The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-01-18
George W. Curtis and Mrs. Julia ward
Howe ON Woman suffrage.

George W. Curtis and Mrs. yulin ward
Howe ON Woman Suffrage.
Below we give the admirable letter of
George William Curtis to the recent Ma.
tional Woman Suffrage Convention, at
Cleveland, Ohio.
NoRrH SHORE, l.. l., Nov. Is, 1869.
Dear .lmiam Il was very glad to
sign the call for the Convention, and am
sure the question Of suffrage for woman
will be presented by it to the country in
manner that will command the most
respectful attention. There are many
persons who see and deplore the disadvan-
tages under which women still labor in
modern society," but who do not see that a
share in political power would help them (;
and such persons, ! hope will be persuad-
ed not more by the argument than by the
tone and character of the Convention.
All that we ask is the removal Of disa.
bility unreasonably imposed. Nature
has certainly, as is constantly alleged, in
reply to our demand, designed the sexes
for certain functions in human society I;
but has nature hidden that truth form one
sex and revealed it only the other? Do
not American women know what is wo-
manly quite as well as American men,
and, it they do, why should it be suppos-
ed that, ifliberty Of choice were given
them, they would instantly desert the wo-
manly sphere2 1t seems to be forgotten
that the functions and duties arising from
sex are not dependent upon choice, and,
on the other hand, than an interest in
the proper regulation of society does not
depend upon the sex. IF indeed, it be
true, as is constantly urged. that their
sex units and disinciness women for a
practical share in the government of the
commonwealth, that truth can only be
proved by removing every restraint. 1t
will not do for a gardener who trains his
pear trees upon trellis to arsert that
pear trees naturally grow like vines, but
such gardeners are men who declare that
to allow women to vote would be reform
against nature for they merely assert a
convenient theory, and refuse to give ma
ture chance to prove it or disapprove
it. The State needs the wisdom, the ex.
perience, the instincts of all its members
But it cannot have them without liberty
aud the history of liberty is therefore the
story of society gradually gaining the use
of all its powers In sound body, head
heart, and hands move in harmonious &C.
ton. The heart must not undertake the
sphere of the hands, nor the hands tina,
of the head. for each sphere can be deter.
mined only by natural selection. Wo.
men alone can no more form true politi
cal society than club of bachelors car
form true family. The position of wo
men is undoubtedly higher in America
than 4 has ever been anywhere, and in al
civiliz ed States the theory that womer
are properly a subject sex is sharply ques
toned. But whatever the improvement
of their condition is most marked, the
more general and imperative is their de
mand for political equality; nor should
this surprise us for compliment and court
esy to women, the most rupturous hattery
and the loudest professions of tender re-
gard for feminine delicacy are found te
be compatible with unjust and contemptu
Gus laws concerning them. Liberty il
the child of justice, and if the voters Of
the United States believe that govern
ments justly exist by the consent of the
governed, let them say whether half thu
adult population of the country, whose
interest in the commonwealth is as vita
as that of the other half; who are as in
telligent, as moral, as orderly, who owl
property, who pay taxes, who in every
way contribute to the general welfare
shall continue to be DISTINGUISHED, will
criminals, idiots, and the insane; o.
whether every opportunity which mel
themselves enjoy shall not be opened b.
them to the equally free choice of women
, send the heartisst God speed to you
labors. The cause is but part of the gen
, eral emancipation of society from the let
tiers Of injustice and impolicy, and success
is sure, for America in blood and fire
upon hundred fields, as in the firm
; heart and hope of her best children is con
, secrated to liberty.
Very truly yours,
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.