New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-20
suffrage for Women.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ia,


The proper share which woman should
have in public and political life has evel
been debatable question but one on which
The minority has ever grown stronger with
the progress Of culture and religion.
so, far is the question from being a new
one, as tie majority assert that, from Zeno-
lila leading her troops to battle, and Aspass
assisting at the councils of Pericles, to Catha.
line Of Russia, La Grande MademOiselle
whom Iligginson so glowingly describes,
Anna Dickinson and Mrs. I.ivermore sue
cessfnlly competing with men in their pet vo-
cations, the whole procession Of The centu-
res is studded and bejeweled with the names
OF illustrious women, who have, in the din OF
war, a. well as in the enervating stiffness Of
peace, proven their intellectual capacity and
equality. lie who disputes the fact shows al
once his ignorance and dogmatsm.
Old, then, Is this question, dating back to
the middle ages, at least, and in the very dawn
Of philosophy, finding a strong advocate in
Plato. 1t is not an untried problem. In
America and in Europe, though in neither
place extensively, the experiment has been
tried. Neither the offspring Of abolitonism,
nor corollary of negro suffrage, it may de-
pend upon its own merits for the justice Of
its demands. 1t is important for US to dis
cuss this question to-day, inasmueh as 1t has
passed the boundaries Of ridicuc, and is now
fairly within the domain of discussion. In
some form or other we must all meet it, and
=, ;,y
gent opinion.
Ii has enlisted the sympathies and drawn
into its service the talents of some of the
ablest minds in England, France, and
America. 1t has constrained, to use mild
word, some state and both national parties
TO recognize it in their platforms. In Massa-
chusetts il has been the hair in the scale
which over-baanccd one candidate, at least,
for gubernato,ial honols. These facts, more
irresistible often than the logic of right and
justice, are likely to obtain for this great
question an unprecedented hearing.
The number of women and men who, in
America and Europe, have demanded this
extension Of the suffrage, prevents this gen.
Grafton from dismissing the subject unheard
and untried, and gives the responsibility Of
numbers and influence to the claim. The
friends Of the movement, in fact, could now
rest their case, having already brought for
ward in the Senate, the lecture-room, the re-
views, and on "the stump" sufficient arsu-
ment in support Of its claim TO occupy the
attention of the opposition for some time. 1t
was eminently proper that those who claim
suffrage for women should have brought. for
ward their arguments first. The burden Of
proof rests with them since they are seeking
tn change an existing order of things.
Mr.. Mill and NJ. Gnizot are not alone in
thinking the treatment accorded to women
the distinguishing feature of modern civilza-
ton.
Woman is no longer the beast of burden,
the slave, or, at worst, the mere courtezan of
man; but rather his help-meet, his adviser,
his wife.
However much Mr.. Buckles theories and
deductions may be questioned, few will dis
rute his extremely accurate information, so
carefully collated, with regard to the social
condition Of Europe from the earliest time.
"On every side in all social phenomena"
says he, :" in the education of children, in the
tone and spirit Of literature, in the forms and
usages Of life; nay Of statute books, and in
the decisions Of magistrates, We find manifold
proofs that women are gradually making their
way, and slowly but surely winning for them
selves position superior to any they have
hitherto attained. This is one Of the many
peculiarities which distinguish modern civili-
cation, and which show how essentially the
most advanced countries are different from
those that formerly existed
Taking away personal representation, the
right to trial by jury of ones peers, "the
right to think, TO know, and UTTER" which
John Milton called ''thc dearest Of all libcr-
ties" and We arc not so much in ada ance of
other Civilizations. | would not be under
stood to disparage these as small gain.
ON the contrary, l appreciate their full inn
portancc, symbolizing as they do the grand
distinction between the ancient civilizations.
however brilliant, and our own. What do
contend for is, that the logical tendency of
modern civilization, which is the product of
thSSS aaNtoiS, 10 " iChoNo
give every individual the greatest liberty COM
mcnsuratc with the interests of all.
In the theory of representation, accepted
by the United States of America, women are
the only persons, Of sound mind and unac-
cused Of crime, INDIANS unjustly excepted, }
who are not represented. Give both the suf-
rage, and equality Of representation is COM
plete.
In what does The right" Of suffrage con.
sist" Is it obtained by any qualification
which women may not inherently possess, or
by perseverance, sacrifice, or genius &C
quire? The fright" in most cases, as law
yers well know, depends upon Interpretation.
The Constitution, interpreted in the light
Of the amendments, justice, freedom, equal
ity, means the negro as a citizen. The
friends Of the movement are not obliged to
prove it "a right" They have only to say,
If it be "a right or power, the exercise of
which depends upon birth, property, intelli-
gence, a sound mind, or any other qualifca-
ton. except the mere accident of sex-the
unsolved scientific problem-women are as
much entitled to il as men, ia SO far as they
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