The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-01-18

no representation. The millionaire has
no more representation than his coachnlan,
There is but one manhood, though there
be millions of property. The mino, can
have no voice at the State House. thnrgh
he be heir to a million.
MANHOOD BETTER THAN poLIrlc.
Viewing this question of suffrage a. u
matter Of mere expediency, rather than Of
morals, would it be best to have the bal
lot put into womans hands =? Would it
make the lot of woman better z? If 50. in
what respect? Would it make Woman
more womanly, and thus more honored ?
would she be regarded, and would she re
gard herself and her virtue with more
jealousy of care. by mingling with men
in the strifes and debates and almost nee
essary chickering's and braws of partisan
politics? 1t is said that politics would be
less corrupt if women were participants.
How know we that ? Some of the outward
asperity might be softcned by woman's
presence at the polls and in the halls of
legislation. What new Opportunities of
corruption would be afforded Is it not
known that the intensity of strife and re-
elimination is never 30 bitter as when
woman is implicated in it? The qucs-
tion should be, would politics be less cor
rupt ifwomen were active participants of
the elective franchise. But would women
be more corrupt? Bipartisan politics be
such muddy pool, then in the name of
humanity, and for the benefit Of coming
generations, let not woman be cast into It
as an expcdicnt for its cleansing. Let
woman act in her proper place and sphere,
cast the clean ballot Of her wemanly in-
stinct Of virtue. truth and right by her
silent influence, by the reserved force of
her grand persuasive love and life. But
let her not drabblc her skirts in political
clubs and caucuses keep out of the way
Of the frauds and falsitics Of all the dc.
moralizing machinery of political strife.
Let her vote be that of influence, which
lies behind all numbers, all majorities.
Let her make majorities for the right by
the power Of heart acting on and through
man. We would not give her the ballot be-.
cause she is not good enough but because
she is too good to go out of her divinely
indicated path of domestic peace and use
fulness, ! am compelled to say, in conclu-
sion, it is painfully evident that this whole
movement in favor of woman suffrage is
only another indication of that restless
spirit that will not brook authority that
mistakes license for liberty, and confounds
law with oppression. 1t arrays itself
against all forms Of Christian social order.
1t chafes under the restraints of marriage
and logically eliminates in communism
and free love. Wo betide us as a people
and nation when the Divine philosophy
Of society and social order shall give place
to the vagaries of restless and ambitious
men and women
would as soon attempt to make a
pound of butter from the cream off Joke,
and cheese from the mil ofkhuman kindness,
or hang washing of clothes on the equa-
torial line to-day,as to give the ballot to
woman to increase her usefulness.
The advent of evil disturbed the peace
tnl elements of Paradise, separating hearts
and interests to the fartherest extreme.
When we pass from Mount Sinai's law to
that of Mount Calvalry, we be hold the
chasm bridged by the law of life in Christ
Jesus. Can we bridge the chasm made
by political and party strife, hv giving the
ballot to woman?