New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-12
1 rWOAARS, i-WORD TO Thu, ADVOCATES
r,,.f. OF ROMANS RIGH7S. brf -on-
Ftsn ma M.,d,Ille ~ ReptblIeaB. J II

| ~ " From The Mssdvile PAL Republican.
7 DEAR SISTERS: Allow one of your own sex who
has paid little attention to the SUBJECT TO offer
| q few suggestions orc.
1t has always seemed to me that, in the earnest
endeavors of many persons of both sexes to ameh-
crate the lot of women there enter few errors one
least of which is so fundamental in its character
to 60 far to neutralize their best exertions. ,
! As to the vexed question of the equality of the
sexes in mental power, surely the history of the
human race up TO the present time is decisive on
! that point. Where the great female philOso-
piers orators historians critics. physicists, jursts
&eG-where the DISCOVERIES of SCIENCE the explorers
of naturef What great composer in music havewe
ever produced; what sculptor or architect; what
painter in the highest style Of art what poet, except
very few distinguished names, and these far from
ranking with the monarchs of song, " the grand old
masters p Where are the inventions that we have
contributed to the worlds progressf What do
printing, steam, teleerapny, photography, &C.. owe
to us If all that sex has contributed to the
thought of the world were subtracted, would it be
mssedf Not that believe that we are so inferior
in mental power to the other sex as our education
makes us appear. In favorable circumstances we can
develop high degree Of power but we always stop
short of the highest But, if we were equal to men,
why should we need TO demand or solicit from them
our real or supposed rights Hwhy not quietly take
4 W, i
ballot. With this the wages of womens labor would
be raised to level with those of mems and the chief
if not all the hardships of their lot smoothed away"
And here ! may say. that i have as yet seen no
solid argument against the extension of the elective
franchise to women. That most frequently urged
seems to be, that it would "unsex" them, bring
them into unsuitable notoriety Methinks the age
that finds pleasure in the appearance of women on
the stage that toerates the exhibitions of the crcus
and the denominations of opeTa-dancing can scarcely
be sincere in urging this objection There seems no
good reason why under decent management, IT should
be more difficult for woman TO go 10 tho poll ana
deposit her ballot than 10 obtain her ticket in "a
crowded depot, and hunt up Der baggage when
travelling alone Again. IT is urged that 2 Wom2ns
ished Nv man on whom sue leans, who works Tor her,
acts for her protects her. JTuel beautifully p0etl-
cally, eternaliy true! But how about nose inou-
sands of women who have no real home, no strong
arm to lean upon, no shade 10 nestle underi Again,
it said that woman is CirudiB represented by man.
and her interests cared for by him. But can there
be such thing as virtual representations Would
be satisfied with tins Interpretation OF their
nyn rights and have tbcv aIavs shown this tender
care of women or has not their legislation at all
times tended rather To deliver the weaker soN help
lessly into the hands of the stronger Not that
Individually am the least anxious 10 possess the right
of suffrage but there does seem to he some injustice
in denying all voice in the maklngOf the laws To
the educated woinan, possessed perhaps OF property
and TAXPAYER while giving il 40 the man that digs
in her garden, sweeps the snow OIL her steps, al
though an ignorant foreigner unable perhaps To read
or write and totally nnacqtainted with the laws and
interests of the country If the elective franchise be
really the natural right OF all men, II u De not her
the rr,yilege of those who have stake in the cOun
try who contribute to the support of its government
and have the intelligence to understand us laws
then have not yet seen any sOund reason Tor deny
ing IL to one-half of the human race merely OH
account of difference Of sex. i feel confident that
the presence of woman at the polls would introduce
order and deeency there; but am not so sure that
her intervention would tend to purlfy ponies that
/ IN
eOnfOunded, until stringent registration law shal
restrain the most corrupt and turbulent element OF
the body polite. The chef advantage that can |
sec I'M il at present is that IL woh1d tend 10 give
greater depth aud dignity to female character by |
furnishing young women with noDler suOJeGIs % |
much of their time. --- ...- ~ L-.... aH
But this leads me to consider what bold TO he tho
capital mistake OF the advocates OF lhs In@asnrei
that is, supposing that the elective franchise woud
raise the wages of female labor or open new careers
to those that need TO earn their bread. 49,.
An excellent weekly paper has truly SAID that TINS
question can never be thoroughly investigated anu
settled any sOnnd basis until some ono shall have
be courage to treat il from the point of view Of the
radical difference of ser. This shall leave 90 others
to DO and only saythat posi- bly, one principle WAT
lies at the root of all philosophy on tue subgect rs !
fiat women were never intended TO work for Their
own living at ALL and therefore were not qualified
for the task Possibly the order OF nature may De |
that the stronger half Of the human race, TO whom
the world seems TO have been given, and VINO have |
always ruled 1t their own way, were endowed WIN
superior strength OF BODY ana liu lUr t ms eattb
sufficient for themselves and the weaker nail beside
and that thus the two sexes should never come INTO
competition at all Let not tins be supposed pea
for ideness Woman's work is subsidiary TO that OF
mar not less important and even more constant ana
wearing. Setting aside that small class IN every |
country known az the fashionable world" let the
most industrious inquire INTO the Occupations OF
his wife and he will find that while he has been aD
sent at his store, &c, certain number OF hours
duIng some of which ne has IN reality been only
waiting for business she has been marc AZ w2Ik be
and will only end at night, If even she has not TO SIT
M with sick childmn-the kind OF eNertion that |
most breaks down the health and OF which lie 80 |
Bnt granted that women are TO earn their daily |
bread disqualified as they by nature 10 contend
for 1t with mm-what aid do they receive from men
what are the pursuits whIch men specially gel apart
for them as being suited 10 their weakness NDat |
are the occupations afoTdlng that liberal reinunera-
ton on which lady can live and lay up somewhat
for old age. which mon sorupulOusly refrain TO
enter lest they should deprive some woman OF her
bread Where are the workshops in which young
girls can learn the lighter trades or parts Ot trades,
while sheltered from all luxurious influences lheTe
are now indeed, some colleges in which those who
are more richly gifted obtain liberal educatOn;
but what career does this open to them except that
of teacher And IS this-so especially
suited to their sex in all except, perhaps,
its very highest departments left . to them,
OF are they not crowded out of all but the
least Peunerated positions, and paid at rate that
affords but scanty living, leaving nothing TO DO
laid up for declining life And-seeng how terribly
the crushing Of woman rec0ils on nan-where is the
association of grave and respectable men, who IN
every city, town. aud village, stand ready TO stretch
a helping hand to those who need TO whom young
pr can apply TO place her IN position TO do for her
self to locate her in respectable home, 10 enlist for
her the sympathy OF the good and KIND OF her own
SEX and shelter her from the awful dangers to which
her very sex exposes her AlasI there are none!
despsed for her very forlornness ensnared by those
who should protect, how many are every day borne