Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-02-11

Our position with reference to this subject
is simply this-that in this Sta'e and at
.Ais time, the very great political and social
change which would be made by extending
the franchise to the women, is not needed, IS
not desired by those in whose behalf and Tor
whose benefit it is advocated, and is not ad-
visable.
Some of the arguments commonly urged
against woman suffrage have little weight
with US. We have never feared that voting
would unsex our women. 4 true woman
would be none the less so after accepting the
new duty and responsibility. We do fear
that in the new order of things, with women
up for Office. with candidates nominated
with especial reference to their strength with
the women, and of course opposed on the
same ground, and with campaigns conducted
with especial reference to the female vote,
the prevalent respect for women, as SUCH
would be considerably lesscned- But we
do not fear that the character Of the women
would be directly and essentially modified.
We have never urged land do not believe,
that women rs a class are unfit to vote.
In some localitics, and especially in
the larger places, there are large
numbers Of them who are under
special influences, and whose vote would be
thrown in a mass exactly as directed by
those to whom they look for spiritual guild
ance, and who would be their political direc-
tors as well. But this class is less numer-
GUS in Vermont than in many States.
Take our Vermont women, certainly, as they
average for intelligence and good Judgement
we cannot say that We tank them less fit
for suffrage than the men.
Ofcourse We do not endorse or counte-
nance Rev. Mr.. Governs malicious insinua-
ton that women are unfit for suffrage be-
cause they will lie SO. Mr.. Cowen must
have had pecul ar lady associates, if he has
found them more untruthful than the men ;
and indeed We believe be stands alone hold
ing the original and undisturbed patent on
that point
Nor do we see any difficulty in arranging
affairs at the polls, 50 that women can vote
as quietly and with as little annoyance as
in going to church or any other public place.
We do not take the ground that this
reform is never likely to prevail. The
tendency of the political tide in this country
ia certainly towards absolute freedom from
restriction on the suffrage and it Is quite
n,-sible some Of our readers will live to see
the day when every human being, man, wo-
man and child, in this country, has vote
That in New York city and Brooklyn, whert
the government is simply under mob-rule
WHARF there is no longer the slightest induce
m ,nt for any honest man to take the trou biz
70 vote; where things cannot possibly b
nude worse in that respect by any conceiva
bic change, such men as George William
Curtis and Mr.. Beecher, looking about then
in utter despair for some possible relief
should be willing and DESTROYS to try the e1
pertinent of extending the suffrage to thu
women, is not very surprising to US.
But what we say is that the thing is no
neeied in Vermont. Our suffrage is pure
quite as pure as it is likely to be with an e2
tension Of the franchise. And there is NJ
good result that can be accomplished b.
womcn's voting, that can not be secure
without.
That in some States the laws bear oppres
siyely on women in respect to holding pro
perty in their own right, &c, is no argumen
for Vermont. Our laws are not so, and an
change desired in the real interest of the VIC
men, has only to be presented to the legisla
ture to be adopted.
That some other State might get
prohibitory law. if women voted, is
argument for Us. We hare such law and