New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-11
soMrrHING BETTER THAN THE BALLOT
scAIHING REBuKe TO THE FEMALE sUFfRAGISTS
Education Should Precede the Right of Suffrage
rF,om the st. Louis Democrat

rFrom the St. Louis Democrat
The shower of last evening kept many
Dersons from Mercantile Library Hall, who
vonld have been glad to hear the views OF
N;ss Edparton upon the theme OF female
enfFraoe. As it was, there were about
tbree hundred present Among them
we're some of our leading citizens-such
men "a Colonel L. " Bogy, DR.. johnson,
Jndce Krum, Judge Knight, Judge Lo3g,
Nessrs. Francis Minor, John Mcguire, II.
O Yaeoer. J. w. Mitchell, j. H. Terry, N.
q CHAPMAN. George D. Hall, j.. j Lindley.
DR.. Dudley, F. 0. Day, Captain White, and
mapy Others. The ladies were present In
fair proportion, and all listened to the
beautiful stranger with deep interest mani
testing their appreciation by frequent ap'
plause.
THE NEW STAR.
Miss Edgarton was bandbilled as ''the
newly arisen star of the Lyceum Galaxy"
and was introduced as Bos'onian. She
vas half an hour behind time, and while
waiting for the coming woman," the au-
dience became apprehensive that the wo-
man would not come. At half past eight
O'Clock. however, she emerged from the
ante room. and shone out in all her re-
splendent beauty. Arrayed in an elab-
orate]y trimmed suit Of black, with mod
erately long trail, founced and furbelowed
in the latest fashion, with open sleeves,
displaying we'll proportional arms encased
in possamer undersleeves, she made her
bow before the audience. Throat and
neck bare, with the exception OF q narrow
velvet ribbon on her neck, holding
locket; bosom partially revealed, and well
developed bust; form of q moderate
height and we'll proportioned-not dumpy
like Anna Dickinson, but strongly built.
graceful and slightly bending forward;
face oval, intellectual and captivating; fore
head. high, smooth and broad. Head,
we'll formed, and covered by suit Of light
brown hair, and medium size waterfall.
Mouth small; teeth white and broad; chin
pointed and finely chiseled; Grecian nose;
waist of moderate length, and large
enough to require the full stretch of
manly arm to encircle it, but small
enough for all useful and ornamental pur-
poses. Feet pretty we'll developed-a
characteristic of Boston women-owlng,
doubtless, to the habit of walking on Bos-
ton Common and climbing Bunker Hill
Monument. Complexion ruddy--appar-
emily natural. Eyes small, wanting ex-
preston aud fire, but clDar and earnest.
At first the voice of the speaker sounded
nonotonOus, but, as she warmed with her
subject, this was forgotten, and it became
soft and musical, especially when she
made q pathetic appeal in behalf OF the
unfortunate of her sex. Her language was
strong and forcible, argumentative, and
full OF sarcasm.
THE LECTURE.
We have room for only brief synopsis
Of the lecture. which occupied about an
hour and half in The delivery. She said
that woman is coming whether with the
ballot or with new fields of occupation
open to her. aud with q deeper sense Of
duty. there is little doubt. Suffrage may
become universal, and the evil would O0ly
be increased. Men are accustomed to po-
litical privileges, and may see proper to
endow women with the right OF suffrage
before she is prepared to exercise 1t with
wisdom and prudence. Miss Edgarton
argued that the right to vote should be
accompanied by the knowledge how to
vote. She did not believe in permitting
ignorant men to vote. and much less ig-
norant women. Woman is unified TO
vote intelligently, for the reason that she
has no experience in political matters.
When she shall acquire the necessary
knowledge, then it might be necessary to
give her the right, but until then there are
other things more essential TO her advance
ment in life. All occupations should be
open to her, and rhe shou d be protected
by law in the possession of her
property and the earnings Of her
industry. She spoke of the clamor
made by certain women for the
ballot, and said there were eminent women
who had never voted and never wanted to
vote. Let women first show that they
possess the necessary qualifications before
they rush bl'ndly to the polls. When they
earn the right men will not be backward
in bestowing it upon lhem. No shackles
can bind her if she has the talent to do
what she desires. A. present women lack
the power to think and act Tor themselves
the power of seli-rei .nce. She has not
the capacity 10 pay the part OF a states
man. Instead OF agitating the question OF
female suffrage, she thought the women
would do more to advance heir interests
by forming combina ions to secure other
rights and privileges that will have
tendency to fit her for the ballot, and then,
if she acquired that right, 30 much the
better.
The lecturer made some touching allu-
sions to the condition of the poor working
women of the cites, and said the women
Of wealth and influence would do well 10
combine and raise them from this degra-
dalton and poverty of their lot, than by
thrusting the ballot upon them by con-
trolling public opinion in their behalf.
What enterprise is more becoming to wo-
men than attending to the wants OF those
Door women? In the name ofreliglon and
common decency. who will do these things
If women do not! A great evil of the day
was the rearing Of girls in idleness. No
girl is ft for The duties of life who is not
qualified to take care of herself and those
who may be dependent upon her.
There Was danger that women would
become debased by politics, but they can
become the moral reformers of the age.
The lecturer could not see what advantage
was to be gained by increas ng the num-
Der of vO'ers without requiring an educa-
tional qualifcst On. Mrs. Stanton ha0
spoken of Patrick selling his vote for
glass Of whisky. Will not Bridget be as
likely to sell hers for new bonnei
trimmed with gay RIBBONS? The govern.
ment of Dinsh would be no improvement
on that of Cutee.
On this bead the speaker made strong
point in favor of an intelligent ballot.
She said the ignorant aid deb .sed would
elect ignorant and debased officers. The
standard of intelligence in New York
might be inf rred from the election OF