The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-28


that the plain people will concur with him in
this. Here, then, is a point of policy of the
most extensive import. 1t Is sound in mo-
rality and in finance, but we cannot hope that
the Congressional jobbers will accept it.
The Coming Element in Politics.
From The Cincinnati Commercial
The subject of female suffrage has been
taken up with more earnestness than ever.
This is the case in England, as it is the case
here. In nearly every city organizations have
been perfected to awaken attention and provoke
discussion. Nor is the time of the advocates
of female suffrage spent in holding national
conventions, passing resolutions, and making
speeches. They have taken hold OF the subject
in spirit of downright earnestness, and with
a determination to carry forward the agitation
till it shall result in an extension of the frau
chise to the sex. The politicians may as well
take note and shape their conduct accordingly.
The women have waited and petitioned, passed
resolutions and made speeches-no end of
them-and now they propose to force their
claims upon the public mind, and take hand
in shaping politics to their own ends. So
the gentlemen who want Office and who
make it part of their duties in canvass to
call upon the constituency, flatter the women
and kiss the babies, must understand that
that sort of soliciting won't work any longer.
They will hereafter be put to another sort Of
test, and must expect to be sharply cross-ex-
amined on the subject of suffrage and equality
of civil rights as between the sexes. 1t is con-
ceded by experienced canvassers that the COM
plexion of an election depends very much on
the home influence, and the side the sister, the
mother, or the wife espouses. Tolerably firm
Republicans have been known to yield to this
influence and vote the Democratic ticket, and
giCe versa.
The fact is that the influence of the sex in
matters of religion, politics, and social rela-
tions is as unlimited as it is underlined and of
very considerable Importance to one who
looks well to the controlling forces in a polti-
cal canvass. 1t must be taken into the &C.
count, for it is ily-increasing aud felt
quantity. The women of America, especially
since the war, have taken very lively inte-
rest in politics, and have so well informed
themselves that it is not uncommon to find
lady capable of discussing capital questions
with an intelligence and clearness of view
that we expect only in those who have de-
voted much time to the study of politics and
adopted il as a profession. There is no pro-
liability that hereafter there will be any COM
plant of inditferentism on the subject among
them. As women become enlightened in
political affairs-and that is to say as they
grow conscious OF their own power and
the ends to which it can be proftably directed
they will display it in a more positive form
than we have seen, and will probably follow
the impulsion they have acquired, till it re-
suits in an almost universal demand for a
direct influence in politics. Men, when ap-
preached on that subject, usually dismiss it
with the general remark that when it is evil
dent that women really want to vote, no
obstacle will be allowed to stand in the way
of their doing so. Encouraged by this, Lucy
Stone makes powerful appeal to working
women, who wish to secure a fair days wages
for fair days work. to petition Congress for
a change in the Constitution, extending suf-
frage to the female sex. The following is the
form of petition proposed
To the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States In Congress assembled
The undersigned citizens of the United States
pray your honor able bodies that in any pro-
posed amendment TO the Constitution which
may come before you in regard to suffrage, and
in any law affecting suffrage in the District OF
Columbia, or any Territory, he right of voting
may be given TO women on the same terms as
men.
To this petition she adds:--
"Let the widow, living ON her 'lile.use' of the
pitiful thirds and allowed To remain forty
Gays without paying rent in the house OF her
deceased husband sign IL,
"Let the wife from whom the law takes the
right To what she earns, and the power 10
make q will without her husbands consent,
LET the mother who has no legal right to her
'Iet the young man just gone out from the
home where his best friend and counsellor has
been his mOtneT sign IL.
LET the father whose little daughter looks
trustipgly to him for every good, signi It,
"Let the soldier who returned from battle
sounder in health and stronger of limb because
OF the woman's hand who dressed his wound
and ministered.ro his wants in sickness, sign it,
LET every man VINO regards his own right
to the ballot as sacred, sign IT,"
Our sleepy politicians must wake up. Lei
them not lay the flattering unction to thei
souls that the agitation of the question o
female suffrage will expend itself, or that thu
wide-awake females can be cajoled and fiat
tered by few pleasantries and gallantries Il
give up the hue and cry that is now beinl
raised from Maine to California. There ar,
signs and tokens on every hand of earnestnes
and perseverance, and they must remembe
the old saw--"When a woman wills she wills
and that's the end ont. The coming elemen
in politics is already shadowed forth NOR
vividly than the refreshing storm that tn
prophet saw in the cloud no bigger than
mans hand, and the politician whose eye
have not been anOinted with the oil of dis
cernment to see the future that will be, ma
expect to be laid on the shelf among the pc
litical mummies and skeletons. His occups
tiOn will be gone.
Butler aud the Clergy.
From Brick Ponlroy'S ". Y. Democrat
n..tl Ia oh of 81