Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-07

and abuse. We say nothing OF the
unfitness of woman, in consequence of
her weakness, delicacy and maternal re-
sponsibilities, for entering into such a
contest; but who do not perceive its in
evitable tendency to tarnish her delicacy
aud loveliness, and, in fact, TO corrupt
degrade and ruin her? What man Of
refinement and sensibility would consent
to have his wife or daughter exposed
to such contaminating influences, for the
honors and emoluments Of the highest
office in the nation? Nay, what woman,
not lost to all the charming instincts of
her sex, does not shrink with loathing
from a career so unfeminine and demor-
alizing?
Let not women suppose that in gain
ing the ballot, they will escape these
rivalries and eontaminations. That these
consequences are wrapped up in the cleo
tive franchise is just as clear as the noon
day sun. The tendency for a while may
! be resisted, retarded or modified, but the
| result is certain. The ballot calls for Of
fee. Office for electioneering, electioneer-
ING for demagoguism, and demagoguism,
injurious to man, must prove ruinous to
woman. The ballot Will educate woman
/ for this downward career. Gradually
she will lose her instructive delieacy,
and her sweet modesty, and, called to act
the part of man, she will adopt his habits
and initiate his vices, that she may rival
him in success.
Another consequence Of female suf-
frage, we must briefly notice. Rights
bring responsibilities privileges are
linked with duties If women have the
ballot, why should they not have the
bayonet? If they share with men in
rights, why not in obligations? If there
is no distinction between the sexes in the
business Of government, why should
there be any in the defence of govern
ment? If women vote, and are eligible
to civil office, why should they not be
enrolled in the militia, and hold military
commissions? If we must make men of
them, let them be subjected to the tolls,
hardships and perils of men. The King
of Dahomy has his AmazOnian regi-
ments, and they are as fierce and cour-
ageous as tigers. The American wo-
men, if unsexed and enured to hardness,
might emulate the martial glory of their
ebon sisters of Africa. Now, we do not
affirm that conferring the ballot on wo
men will necessitate their handling the
bayonet; but we DO say that their right
to vote carries along with it the duty to
maintain that right and fairly opens the
way for their impressment as soldiers, or
sailors, or for any other purpose for
which men are needed. Nor would it
be surprising, in this age Of progress
and leveling-this age in which principles
are carried out to their extreme results
if female suffrage should end in female
coPseriptiOn.
We are enthusiastic admirers of wo-
men; but We admire them in their ap-
propriate sphere. Their delicate frames,
their shrinking mOdesty, their lively
sensibilities, their generous impulses,
their passive virtues, eminently fit them
to adorn the domestic and social circles.
They are queens of the nursery and Of
the domestic board, princesses in the
parlor, and ministering angels In the
sick-room but on the court green, they
are political viragOes. Man is made Of
coarser stuff, and fitted by his tempera
ment and habits, for the stern and rug
ged employments of life. 1t is his duty,
perhaps his misfortune, to vote, and hold
office. and electioneer, and strugg lie in
the inevitable conflicts Of interest, pas
sion and prejudice; and he greatly
needs the humanizing, refining, en-
nobling influence Of woman, to soften
his asperities, curb his ambition, and al
lure him to the paths of virtue, piety
and usefulness. He needs the soothing
inspiring influence of home to fit him
for the arduOus duties and thOrny con-
ficts of life Shall woman cease to be
his helper and solace, and become his
rival and temDter?
Every gentleman now accOrds to wO-
man all the rights and pre-eminence
which she can desire She has not only
the post of honor in the fashionable sa
loon, but the best seat in the railway ear
the most comfortable stateroOm in the
steamboat the most select acoommoda
tions in the hotel, and the first attentions
in every public assembly. She need not
defend herself; no honorable man will
permit her to be rudely treated in his
presence, without resenting the insult.
An this courtesy is paid to her, not only
without reluctance, but spontaneously
and with delight. If however, not sat
isfed with this social pre-eminence, she
ignores the weakness of her sex, and as
pires to be the rival of man in the rights,
tolls and responsibilities Of government,
she may reasonably expect that homage
now voluntarily paid to her lovely femi-
nine qualities will be withdrawn. She
cannot be woman and man too. She
may, in some sense, choose her sex; but
if She prefers to enter on mans Obliga-
tions. duties and conflicts, she will need
and must cultivate the stern virtues and
athletic Qualities, which render him sue
eessful. She must doff her womanly
graces, and rival, if possible, the rug
ged sex, in physical strength, courage,
the power Of endurance, the knowledge
of human nature, the arts Of business,
and self-possession. Then when she
comes forth with strong frame, brawny
arm, hard hand, sunburnt face, and mas
culine character, she may be prepared to
vote, hold office, and play her part on
the theater Of public life but she will
forfeit all the advantages and honors
which have been accorded to her
by the chiyalric civilization of the
past, and will enter on a career in which
the battle is to the strong, and the race
is to the swift
The Bible is the true friend Of wo-
man. 1t has done much to protect re-
fine and ennoble her But we hardly
need to say that the Bible assigns to her
subordinate place. Man is the head,
and woman is the heart of the domestic
body. 1t is the province of man to rule,
protect and provide; and it is the duty
Of woman to be his companion, helper
and solace. The subordination OF wo-
man to man prevailed under the Theoc-
racy. Moses was lawgiver, and Aaron
was priest; and no woman was invested
| with the robes Of office. This exclusion