The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-07
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.
Tho Tnunderer's Views.

The London Times says OF the woman's suf-
frage movement-"fcan at least be no longer
accused Of being visionary" and debates the
topic 1T length. Here is the pith Of it's argu-
ment:
Even If these Tendencies" we've already ac-
tually realzad, il all mankind we're as eager as
Mr.. Mill hmsei TO recognize womaDs claims
TO perfect equality, political no lees than 30
cial, with man. it would not follow that women
themselves were anxious or even willing to &C
cept the boon: This is, We suspect, the ro;k
upon which the proposal to give women the
suffrage splits IL taken out OF the regions OF
theory and treated as practical measure
Let any OF our readers take the trouble to poll
The ladies of his acquaintance, and be will Hud
that, 30 far from claiming the suffrage, or any
form Of political equality, nine out OF ten strenu-
ously disavow all deslre TOR it. The accom-
piishej lad es who on Saturday pleaded go we'll
on behalf Of their sex have the misfortune not
to represent it. We shall Of course, be told
that women refuse the suffrage because they
have not been sufficiently educated to under
stand it's value, and that the best way to edr-
cate them into proper appreciaaon OF 1t Is
to give 1t to them. This would te somewhat
hazardous experiment OF tho best, considering
ali that political power implies; but We suspect
that the average womans Reputation OF the
sufrsge is due, not 80 much to Ignorance as
to IN instinct which is implanted deep in her
nature, and which her champions are ton apt
to ignore. She feels thstperfect equality with
man would necessarily be accompanied by
what, from her point or view. are very dubi-
ous advantages. BY virtue OF her present in.
feriority she claims certain concessions which
he is ready enough to bes;ow. To tSko very
familiar and obvious instance, 1t is not now
thought strange or unjust that IN married life
man Sbnuld confribut 6yerythno towards
the support Of the household, the woman
nothing. She claims. as matter OF course,
aud without any unpleasant sense OF depen-
dence, the right to spend upon her own pleas
ures and pursuits the m oney W. ich he alone
has worked hard to obtain. and th6Helaim is
admitted ungrudglngly. But this state, OF
things could scarcely 10 it If woman ceased to
be dependent on man by virtue OF her weak
ness or any other recognized interori'y.. AS
soon as she became his equal she would be-
come also his rival in the hard, daily struggle
for bread. every day getting harder. This
change might or might not be advantageous.
The lad. es who appeared at the meeting on
Saturday would, no doubt. welcome 1t; but
then they cannot, We fear, be considered TO
re resent the capacity any more than the
wishes OF ordinary woman. They wou have
is this tho casa with ordinary women? Her
champis MS say, "Yes;" that che is perfectly
equal to average man in all points but physical
force" Considering what an important part
physical force has always played in the worlds
history. and always will play so long as bread
has to be won by the sweat Of the brow, We
fear this exception comedies pretty nearly the
whcle question at issue. But even il, theoIe:-
icllly, woman is capable Of virtually perfect
equality with man in the battle Of life, this
practically ID anything but true OF nineteenth
century woman. She may, perhaps, be graG-
ually educated up to it. But are not the Ma.
tional Women's Suffrage Society in ratuer 100
great hurry2 Had they not better trust foc
the present to pamphlets, and leave parlia-
m ,ntary discussions and petitions alonep To
throw people into desp water ls proverbially
periLous II short method Of teaching them
to swim.