The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-04-20
MANITeWoC, April I7th. 1871.

ED tribune A very labored articl
appeared in your last issue entitle,
Ourang- Outangs and Boomerangs'
which, | presume, [ will be expected tt
notice. What the writer had to say
about his subject, could not discover
but L suppose he wanted his fantasti;
caption to catch the eyes of those very
cultivated people whom he intimateG
| had disgusted in MY former letter. I
he designed it as a mere label for tht
grotesque collection Of curiosities which
followed, | must say it was the happies
and most appropriate thing perpetrated
IN his whole piece.
Nearly one-third of ali he had to say
was Introduction, and that consisting o1
treatise on logic Notwithstanding
such feat, unparalleled in literature, he
condemns my letter as stited upon the
rigid rules Of syllogistic reasoning.
suspect the real cause of his 'aisquietude
was the fact that his fine writing sheuld
be lnsulted, by an arraignment before
logic of any sort. | have carefully re-
read my former letter and [ find not SC
much as an allusion to formal Logic, not
even Therefore" in the whole of it.
But, Sir, is this question of Female
Suffrage to be reduced to a question OF
fine writing? Are we both to be. drag
ged into such Wretched prostitution as to
contract the broad battle ground of a
principle into the narrow arena of igno-
minious gladiators? Are we to break
spears for the amusement of the popu-
lace? For myself, | protest against the
dishonor of entertaining any such notion.
| cannot join him in emuating ''Nerc
who fiddled while Rome was burning. -
[ joined issue with him on the matter OF
suffrage, not on his style as a writer.
shall never disturb him in the enjoyment
Of whatever of distinction he may acquire
by that means. But let him see well tc
/ it lest the superiority over me which ht
arrogatGs, proves merly the badge O
his dishonor and the measure of his dis
grace. For great abilities should pro
| duce great results. Better logic should
bear deeper conviction, and fine writing
! should more effectuaiy persuade. Fol
myself [ may say that, though an hum
BILE subaltern in the service of THE, re
form. may yet claim the Indulgence O
my readers for undertak ing what a mas
ter would accomplish far better, becaus
that master appears not to be in ou
community. Personally. it is not posi-
ble that | could have any interest in tn,
issue OF this move, other than that which
derive from my common interest il
humanity. | Woman Suffrage is a goot
thing, it is good for all; if it is bat
thing, it will bring evil to US, all. I
should be matter of Indifference wha
the truth IS, but Of the highest impor
tance that we really ascertain it and ther
accept it.
The gentleman has great reverenc,
for the law Of average. But he pays i
a blind devotion, for he is unacquaintet
with its proper application. The law ha
some uses, grant, little superior t,
the articles Of Gift Concerts and Lotter,
swindles. He applies it where the law
Of Division of Labor are the only auth
oritative umpires. He Gays the average
OF political duties are masculine. Henc,
he concludes that nature has debarreC
woman from engaging therein. | asl
the gentleman to make another hbatior
to his deifed law, as follows: Mercan
tile business averages masculine in it
character. Therefore women engaged
as clerks or proprietors in mercantile es
tablishment are doing unnatural work
Ano- her libation: The manufacture o
! lumber averages masculine. Therefor
all women engaged in packing shingle
are working against nature and must de
sist, even though their earnings say
them from starvation; for surely dealt
is in accordance with, not opposed to
nature. [ might pursue this argumen
much farther; but as the gentleman wi
probably call me 'blatherskite, =
will avail myself Of his maxim that lit i
a waste Of labor to do over what is a
ready sufficiently done. ?" [ repeat, then
with double assurance, that it does nc
APPEAR r,iinsa ttaeie, that men alone ar
designed for the whole work of govern
ment.
I grant, sir, that abstract right some
times seems to dictate an ineXpedien
policy When | said that the ballot wa
woman right, [ meant, and an intelli
gent construction would give it no othe
meaning, that to give her the ballot is
matter of practical justice. This is ev5
dent from the fact that the possession c
5 the ballot by man is not an abstrac
right, but "a conventional right
So the gentleman's wordy TRADE o
: this point attaius neither the dignity G
argument nor the force of invective.
do claim that practical justice is alway
t expediency; and on this ground, not o
5 abstract right, the elective franchise mus
be extended to woman.
t As usual the writer supplicates th
gloomy spirits of discord for ominou
! pictures Of iarchy and confusion. TheE
t all covered with the black poison of a
evil genius, he thrusts them into ou
faces exclaiming There. that Is
faithful likeness of your sort of socis
, organization One picture he holds U
: which he calls "Politics, and under
be has Hritten-s.D Discord. Corfu ntior