The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-11-17
Women and Politics.

The advocates OF what are called W0-
mans rights demand that women shall
be admitted to all the political or other
functions at present discharged solely
by men. 1t is objected that various
grave Inconvenience, arising out of the
mere fact of sexual difference, would
follow such change; that women
themselves would be losers by 1t in
many respects, and that the best of
them would suffer in their purity and
refinement by being mixed up in some
Of mans ruder avocations. To this the
answer is, that the introduction of wo-
man as an active participant will puri-
fy politics, transform trade, and reform
society generally. Woman, being the
better element, will put down tbe worse
element as soon as she gets fair play.
Allowing that The mass of female
morality in this or any other country is
far beyond the mass of male morality
Ia proposition which is by no means an
| axiom, and might be made the theme
of much discussion), it does not at all
follow that the universal combination
of the two forces will produce an i'm
provement. When we pour certain
quantity of cognac into certain guam
tity of water, we can tell exactly what
percentage of alcohol our grog will con-
tain. When we take definite proper
tion of gamboge, we can tell precisely
what shade of green will be produced
by the mixture. But we cannot settle
moral combinations beforehand on this
tangible and mechanical basis. An in
nocent young man who consorts with
vicious associates is in danger of being
corrupted by them. Few parents would
like to run the chance of his convert
ing the others; the experiment would
be too risky. On the other hand, let a
vicious boy enter select school; he
may be reformed there, or he may dam
age the whole establishment. Any of
us who have had experience in these
matters know how careful teachers of
first.class schools are to weed out their
black seeep for fear of the harm they
may do. 1t is not an absolute question
of number. Suppose there is a small
percentage of women in excess of men
throughout the country, and that the
women are Thy our first assumption)
more moral than the men, it does not
follow that their infusion into politics
or trade will render politics or trade
less corrupt. For, in the first place,
women are more aristOcratic and
exclusive than men; and even if we
assume tn at this difference is not natur-
al, but result of custom and legisla
tion, it is result now so fixed thai
much time will be necessary to reverse
it. More women than men will shrink
from the dirty work of politics and tn,
routine of business, and the delinquent
will be women of the better class; 80
that the female sex will have, on tn
whole, worse representatives in activ
life than the male sex. Secondly, /
may well be asked whether portion
at least of those virtues in which wo
men are supposed peculiarly to excel
may not be due to their freedom from
certain temptations to which men ar
exposed. A monk or prisoner is in
capacitated for committing many sin
because he cannot obtain the materia
and opportunity for them in his con
, vent or prison. A gentleman living or
his means, be they large or small, ha
, not the same temptation to falsehoot
and dishonesty as lawyer (accordin
to the present standard of lawyers),
shopkeeper, stock broker, an editor,
. member of Congress, or professional
f politician of any kind. Throw wome
J into the political arena, and some o
the fairest features of their moral su
, periority will be exposed to rude ant
perilous test.-"Popu,ar FatLacies," 6l
, Carl Benson, in GalaayJo Norember.