, 1869-02-16
JUDGE WA1TE'S sPEEER.

|
irage vas regarded by many who hesrd
1t as the most argumentatige address In
the affirmative delivered during the
Woman's Rights Convention. Most Of
the speeches were merely deciamatoTy,
consisting Of premises without proof,
railing without rsasou, and 1oquacity
without logic. 0Ajecsions to female SUI
fragc were me: with hisses, taunts, scorn-
lul allusionH and denunciation. Sensi-
BILE men are not to be hrow-heatcu
or topgue-lashed out OF their convictions
by these substitutes FOR augmentation.
But Judge Waite being Of 4 legal and
judicinl turn Of mind, addressed himself
to the reason Of his auditors, and sought
10 combat the objections to female suf-
frage by logical analysis. He devoted the
larger portion Of his remarks to mcc'ing |
the objection to female suffrage founded
upon the inIhi1ity of women to enforce
the laws they may enact against the win
ofthe men. The reader of the argument
must have been Impressed with the
severity OF the struggle OF an acute mind
10 get around what was found 10 be in.
surmountab!e. The Judge was faia to
resort to the use Of what is called pctiiio
principii-beggiux the question. lie as
sumes that 10 be fact which.is the very
| thing ir dispute. He asse1tsi. nos thai
women could enforce their laws, but that
nen would voluntarily observe and obey
theui If men continually violate laws
eusc.ed by their own sex, which possesses
the physical and martial power to con-
pel observance, how much u1ore would
they disregard the ec1cts Of women, who
could no, enforce obedience If those edic's
were offensive 10 them? he who denies
this shuts his eyes to man's nature.
What is it the advocates Of fem ale sut'
frsge dcmand7 An equality OF political
power with men In proportion to thei,
, numbers. They ask the right to govern
the nation, State. county and nunicipali
, ", to the game degree that men nov
9 govern. Il is the right to rule, to enacs
:, repeal and amend any ana all laws, Will
J, or without the assent Of men-prov vdin
they can out-vote them-which the fe
: male sufiragists assert as their 1ightfr
n prerogative. They do not propose
ii. restrict themselves to passing laws whic
q may be agreeable to men, but insis!
r the privilege Of enacting laws which nf
10 be offensive and odious, if they see fit
is: do 30. Judge Waite asks: "Wh
ng areason have we for supposine that su
ho flaws would not be enforced ?" asd So
cir that 3it is a direct rtflectl
is "upon the gcoa sense and pat
"otlsm of the msle portion OF I
on community to suppose they would
III "sis1." But We fear this is an opttnl
cto- view of the matter. Men are not SO {
nes cile as the Judge assumes. Aud II Il
ach should take it into their atubhorn he
ock TO set the ladiea' laws st defiance, VII
t OF Is the remedy? II the masculine gen
en- ignore onc statute made BY the Wor
took with impunlty, they will repeat the
'ock fence Just as often as they plesse,
able. will obey only such laws ss are agree
ppef to their interests, feelings and prejud
and, What are laws passed under such ausl
pro- worth? What does a political eler
sed smouut to which possesses no powe
I the enforce its will, and which must del
ly OF unon callaut1v and generosity fer OF
aited ence to its enactmentss
Political government is The rule otj
stated law Is IN order, or rule OF con-
mon n1escribed for the control of The In
[e In tants and the government Is the or
,,zed and appointed power 70 CO
III. the nhea.crcc % such law or order.
): er,p. thecry Of republican. governing
';li,1oa na that a law is made by the majority
papl5s: btire the m1jority,it is the strongest
;, es MINIS m sud can compel obedience. Hcnc
s,ue of minority submit b1cause they mu.
:: aod Of tor the additional reason that they
o'csn' the right Of appeal TO the ballot-b2
.ad ,hs, nav seyerse.the obnoxious law, I
~ 49, can persuade majority Of vo:crs
15n,ted them iu changing it.
,n.o~c, The combstant force Of the na'
o. o. exclusively confined to the m a'e Sc
II nrp- males are not Competent 70 beal
81, na,,a ana be soldiers, but sN combasal
bo T,,kc malct-at least, ali outdoor eomf
.<,,,.,Iv Women are noI-combatants.
shnr en-. form no part Of the military i
The couniry-no part Of the P
he vo,ed consisbula1y and giving them vo
not endow them with the sold.eE'st
hv waN strength OF endurance. They
tb,a IN, some xttnt, persuaie men to OBJ
,s;,;on IN male Law OF submit to female Law"
attcr on but they are physically ineapsble
n.tft,tv to pclliug their submission. Lava
,osches ~ nothing stronger than gallant
= ,rstrnc- hardly stand the usts to which u
: .o1;t;c., be subjected. 1t Is wise to educa'
- I;a ~ ple into ready and cheerful acqr
H., ~ the IN the rule Of the m'joriiy, but
49, ,,ndsr ~ tn be very unwise to abolish ja'ls
~. i hoi;oro / tcn,inr,es, and disband Tho army
~ ~ ] nss N coustabulary and police force OF
~, III, IL no,hes{s that The laws would b
eA' VII - tbrou oh tia Influence Of "good
or rneuual patriotism"
- There are si1 and d half z
,ntv ,1,erc. nduls males In the Unised 81
about the same uumbor OF Adu'
labor nua Nearly all the former arc voter
deposlts,ies ot political power
e., 7s,ue 10 i.er&l pats Of The governmel
po1istc. They embrace al1 Il
= n Amerf. element q, the nation, and all
to preser1e order, compel oh
,,v hecause law. punish intrActtons ot ssa'
M tsriG I. reY- riots, suppress insufrec'son o.
@'' cxpcl foreign ices, and nv
Union against treason or snv'
rA1, The proposttton is now M
o,cl into Tho into this governing co1ssl'ut
Of por.oombAiant eQusl!lng' !
n.,,..,,li. T. ! ~. ora r,vinr. 10 tAch no