The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-06-08
THE CONTROVERSY.

production consists of such silly perversions and
fasehoods to the ground take IN the discussion
that to give them separate notice would be a dis
| grace my pen. Furthermore, his retorts have no
more point than pile of WOOL He says he gives up
retorts do not blame him for not putting any more
evidence of his failure upon record. But in express
ing his intention, he gets off acentury-old fling which
is known by every dirty urchin, and whose is be-
meath the dignity of sick pauper. Says he, 81
| conceive of for any, Juveniles and
garruous grand-mothers delighting in the last word"
This old and musty expression (Which, by the way,
anticipated from his average actons) my opponent
stole for the purpose of covering his cowardly back
whilst he escaped under the petticoats of
| bativeness.
In passing my arguments in review, he virtually
cuses for not repeating each week the arguments
| used the week before. Now, do not know what
point the gentleman intends to make by this but it
seems to me to be too silly for nursing child. For
instance he says ST have learned keep silent
the character of female sufragsts" Now, since the
gentleman insists upon resurrecting that matter and
in view of the fact that his brain is small and his
stomach is large will st that matter again for his
benefit. What was his argument by which he sup
poses he slenced in that matteri 1t was that
distinguished persons can be found who advocate
female suffrage. would ask the fellow if he is SO
ignorant not to know that there doctrine SO
absurd that some distinguished advocates cannot be
foundl Jefferson Davis traitor, does it follow
that treason is good2 Humboldt atheist, does
it follow that atheism is goodf Joan of Arc wore
trowsers does it follow that all should wear
trousers? Mr. Mill is female suffragst, does it fol-
low that female suffrage is good and that most women
who wish to vote not I say they are?
think not. The question in dispute is what is best
persons think; for there is abominaton which
has not some distinguished advocates 1t is only by
taking the condition, fitness and inclination of the
whole that we have sufficient data to york from.
The gentleman's arguments, based upon frivolous
ceptions almost too contomptible to notice.
Now, appeal to general observation for my evidence
that the representative are in nineteen cases
out of twenty, opposed to female suffrage Whereas,
you find the most furious and advocates of
this doctrine among the coarsest women; and his
doctrine as whole crops out in proportion to the
coarseness of the women. What does this show? It
shows that the representative women, the average
women have natural dislike for this suffrage idea.
And will say have to do with the whole sex and
not with exceptio Suppose very small minority
of women could find solace in female suffrage, shall
we, dsregarding the status of the representative
women of the whole, introduce new and
numberless difficulties into government think
not And yet the gentleman with his pitiable frac-
tiona1 notions, tries to show that a small part is
greater than the whole The historic critic passing
his judgment to the best form of government for
France, would not say that France should be repub-
lie because there are few Frenchmen of the right
material for repubc,or that there few French
mon that want republic; but he would base his
| judgment upon the condition of the whole French
people, and then say what form of government would
| be best Such Judgment based upon the whole
question is the only that is worth straw to
man of common And SO it is with this woman
| question. Admitting that few could find
solace in being sheriff's, policemen voters and SO
forth, should we be warranted in introducing ire
mendous innovation bringing many dangers from
the very mixture of the thing' I think not. My
opponents argument is humbug from beginning to
end, for the that he bases his doctrine upon
| exceptions and not upon the general rule.
His argument borrowed from Mr.. Mill that women
~
from voting and consequently like slaves is silly
upon its very face The fact that very coarse
as class though they voted want female suf-
frage, proves that their exclusion from suffrage has
nothing to do with their incnations. On the other
hand, in view of the fact that representative women
class do not wish engage politics. we arrive
at the doubly firm conclusion tibet natural inclination
has much to do with the representative the average
the true women's rejection of female suffrage. The
views of what few representative women there are
that wish to engage in politics result believe
from nconsderate opinions and curiosity than any
| thing else.
Women not slaves Mr.. hill and my opponent
| would have it, and therefor unable to comprehend
their rights Women have all the essential rights of
men. They only kept from politics by conven-
tionality which seeking the benefit of ALL says that
men are sufficient in numbers and better fitted by
nature to attend to matters of state You might as
well say that slaves, that they depriv-
ed of their rights, because they allowed to
become soldiers in the army That different classes
of men should have chance of engaging in politics
to protect their rights is another question. But in
the of women the love which men have for them
affords the mightiest protection, times the pro-
lection their right of voting could give them.
| That women are oppressed more than men in civiz-
ed countries is most contemplate batherskite. ask
again; in what respect they oppressedf So it
seems that his borrowed argument of slavery is
| ed upon an inpracticable and irrelevant humbug.
The question is what is fitting for the whole sex,
and not what is fitting for few. Ought the govern
ment of whole nation to be loaded with new diff
entities and consequently endangered to satisfy the
uneasiness of an exceptional few of one sex think
not. 1t may be argued if women are weak they can
bring no injury to government There never was a
greater fallacy. 1t is lesson of omnpotent history
that ruin to government not SO much from the
violence of the strong the distractions of the
| weak So long anation remains masculine it lives;
| when it becomes effeminated, it dies. Masculine
power is the basis of good government. These read
ers omnpotent facts which touch the whole sub
ject.
In his answer to my divorce argument, he tries to
| show that occupations do not modify character and
tastes IF he wishes to take that stand before the
public, sufficient susp icions of his will
be aroused without my help. An enlightened sexual
| love the part of men always affords perpetual
| and certain protection to But that delicate
| regard which has for woman that delicate re-
gard which greatly strengthens the marriage tie, de-
ponds greatly upon the proprietes Relationship The
gentleman is deserving of passing contempt when he
tries to show that there is no such thing law
of propriey as to the occupations of the sexes yi
tually throwing away propriety, he might we'll
that a swillpail is good place for nosegay. Let
me put strong case for it is only by strong
that my opponent be made TO feel anything thro
| his thick hide: The clothing which human beings
is prime propriety it is the protection of civil
lizaton, and its establishes that order OF things
which renders a delicate regard between the sexes