Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-23
Woman Sulfrage-NO, 2.

Woman suffrage-No. 2.
We give our correspondent another hear
ing on this subject:
Hon. JOHN MAY-Dear Sir Il feel con-
strained to answer more fully some of those
questions asked by you Saturday evening, in
relation to woman suffrage; and l offer no
apology for my seeming presumption in writ
ing you. because l feel that every individual
has duties to perform, and, however weak my
powers, onght to exert them toward the bill
for woman suffrage, which your honorable
committee has reported.
And first is your question on war: "Will
women be willing to take up arms-enter the
ranks side by side with men!" In my note
to Mr.. Titcomb, stated that the abolition of
war is one of the issues that woman ought to
help settle. believe that difficulties can be
settled without appealing to arms, if matters
are properly managed; and it seems to me
that the establishment of a congress of ma
tons is the grand ultimatum of civilization
applied to the intercourse of nations. LET
us have peace" Peace should be the policy
of this nation. We want peace to reform our
own government and to relieve the country
from its embarrassments. If there are two
nations on earth which have the power of
equally bene itting each other, and should
combine their energies for the physical, in
tellectual and moral improvement of the hu-
man race, those two nations are England and
the United States.
Then unfurl the banner of peace, the BAN
ner of freedom, the banner of knowledge, the
banner of equal rights, the banner Of univer-
sal brotherhood! Nail it to the mast of the
highest enterprise, and the noblest endeavor!
But in the event that war should ever dis
turb our country again, judging by the past,
7 A. hnI;n hat wi hp onn rh
behind men in patriotism and devotion to
their country. You yourself know, sir, that
fighting is but a small part of war, and in all
the departments of body polite, persons are,
or ought to be, selected with view to fit
ness. submit to your judgment single il
lustration. How would it have done to have
placed ]. P. Wyman of Augusta on the Com
mittee on Legal Reform, and Samuel Tit
comb on Manufactured
The next question, "Will women want to
hold Officer" Your admission that jealousy
might be one of the motives against giving
the ballot to woman, confess, is avery mean
motive, and certainly does no honor to man
illness. Shall selfishness guard the way with
flaming swords? But do not think that Of
flee holders or office seekers need be serious
ly alarmed. 1t seems to me that it will be a
very long time before women hold office to
any considerable extent. For one, can say
that have never entertained the slightest
ambition for single Office, from Justice OF
Peace to Tythingman (woman), in, the
smallest town. l will say of this as said of
candidates for war-they ought to be selected
with view to fitness and if women are more
capable and honest, don't see why they may
not share The labor and the remuneration.
Time will regulate these things.
The third question that shall notice is,
, 500 women want to vote?' Well, some do,
and some do not and this fact that some do
not, makes it imperative upon those who do,
to be the guardians of their rights, and hope
that the ballot will help them to recognize
their own right, dsty and privilege, as citi-
Gems of great republic. Woman must be a
subject or an equal-there is no middle
ground. Systematically discourage any md
yidual or class, from birth to death, and they
learn, in nine cases out of ten. to acquiesce
in their degradation. Give woman the train
ing, encouragement and remuneration that