Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-02-26
Maternity.

| One of the most common objections TO the
political rights of woman is her motherhood
! Ii all women became mothers, periodically,
on thc same day that elections occurred in the
several states, there might be some force in
! the objection, bnt as these events might not
transpirc in one case in Il hundred, ON these
particular days, and as more than onc-half the
women of II state never have children, and the
remainder not more than four in their lives,
and rs it is not necessarily dsidJting qudtifcd-
h0p, 1t il us absurd to say that for this reason
all women shall be denied the suffrage, as it
would he to deny all men the suffrage, because
some are liable, periodically, to initamatory
rheumatism, dclirium tremens, or financial
| failure.
! Men generally bring this objection forward
| with II kind Of triumphant air, as II they
, thoacht either that in itself ii was unanswcra-
bic. or that delicacy would prevent woman
answering II.
We hny, too much reverence for man, as u
supcrior intehigen made but little lower
than the angels, t. have the slightest msgiv-
ing in following his t?hd III answering any
scientific question that he may propound' Tor
whatever man may with pTopfW'y "sh
woman may answer.
We wish TO say, once and forever, tuat
motherhood is compatible with voting and
holding Office When the relations of the
sexes are regulated by the enlightened con-
science and sound Judgment of women, and
not by the morbid appctites Of men, her whole
life will not be devoted 10 one animal func-
ton NJ the expense OF all other enjoyments
When we apply the same law of science to
the propagation of the human family rs to the
lower animals, women will not mary before
twenty five, nor have children but at intervals
of four or hvc years, nor under any crcum-
stances unless both parents are possessed of
sound minds in sound bodies without moral
or physical weakness, or tnint a law has
Just been passed in Germany forbidding drunk
ards 50 marry, Here is step in the right di-
rcctiOn. But when woman Is an independent,
selisupporting being, and understands social
science, she will end the vice aud crime that
man vninly tries TO regulate to-day.
II is certainly no advantage either TO the fa.
mily or to the state To multiply vice, poverty
and ignorance, aud unless mothers give the
! world sound children, the fewer the better.
As 10 holding office, the public life of most
men begins about forty years of nge, at(er
! which period most women might be relieved
| from all domestic cares, MS at that time their
! children are grown up and married, or in
school, Women could hold Office just rs will
M they can travel TO Europe spend the winter
in Washington, or the summer In Newport
Again, il u women is left widow, with
children, could she not discharge the duties Of
u mother much better as postmistress at 81, =
800 u year, than at the wash-tub or sewing
machine ut &i u dayG The question now is,
cannot women support themselves and their
children more easily and respectfully with the
ballot, the fat offices, the world of work, the
trades and professions all open to them, than
under all the disabilities that belong 10 dis
iranchseG CLASSES.
We never hear men say that washing, iron
ing, cooking, backing their boots, splitting
! kindling wood, building fires, or any other
mental service conflicts " ith maternity. Then,
| why should they always start up with alarm
lest the honOrs and privileges of life should be
| detrimental to such reationsy There Is some
thing very Suspicious, to say the least in all
the tender anxiety men express on this point.
We think It's germ lies in selhshness rather
than generosity something like the soliclude
the STAKEHOLDER felt lest the negro could not
take care OF himself in freedom.
PAssEs To EDIToRs AND PUBLIsHERs,-All
the railroads leading into the city of Spring
field have responded favorably TO the request
of the Committee of Arrangements, TO grant
trip passes to all Editors and Publishers, who
desire to attend the Editorial Convention on
the cath aud 25th prox, Editors and Publishers
will therefore make application by person oil
letter to either of the following gentlemen, =:
the case may require; II. NJ, Bronson, Gen
eral Ticket Agent Cleveland, Sandusky ant
Cincinnati Railroad, Sandusky, Ohio;
Duraud, General Superintendent, Little Miami
Xenia n Columbus Railroad, Cincinnati, Ohio
Il. g. Flint, Superintendent, Cleveland, Colum
bus, Cincinnati aud indianapolis Railroad
Cleveland, Ohio re-