The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-01-19
The @eaister,
N..f ''r.Y. VT.
TUESDAY, J..ar,FT ~, 1862.
The Woman Question .

the press vi Vermont, --..I rer! little
intelligent discussion ..... Were, The
majority of the ugite:"is Of this ques-
ton urge it with so little discretion, and
rely upon tbs endorsement Of such
questionable supporters, that the public
generally have treated the matter with
cold Indifference, If not with marked
opposition. An arrogant assumption of
violated rights has been met by sneers
and dersion Both these courses are
natural, and both are wrong. Such
radical changes must meet and over
come strong currents Of prejudice. The
reformer needs to avail himself of every
advantage of right and justice, without
the encumblance of oiiensiveness and
manifest improperly in his methods.
Here is where the supporters of this
cause have failed. There can be no
doubt of the fact that unwomanly bold
ness and arrogance, mannishness in
woman, is repulsive and alarming, and
no process OF reasoning can overcome
this feeling because it Is derived from
God given instinct But while h
methods Of seeking reformation have
often been wrong, there was right at
the bottom of it. These movements
have been illustrations of homes. en-
| thusiasm in good cause, rendered
powerless by lack Of judgment. 1t is
the duty of the press and all reformers
who are interested in this subject to
point out " woman's wrongs" rather
than "woman's rights" The last name
is repulsive. 1t has an aggressive, I'M
womanly sound. If woman leaves her
true ground of persuasive modesty, and
affects to place herself on the level of
man, she must expect no gallantry, no
concessions to her sex. She must be
prepared to receive the rough usage
which competitors there meet. But
these indlscretions do not justify ialla-
cles OF evasions like the following from
the trte P,1sS:
"If the denial of suffrage to women
generally is a wrong the sooner it Is
righted the better; but Is this not beg
ging the question? Is it clear that
suffrage Is n personal right, inherent
in the HUMAN nature Of the citizen@
If it is, Why should it not be granted to
| minors also"
No one can entertain any question as
to our duty to right wrongs, wherever
they exist, rs speedily rs possible. The
statement that the de llal of suffrage to
woman is 4 wrong, IS not begging the
| question II i ouly making a statement
which needs TO be proved, ANA which
is susceptible of proof, though we do
not to-day purpose 10 discuss the ques-
| ton OF " Inherent personal rigltg.n In
any case, il is difficult 10 see any con-
Rection bcttaen woman suffrage
and minor suffrage Waving, for
the present, MI claims TO inherent
! rights, We shall now urge the comforting
OF tho right OF suffrage upon woman as
matter OF public policy, and rs the
most eilectual and speedy remedy for
outrageous wrongs which woman now
| suffers at he hands OF society.
Admitting that woman might not
fully comprehend all the complicated
Questions OF diplomacy and finance,
though this is admitting too much, it
viii be conceded that her intutions are
quicker than mans, and her instincts
more unerring, especially upon ques.
tions involving right and wrong, pro-
priety and Improperly. II is no doubt,
true that the woman il not now so
well-informed upon the various public
issues Of the day a. her liego lord, but
who shall say Ihat she would not soon
become 80, were the possibilities OF
tie elective franchise placed upon her
It i usually ;he feelingof responsibility
that prompts 70 preparation to meet il.
But this objection has no bearing upon
the question. All men do not attain TO
the eninence of learned jurists, and
yet we de not regard this az an argu-
ment against u democratic form OF gov
ernmcnt A complete representative
democracy runs through all our institu-
tions, from the school district up to the
national government. But there il
relic Of the arlstocracy of our remote
ancestry. 1t is seen In the family and
in this exclusion Of one half of thcaGult
population fIom the polls While the
nations Of the earth were struggling IN
the darkness Of heathenlsm and despot-
ism, ii was natural that physical supe-
riority should alone be recognized. AZ
science and religion began to lend il
light TO dispel the darkness that STROUD
, cd the world in lis early history, a
; higher power began to be recognized,
Intellect asserted its claim TO pre-emi-
/. hence over mere physical force and the
present universally Of the recognition
Of this claim, is one Of ihemost eneour-
/, aging signs OF the times. Il points for
ward to u lime when moral excellence
shall hold its rightful supremacy over
both the physical and The intellectual
| Tho Gtu1aut of liatnrV hos uanp tI-