New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-12

NotilhH HOm oil pOLllCdi nkuts unt iVaSouo
can the enemy OF our reform advance 10 justify the
continuance Of these restraints Would he say
that Woman would vote for vile laws and dlsor-
gained society This is what he dare not say,
unless he believes Woman TO be either fool or a
knave. He will not call her knave for he is ever
ready 10 sing paans of praise to angelic Woman
Does he then call her fool If she be so, 1t Is a
poor compliment our opponent paws TO the Wis
dom and 'o- called superiority Of Man, when he
says that Man, the sage and superior, cannot M
fuence and govern Woman, the fool without law !;
for il IS the prerogatye Of the superior TO control
the inferior by the force Of its own strength over
weakness. The superior always governs when IN
contact with the inferior. The moon is bright
amid nocturnal darkness but when the king Of
day des upward on his golden chariot, the moon
beam pales until the orb Of the night is scarcely
distinguished from the heecy cloud that reflects
the rays of the sun. Our opponent will not there
fore insist upon this argument; and If he has no
better one 10 produce he must concede our de-
mand for the political reimbursement OF Woman.
What, then, will he say Listea: Woman,
in going to the polls, would all the sovereign host
with uproar and confusion, while discharging the
duty Of freemen. Or, TO use the language OF a
chaste writer in The Southern Quarterly RerieH
for April Of this year, to wit:
ave of the conservatives who Judge of the uses Of
things by their spttudes, read Womsns duties any
where better than in an ele ctOn crowd scuug with
Cuite for vote. Imagine The lovely Miss Caroline, the
facilitating Miss Martha elbowlng Sambo rom the stump
All being equal, and respect for persons 10 oe eN-
pected the natural conclusion IL that ss Caroline or
Martha, Being ndisputably corporeely weaker than
Sanbo would be thrust into the mud"
This is the style and kind OF argument which
the conservative is accustomed to, when treating
this subject. Horace Mann even Horace Mann,
the sage. statesman and reiofmer-being very
nearly rl ht on most questions rapy 'onh see the
face OF Horace Mann, not the reiOrmer, but OF
Horace Mann the burlesquer of Woman's Rights.
There are three methods to which the lawyer
can resort for success-argument, sophistry and
ridicue. When he has the merits of the case, he
will rarey de ade it by resortng either to sophis
try or r.dicuie, for every sophIsm only puts
weapon into the hand of his opponent and every
attempt at ridicul, obscures the clearness with
which the merits of his cause might appear. Ii is
only where the merits are against him that he
ventures upon sophstry, for there is some chance
for n good sophist to perplex and confuse the
jury and the Court as to darken the truth and
secure victory. II the advocate be an indifferent
sophst but skilled in ridicule and burlesque, he
attempts to overwhem bis opponent with Hood
of fun and thus to laugh the case out of Court.
Those of us engaged in the great humanitary
movements of the day, know what it is to be met
by phistry and ridlcule- for IL Is truth that no
conservative ventures 10 address himself to the
merits of the case as lOglcian and philosopher.
The specimen have quoted from the dlgnihed 81
Quarterly is one of more than ordinary vulgarity,
and seems 10 have been addressed 10 that species
of the genus homo usually tenOmnated lOafer-
dom, among whom are found the tribes ofrowdies
and backguaIds.
But seriously, concerning this notion that WO-
man would create confusion and riOtng at the
Polls. 1t she have right to vote, anc any dis
turbance ar ses in exercising II, that disturbance
must lie OccasiOned either by her own wrong or
that Of Man. No one pretends that Woman her
self will be rotous, for rarely has she been found
TO participate in or give occasion to public out
breaks. 1t must, then, arse from the wrong of
Man himself and of course, justice says, upon his
head fall the responsibility and the penalty in such
cases made and provided. All admit that it is the
duty of Government TO protect all IN the ENJOY
ment OF rights, and those who infringe human lib
erty should meet the consequences. Woman can
60 10 the polls and peacea6y deposit the ballot IN
the exercise OF 9rght belonging to all persons en-
titled to freedom. Ii man dlstuTbs her III the dis
char &c of this duty, let hun be treated as he de-
serves. Bat the course of the conservative Is to
rob one half OF humanity of the right, on the mere
pretelSe OF preserving order at the polls The
yerv way in which to create disorder is TO deprive
human beings of their rights and the only way
i'm which to preserve order III this enlightened
country is TO defend all III the enjoyment OF what
is their own holding those who infringe the liberty
of their fellows 10 strict account. what other
sensible course can be pursued
Were this good plea tor the exclusion OF Wo-
man large portion of the masculine gender might
also be excluded. Indeed, this has been the stand
ing ylca in favor of universal suffrage among the
men ever since Human Freedom was first dis
cussed. John Adams, that heroic old champion
of the Revolution, was called from private lfe OF
twenty years to SIT in the Massachusetts, COnstltu-
tional Convention of 1870; and when the question
of admitting all the males to vote came up, John
Adams was alarmed, aud he SAID Sir, rise with
fear and trembling. Give votes to the poor, and
they will vote us out of our houses and homes"
A false prophet. Votes have been given to the
DOOR, end tie first is yet to be found to fulfill
that unfortunate prediction. Multtudes are now
homeless because suffrage has not been universal;
had Woman been free almost every wife and
mother could now sing Home, home, sweet,
sweet home" ot her own family altar, and beneath
a Ioof over which no despot reigns. Give the
votes tothe women, excaim the John Adamses,
Horac. MAINS and Southern Quarterly Reviews
of our DAY, and shall all rush upon each other,
without distinction of sex or responsibility. Ii -
said tkat prophet is not without honor, even m
his own country. These prophets seem to hayo
some honor IN their own country, for their dismal
vaccinations are received by the gaping crowd
that are now waiting q preteXt for disorder,
can 90 quietly to the polls and deposit my
vote. and my wife can do the same thing, if she
chooses and no confusion is created. As every
husband deems insult TO his wife greater insult
TO himse il is difficult to perceive how any dis
cord can arise at the polls. And especially as ev-
ery men would rally TO the protection OF Woman,
II is difficult to perceive where the Towdles VIII be
found. Man is ashamed TO fight, or even indulge
in drinking or profanity, in presence of Woman
and il is only when by himself, and beyond the
reach of Woman, influence, that he INDUCES his
vices and crimes. If, therefore the two sexes
can be more generally associated, the public order
srd morality would be greatly subseVed. Ii Is
tic divorce of the masculine from the feminine ee-
n.ents that occasions much of the niqulty Of so
ciety and, as has been conclusiyely argued in the
light of History, Philosophy and Democracy-the
harmony of there clements, in all the departments
Of lite. is essential to the perfection OF society.
But lsten to The Quarterly again:
I'VE regret 10 l.leve that this move Tor Womans
f,o-cAlleo) enffanchiement IL, hnhero, entirely Of
An er,csn growth. Thank Heaven our modest sOuh,
m s,s;ers have held sloO from the denng pitch. and
Woee.trr Cow, ntuDs are entirely fsnkee Notion.
II thank ihse, Jew, for teaching me that word
Worcester Conventions are entirely Yankee