The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-09

/ way, OspIVAhOto sH0 49,
change they deprecate. Their purpose Is, Oh
course, to magnify the gulf between woman
4 and politics SO that she shall never enter Inc
communicating sphere. But they en'iIe; "a 4;
mistake the purpose of the movement. Us -
not to bring woman down 10 ponSS,,IVss 90 - ~
| constituted, but rather to bring Polltlcs W w
| her plane, II is not to drag her from her
| throne in the drawing-room ana supJect her
| TO the violence and vileness of the hustings,
| but rather to extend her gentle, yet potent
| sway into that rude domain-to make the law
! of the parlor also rule of the voting-roOm
| and Legislature. AS in all other assemblages
order and decency attend on woman's pre-
| sence so political gatherings will be shamed
out of their excesses by her approach. The
rudest boor dofs his cap to a lady, while a
squad of policemen scarcely commands his
respect. In brief then, one great object of this
innovation is to improve politics, by bringing
them more directly under the influence of the
chief conservators of virtue and refinement in
society. Left to their present tendencies,
politics can only grow more and more depraved,
as they have done in this country for the last
three-quarters of a century, and not till they
are brought face to face with the ''better half
of humanity, will the spirit of vice and vio-
lence which now possesses them begin to be
exercised.
But woman is averse to being enfranchised
says an objector; she could never be induced
to take part in politics, not so much even as
to deposit a vote. This is only partially true,
| and is every day becoming less true. The
| force of conventional prejudices and associa-
| tions is giving way with astonishing rapidity.
| Woman will accept the franchise, will acquant
I herself with public affairs, and will express
her judgment through the ballot when she
sees that the good of society and the State, as
| well as her own welfare and social considera-
| tion, requires it.
! That she is not clamorous for the franchise
| through greediness for Office, for "fat jobs''
| and spoils, or even a chance to sell her vote,
as do so many masculine citizens, is an addi-
| tional evidence that she is needed in politics,
and that her influence will be salutary. Having
an equal interest in the good government of
the community, and having an equal regard
for the dictates of duty, it is absurd to suppose
she will not be equally faithful with man, in
all the just requirements of citizenship. Her
| present indifference or aversion to politics is
but the result of conventional training and a
| supposititious public opinion, and will vanish
in good time. In some instances, this feeling
! may be increased by the spectacle which poll
tics in their present condition present. Those
who do not discern between the use and abuse
who take the ordinary political orgies and
scrimmages as the type of what politics must
inevitably be, may well imagine that they de-
test all participation in public affairs. But
moments reflection will show them that an
intelligent understanding of public interests,
and an expression of opinion by ballot, is COM
patible with-nay, even adds dignity to-the
| possession of the highest feminine sensibilities
| and refinement
Such participation involves no violation of
womanly delicacy greater than is every day
| risked in rail cars, steamboats,, in theatres,
concert-rooms, or even in religious assem-
blages; it simply requires that the law of the
drawing-room should be extended over the
voting groom, that the ballot-box be promoted
to the parlor. But even if there should be
some lingering sloughs of the old quagmire to
be encountered, let no woman imagine that
the occasion will lack high and noble use to
sanctify her deed, and preserve it from the
slightest stigma of indelicacy or unwomanli-
ness. AS the Sister of Mercy, on her heavenly
mission penetrates the loathsome lazaretto
and hospitals, and comes forth with the added
glory of an angel, so she who, with the noble
purpose of serving humanity and the State
shall brave somewhat of the terrors of the
political bedlam, will command the admiration
and esteem of all right-thinking men and
women. Wherever humanity is to be best
served, there is woman's true sphere;
wherever she can best use her power for the
publication and refinement of society, there is
her proper place, and the fulflment of her
duty can bring upon her no decentralization nor
diminution of charms. Humanity, or the
body polite, like the physical body, demands
no function of its individual members which
is not also for their highest good.
Should any further principle be demanded
for woman's admission to the franchise, we
may say that she is one of the component
units Of society, equally with man; she is
endowed with full capacities to understand
her individual interests and those of society;
in the exercise of these endowments she re-
tains through life a complete Individuality
all opposing mysticism about absorption in
man, Notwithstanding; freedom of thought,
and personal independence and consideration
are as dear to her, and as essential to her
highest development, as they are to any indi-
vidual soul; and it is, therefore, the dictate of
both reason and common sense that Govern
ment recognize her individuality, and accord
to her impartially that share of rights and
prerogatives which justly falls to each one of
the normal units who form the social COM
pact. Possessing the two most essential
publications for exercising the franchise-in-
telligence and vital interest in the well-being
of society-woman has a clear claim to direct
representation; and the only excuse for her
exclusion is that which perpetuates so many
other relics of barbarous ages. OF all the
f objections that are urged against her enfran-
chisement, there is scarcely one that rises to
the dignitymf philosophical principle. They
are mere Slssue of expediences, prejudices,
and apprehensions of danger from every
change in the existing state of things. They
will prove their own best refutation.
In concluding, let us offer suggestion for
any reader whose judgment may be in sus-
pense respecting this matter, and who may be