Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-04-29
'VI.IHl III CdINN
" oman. lS;sni.,

babies while their wives rash heallong
into political strife. It may be 50, and
yet it is by no means clear 10 me how
the ballot can change woman's m.
turc. The mere casting oi her vote on
election day will not compromise her
modeSty whit more than the posting
OF letter At any of our postotlices.-
Nor do think tharc is great danger
Of wcmen giving up the pleasures Of
quiet homes TO become the servants
OF the people" SO long as their votes
can elect men who will watch over
their interests in the leg; lat:ve halls,
they will be content to leave that "a
Dor III their bands There is No law
at present prohibiting women from
teaching in Our public schools ana col
leges, and many good and worthy wo-
men are thus engaged. l, Is p0bic
position, quite As much SO, perhaps. as
a county clerkship, and certainly re-
curing rs much brain power to till it
worthily. And yet who shall say that
these women have unscNel themselves,
or that they are strong minded? Are
they not, rather, now, even as they
were IN our early youth, orr Ideals OF
true and gentle womanhood2 Bat
long As this position has been open TO
womon, who can tell of a mother for
saking a young family or a nursing
babe to accept place in the faculty
OF college? The mother instinct ana
womans innate sense Of the fitness
OF things viii guide her in her wldcnel
future as it has done in her narrow
past, and public opinion viii be as po-
tent then is now The woman who
abanaons necessary home duties to De-
come candidate tor public office, will
be as much dcspised as the woman
who now ncglects husband and chill
dren to gossip with her noighbors.
But, notwithstanding the views
which | have expressed. greatly re.
joice in the fact that the ballot will
place Office within the reach of women.
Though l fully believe that women.
having peaceful homes ana husbands
who provide for them, will not leave
their quiet cares and joys for the anx-
letics ana short-lived triumphs of po-
Iitical life; yet, l cannot forget that
these happy homes are often dcsolated
ana the mainstay OF the household re-
moved by death.
One would think that in this civilized
and christian country every possible
aid would be extended to the weak
ana suffering, and that the widows
way would be male smooth before her
But, instead, the law hedges her round
with difficulties; gives her less than i
molety Of the estate she helped to earn
makes her subordinate to her own
children and, in frequent eases, takes
the management OF the property out Of
her hands and puts it in the hands Of
strangers. The widow holds the same
relation 20 society that her husband
did. She is looked upon as the sup
porter OF her children; and the usual
amount Of taxes arc demanded Of her,
and it seems strange that she should
not be allowed the privileges as " ell
as the duties Of her position. Why
should she not have the same right to
dispose OF her raM estate that hel hu,-
band would have, had h been left the
sole head of the family: Why should
She not have some Of the coaAty Offices,
at least, by the aid: of which she might
better support her children? She is
often obliged to leave her little ones
alone while she goes out washing or
sewing 1t would be no worse for her
to leave them for a good salary, than
FOR the pittance her days work brings
her. have known men filling the offices
Of county Sheriff, Clerl: and Recorder,
whose only labor Was tAc drawing of
their salaries and paying the wages Of
their Deputies and clerks. Why might
not such sinecnros be given to needy
women, who must be both father and
mother to their helpless little oLes2
1t IS IN the belief that ''woman's
rights will effect such needed reforms
as this, that l hope for its speedy tri-
umph. NJ,