Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-03-18
Granted. What then

1t is said that the time is surely coming
when the suffrage will be extended to women.
We do not gainsay the statement. For
aught we know the time is coming when it
will be extended also to minors when hui
manity will be the only test. And it may
be that such trul y universal suffrage, if ever
reached, will only be in order to a reaction
which shall place the suffrage on a restricted
but higher basis
Il is said that woman should be permitted
to do whatever God has fitted her for Grant
ed, fully and without reserve. We have
long been sincere and hearty advocate Of
the e enlargement of woman's sphere, as
the phrase is. We would not have woman's
activities narrowed, her faculties dwaried,
her privileges and powers restricted, by hui
man custom or legislation But it must be
remembered that We can only legislate for
classes, in such matters, in this imperfect
world. Many a young man of twenty Is a.
fit to vote, as many another man Of forty
the law, however, cannot regard the ndivid-
ual but only the class. That some women have
the tastes and powers which fit them prc-emi-
nently for what has been hitherto man : ex-
elusive work in politics and in public office.
Is therefore no reason why a class not 50 fitted
OF inclined should be forced to take up such
new duties and ab1rs.
1t Is sam by the suffrage ladies. and by
some gentlemen who own that their support
of Woman Suffrage is So unreasoning that
they were in favor Of it from the breast. that
IS the easiest and cleanest Of duties is the
dropping Of biz of white paper into a box. 80
Granted. But if this is all that is asked
for. il il NOT worth making much fuss about.
All bag Woman Suffrage babies, hi.,egc-,
know that in The extension and acceptance Of /
the franchise, i involved wide rang of .
new duties and heavy responsibilities 1t in
wolves, a. society is constituted, study of Pc
Iiticai questions, care of purity organizations, (
the holding of public Offices, service on juries, .
things to which the voter must give time,
thought and labor. and thatcon-tantiy. in o-- .
Ter fly to exercise the trust
J, is said that true woman Will be none
.he less womanly as voter Granted Of
course, for we have often said il ourselves
4 true woman can DO nothing except in
Tomanlv way. But will there not be danger
.lat with women running against mon for
'ub.ic Offices; with campaigns organized TO
atch the women vote with women minslins
,i,h men upon arie- hearing set forth and
.rsue3 before them and forced TO discuss with .
men in the iurY-r5om the matters of fact on
which conviction OF acquitul must turn in
he cases Of sensual license and violence,
which come before every jury with women
ipln the stump. and in the caucuses even
hou-h IL be one result that men in these
a,ie- and positions become more orderly and
ll5e-t-wiil there rot be danger of lessen
's tbe Difference and respect which men now
ay e. women VIII NOT men iu the new
RIDER Of things. when. to symbolic greater
In-s with less, the man must rcpress the
--inct which leads him to offer his arm to
.e woman WHO walk. hy bis side. lsince such
Der of assistance VIII be- taken as "a sugce--
on Of her intenoriy) ami the two must %
Ich their own gait, alike -elfrrotected and t
lt-as-erting, the one SIS much so as the
her-will not men thus lose something 7
lyalrous care for woman which now GER t
iuly refnes men. if not mankinds And e
10 not this react ou the woman, and the re- Y
.r bc thar there are fewer true women, as d
ere viii De fewer gallant men Is there not a
netting here worth thinking ola risk 2
d TO be lightly disreglrded? Yet if the
omen were DESTROYS TO assume it. GAS they G.
e mott We venture TO say that the Vernon d
rs, though they might disapproye, would q
It be the men To deny them i
S1ofo-her thing urged by the advocates Of T
oman Suffrage some of their statement, r
e undeniable, many may be admitted, and Il
D; does not follow that Suffrage viii he 4.
ythins but burden, care and clog 20 wo- b