New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-23
THUS FAR.

During the last season and the present, if
women have not had the Suffrage, they have
certainly had sufficient opportunities of debat-
ing and voting in conventions. They have
stood in forum of their own, with all the
chance in the world of developing parliament
tary ability and capacity for public affairs.
How has this opportunity. how have these
chances been improvedf Making all just al
lowance for ignorance of legislative routine,
and of parliamentary law; duly weighing the
novelty of the situation and the exciting char
acter of the questions discussed, we have been
struck by the absence of decOrum, but more
particularly by the illogical and ncOnsequen-
tial nature of the debates. There has been, if
we may use a coloqual phrase, constant
flying off from the handle. The consequences
have been of an exceedingly miscellaneous
kind. The refutations have not always been
responsive to the arguments There have been
collisions, and high words, and fierce disputes,
and, at times, chaotic disturbance which
threatened to result in speedy dissolution of
the Conventions. Now, it is undoubtedly as it
is lamentably true, that all these things are
often to DO observed in Congress; but the
reader will bear in mind the distinction, that
in Congress men are divided avOwedly into
parties, whereas all these ladies are supposed
to think alike. The matter of Suffrage for
Women is very simple one. The only ques-
ton is "Shall it be grantedPn and all these
ladies think that it should. Why should not
this unanimity Of doctrine produce something
like harmony of deliberation Why should
there be divisions and determinations, and re-
torts, and personal rencOnters, and loud talk,
and fierce assaults, in these Conventions of Sis
ters7 There can be only single answer to
such an interrogatory. These delegates either
do not think alike, or perhaps some of them
hardly think at all. They have emotions, and
they have desires they have passionate con-
viction that the world wants making over;
perhaps they have some of the infrmites of
personal ambition but they seem to be totally
unaware of the immense Importance in dis
cussing Fundamental law of keeping to one
thing at q time. Variety may be the spice of
life, but it is quite out of place in the specific
settlement of theories. There can be nothing
more single in its idea than this question of
Female Suffrage To vote or not to vote-that
is the question; aud lady delegates, when they
meet to consider it, should make a main bust
ness Of bringing men over to their side; be-
Of men are so brought over not one woman in
any State viii be permitted to vote. We have
the power; we cannot be forced to abandon
it; we must therefore be persuaded out of it,
This is work enough for at least one year, with
out raising the question of reformed costume,
or some other equally trivial. We do not want
perfect pot-pie of all sorts of things at the
same time We weary of crude thought, pur-
poseless speculation, wild assertion, and in
cOngruOus resolutions. Whatever makes this
movement ridiculous should be nicely avoided:
its only hope is in the dignity aud propriety of
its advocacy.
We wish it to be understood that we make
these observations in kindly spirit, and in
perfect good faith, whatever some of the more
ardent sisters may be pleased TO say of THE
TRIBUNE. Our own view of the whole matter
has often enough been set forth, and We still
adhere to it. When majority of the women
of tho land demand Suffrage, we shall not DO
among those who say them nay; but the
proceedings of some of these Conventions
postpone such unanimity. There are thousands
upon thousands Of women in the land-very
contemplate home keeping aud house keeping