Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-04-19

1
ct Of well ordered home, aud the con- sor'
and happiness Of the true woman, who RI igns
there supreme.
Litileton. Iowa, March Goth.
REPLY To LAURENrICs.
Mr.. EDITOR My friend Lanrentius in hi.
usual clearly conceived and happily ex-
pressed" manner, objects to the enfranchis
ing of women on the plea that both the in
vestmen, and exercise Of such right by q
female would engender family studies, breed
dissensions, chickering's and family quarrels
and prove an nnfsiliag souce of social and
political discords, thereby contraveniag no,
only the laws of our social fabric, but annihi.
la,ing btth the laws Of nature and of God.
Had this objection been urged against the
doctrine 0; womaa's rights and social pro-
gress, by bar-room brawler or street loafer,
BY an ignorant, syrannicai, rumbioat, wor.
shipper of Bacchus, or By those ircn hearted
despots Of the family circle and Preside who
offer up as daily sacrifices upon the bloody
altar of Ao.ock, the unfortunate wires who
are bound to them by the iron chain of q
relentless law and by heathenish, heart,ess
public sentiment, aud the children of VT ON
they are the unnatural progenitors. We should
no; have bsen at all surprised. Hadi been
urged by those classes, with whom i. is an
q Argnmentum adhomineum,' or by The
LITTLE men and foolish scribhlers who gracious
y co2descend to preach and brawl about
Womaas sphere and female Duties
and whose own sphere or sex i, would puzzle
the wises, philosopher that ever lived 10 deter.
mine, II would not have seemed STANCE. But
to be urged and insisted upon as an insur-
mountable, ananswerabie argument by such
a gentleman, such = scholar, such an able
advocate as LaurentiGs, who is supposed to
know logic from logwood, our wonder and
astonishment have been excited beyond oil
imaginary limits, aud We are more than ever
convinced that the capabilities ard good
qualities OF the female sex are always the
most Uncomfortable and incomprehenistl to
that portion ofthe ssaie persuasion who are
the r os; destitute Of such capabilities and
good qualities themselves. But 70 the OBJ.
lection. M
That neither the domestic happiness or the
peace and tranquility Of the family circle
would be at ell diminished nor III
vadsd, but on the contrary increased and
Intensified, we think we can satisfactorily
prove. The simple granting to woman the
rightto vote, is not the creating Of aer
polital power or inhuelce, OF the introducing
OF some strange god or topic of discussion TO
the home circle. ba. tie public recognizing
and legaiizing Of an influence and power
which already exis,s and whici was
recognized aud legalized on this continent
nearly three-fourths of century ago. That
every intelligent female American has her
political rs we'll Is her religious principles
and creed, cannot be questioned. That if
they will and do speak out On the subiec, Of
politics as wei as upon all other subjects in
which they feel interested, no man who
knows them even as remotely as do, win
dare 10 controvert. The r1ghs 10 vote there.
fore, the ballot box, so far from breeding or
fostering discussions or aagment:ng the
difficulties between husband aud wife, would
act as the most powerful means Of absorption,
by giving to the wife as wen as to the hus-
band normal channel through which she
could silently, more peacefully, and more
effsc,ually, give expression to her own politi.
cal and patriotic principles. In word, the
bitterness Of feeling which must ever exist in
the breast OF a true woman, agains, q man,
be he husband, sutton or lover. base enough
TO be Coppcrtead, a rum drinker, a rum
voter, iegalizer Of 5runkenness. Ecentious.
ness, ard all forms cfprossiiution ard crime,
land many . good woman is indissolubly
rivesed for life to Just such bruies aad rag.
sboudsl this bad feeling, this j, nate and
trustworthy contempt wouid find an outlet
and true vile could rejoice in coun.eract,
ing such wietch's political influence, not
by her lounge (now Ter only means Of pro-
fest) but By her voice through the ballot box,
the colrmbiad OF American liberties and
American citizenship. II you want to in
crease domestic happiness and annihilate,
net only all dissensiens but al causes Of
dissensi ns and .ami'y discords, giye woman
the same rights aud opportunities 10 express
her political as she has 10 express her relig-
ious principles. Let us apply your object
tion, Laurentius, to religion, and see how
sili work. TO what IN absurdity Il will lead
Us. That thscs are differences Of opinion on
religious matters between husband and wife,
between parents and Children, between the
brothers and sisters..of The same family no one
will pretend to deny. That diifrence Of opin-
ion upon tho religious principles and creeds
have bred more dissensions, invented more
prosecutions, produced more social disco.d. :.
and CONVERSIONS, sepera ed more families and
friends, than all other differences combined,
no one familiar With the history Of our
race will preteod 70 controyert. And vet
that there are whole families living together
10 peace AMI social harmony loving and
afTectionalc, each member protesting bis
own or her own creed, and worshipping God
according to the deetafes Of an enlightened
conscience, the rccords OF families and
churches in Independence plainly and p si-
lively afarms. Now, sir We ask you to show
cause xhy dfirences. of political opinions
may not likewise exist among the same
parties without either lessening or diminish
ing, without jcopardiz;ng or destroying, that
affection and love. that harmony and peace,
which ever does exist in .! intelligent, we'll
regulated families. No man, unless be be q
Turk, will therefore dare to say that woman
shall have no creed at all unless she adopt
that of her husband or family relations And
no nan but one possessing the same nature
and ignorance Of the noble spirit and gen
ias Of cor free country and rec institutions
will have the efroptery to say that lest .
woman should not adopt tile political creed
Of her husband, therefore she shaIl have no
political rights o. priyailages Of Citixensh;p
ata1 Tbisis the Conclusion yonr arguments
lead Us to and you must accept this issue.
These spectioas objections and appeals to
desp seslsd deep rooted prejudices, 70 an M
just public opinion are no arguments against
tho doctsine We advocate. They are like
the bloody car Of Juggarnot ever crushing
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