The Portland daily press., 1868-05-04
No More Intcriec.ion..

Let us have no more resisting female suf-
frage with interjections, for, say John Stuart
Mill and his associates, that is the only
method which has been practised in opposing
it heretofore. The contest has become too
warm for that sort of antiquared artillery.
Gentlemen may cry o! but here is the "Rev-
luton" pouring tremendous broadside into
their ranks every week; or Ahl but Mrs.
Dali, Gail Hamilton and Anna Dickinson re-
ply in pamphlet, speech, or goods lied and
well-written volume. Gentlemen may fancy
themselves secure in their monopoly of po-
litical rights, but while the good easy souls
are flattering themselves in this way, women
are actually voting! To every interjection
woman replies with an epigram-to every
sneer with an argument.
The matter is getting serious. Prythee,
gentle reader, listen and be startled out of
your feeling of mere lazy curiosity about the
woman question. You have heard much
and read much of "the coming man." The
latest news is that he isn't coming-its
1oman! II something isn't done at once,
she will be here presently and muliocraey-
the word is of our coinage and we have
modest pride in its parentage-will take the
place of our boasted Republic. Crinoline
has already invaded precincts hitherto sacred
to-not to put to fine point upon throw
sers. Knitting work has been serenely car
ried on in realms not in an earlier aud better
day profaned by less grave pursuits than the
drinking of mild beer and the smoking
of the national weed. .E
We are prepared to present such an array
of facts as shall startle the most stoical and
confident misogynist out of his seven senses; !;
if the bird of freedom-a "white male" bird,
mark you-preserves his equanimity, it is
more than we expect. To commence at
home-is it generally known that this very
spring, in town in this State, one white
woman of the name of "Aunt John" cane
near being elected a member of the board OF
experimenting school committee? Is it
known that in the town of Reading, in the
good old Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
three ladies were actually elected to office at
the very last election ?-that women are ELI
gible to office for the supervision of schools
in Kansas ?-that they are admitted to the
bar in Iowa ?-that a woman voted at the
election of Jacob Bright to Parliament from
Manchester, England, and that woman has
recently attained the sublime position of high
way surveyor in another part of England p
that there are forty female postmistresses
in Arkansas? These are facts-there is no
mistake about that-as well undertake to de-
ny the death OF the junior partner OF the firm
of Scrooge and Marley.
What say you, gentlemen, shall we, the de-
scendants of the heroes of Bunker Hill, New
Orleans, Buena Vista, and the Aroostook,
view the impending petticoat crisis with
calmness and resignation? There has been
some incredible treason en- our side already.
The distinguished English publcist, who is
the author of the interjection theory hereto
fore mentioned, long since went over to the
enemy carrying with him vast store of elo-
quence, learning, philosophy and statesman
ship-went over in open day and in open
Parliament, with all his "pomp, pride and
circumstance" of glorious rhetoric. Not long
ago as many as five or six American Sena-
tors, probable Presldent-let us say rather
in the language of sensational exchange "a
probable fiend"-among them, deserted to
the same hostile camp. George William Cur
tbs, who can write you book, poem or a
legal argument, edit newspapers and maya
zines and make after-dinner speeches that
drive emulous youngsters to despair-he, too,
with his culture and travel and political in
fuences must be counted of our foes. The
fealty of Horace Greeley is not to be relied
upon. Bishop Simpson is in open rebellion.
Henry Ward Beecher has revolted. There
remain in the field, opposing this vast array
of beauty, wit, erudition and power, only the
''much-counseling DIR. Holland and the
dijectd membrG of poor old DR.. Todd Even
Democrats have been swept away, saying
nothing of George Francis Train, who hasn't
gravity enough, either specific or general, to
admit of his political classification. When
the subject of negro suffrage in the District
of Columbia was under discussion in Con.
gress, a Democratic Senator from Pennsylva
mia supported an amendment extending the
franchise to woman in speech of remarka
Bile earneStness and cogency.
The way of safety, it seems to us, is this
Washington dispatches say that the petitions
are pouring into Congress, praying for female
suffrage in the District Now let it be grant
ed, cheerfully and at once. 1t is very wei
known what the result will be. Woman
rashly venturing out of the " "sphere" wher
the wisdom of our fathers placed her, will be
come an Amazon. Xantippe, Pope Joan an
Catherine de Medici will become the regula
types of womanhood. All the vices OF ma,
culinity will be speedily adopted, even to d.
string seats in Congress. There will be sue
revolution as the world never saw befor
Fine women with no bigod nonsense abou
them" will edit expurgated editions of Virgi
and Cicero in which the time-honored sent
ments, Vdrtum, ct mutabiie senper Jen''ne
and Nulld bona femina est, will no longer
found. The extent of the evil consequence
of the reform will be limited only by tn
boundaries of the District. The experimer
having proved failure there, the agltatio
will everywhere cease. The Revolution