New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-18

cast ng vote of its Chairman, refused to med
die with the matter The women consider
this reasonably enough TO be backshding OF
the Republican party, and they loudly proclaim
their Gloss of confidence in the honesty OF It's
"professions.n We must admit that tins does
not strike US as at all extraordinary. Tho
wonder Is that the women of MASSACHUSETTS,
who desire to vote. should go on for years
crediting windy professions, and maintaining
their faith in the soft talk of men who have
not examined the subject, who care nothing for
it, and who have no more intention of making
women voters than of raising nursing babies
to the citizenship.
These ladies, having now discovered their
mistake, have adopted another and possibly
a surer course They will have nothing to do
in future with "backsiding Republicans"
Woman Suffrage Political Clubs are now to
be tried. These, at least 80 far az active mem
bership is concerned, are to be composed OK
men. and of men who will pledge themselves
10 vote for no candidate who Is not In favor
of extending the suffrage to woman. These
men do not propose to form new politlcai
party, but Gas they phrase it, " to act as u
"balance of power between the present par
" ties, favoring only such candidates OF each
Gas may favor their views, and voting Tor
" senarate candidates when no candidate OF
" the present parties is so favorable" We 90
not care to discourage earnest men and wO-
men who are striving by legitimate means To
accomplish honest purposes. There is, to our
mind. something touching in all these SHIFTS
and expedients, and in the fidelity TO convic-
ton which rises superior to falsehood and
treachery. and bates no jot of heart or OF
hone. though fifty times cozened and betrayed
Unfortunately we happen to know what tne
promises and professions of candidates, mads
Just before closely contested election, arc
worth. IL partisan conventions are not 10 Da
trusted, what confidence is to be reposed IN
the candidates of these conventions When
o man is hungry for an office, he is not usu-
ally scrupulous about the pledges which he
gives even to considerable bodies OF voters
and he is generally prodigal OF these
paper and ink concessions which he makes
70 nrivate and personal opinions. Ali is fish
that comes to his net. Our method
of conducting elections has reduced TINS
whole matter of pledges to system, and
there is well recognized and stereotyped
phraseology which the old and experienced
foxes of party know exactly how and when
and where and to whom to use. How then
are those who desire special reforms to guard
against q cunning and chicane which has
often deluded them and may delude them
again
To this question, it seems to us, there can
be but one satisfactory answer 1t Is all y
matter of sincerity and of simple truth-telling.
Candidates must be actually converted to the
doctrines. All politicians are not necessarily
ignorant or knavish, and men may be running
for Office and still remain honest. When the
Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association has
satisfied a considerable number of leading and
able public characters in that State that IL
would be wise and just for women to vote,
the contamination Of the work will be only
matter of time. In word, society must first
be cOnvnced-and after that all will be easy.
At present we must be permitted to say that
we do not know one able and trustworthy and
leading statesman or politician IN Massachu-
sets who has fairly and squarely made up his
mind that the revolution proposed is desirable.
Carefully guarded speeches and loosely written
letters prove nothing, and will effect nothing.
What is needed is radical change Of public
opinion, and in the minds of men who can
vote and who will vote.