与另外四位妇女筹划召开了一次会议，“讨论社会、公民、宗教状况和妇女的权利问题”。在斯坦顿的领导下，小组起草了一个模仿《独立宣言》的《感伤宣言》。大约100名妇女和男士聚会纽约的塞尼卡福尔斯，讨论、修改并接受了她们的《宣言》。比起普遍蔑视妇女权利，尤其是蔑视妇女投票权的舆论来，她们要进步得多。
Ace in the Hole
Understand these new words before you read this article.
1. destructive adj. 引起破坏（或毁灭）的；破坏
（或毁灭）性的
2. disfranchisement n. 剥夺公民权
3. preeminent adj. 卓越的， 杰出的， 超群的
4. assembly n. 集会， 集合； 集合的人们；立法机构， 议会
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.