Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-01-15
The Woman Suffrage Reform.

NJ. /.
Shall women vote. This question Is fre.
quently asked and variously answered; for it Is
aquestion upon which good men may honestly
differ. Those who advocate this reform are
generally undetermined. sslf-sacrihcing men
and women, who witnessing the hard lot Of
women pity them and advocate their voting
as measure for their relief. But the grea,
mistake Of the who le reform 10 tha, IL ignores
the grand fact that there Is such a thing ~ ser.
The misguided phiIanthropist clamors for
woman to be what the phvsiologi.t knows she
never can he. Ignorant of what constitutes
sex in its highest sense. the former believes
that women can feel, think and set like a man.
But the latter well knows that, not only 10 hu-
man beings, but Ia all animals from the low est
t. the highest. sex produces a difference both
III mind aud body W hieh neither law, custom,
training. nor any other power can eradicate.
And it 10 grand law in nature that throughout
the whole animal kingdom. the male is greater
in size and strength aud holds undsplted. the
position Of master. And it Is also evident
thst he has qualities Of mind as we'll As body
which make him more lit for that position.
No one will dispute that such . law exists
whether II be just or unjust. Now In 4 repub-
lican government the voting power is the gov
erning power and when it is asked that " ONE
vote, it Is virtually asked thst man reIinquish
his natural position - leader, that he share
with woman his natural right TO rule aud thus
introduce into society so awkward and still so
dangerous powers doub!e leadership. The
world always has been, and still lis governed by
force. Unpalatab.e As this truth msy be, il Is
truth nevertheless. Many seem TO think tina.
nations submit to majority votes simply from
fairness. This Is n mistake. great mistake.
In the early stages Of society voting is simply
test OF physical force; simply a method Of de-
termning which is the stronger party without
resortng to actual combat for n decision. And
though in the present state Of society in en-.
ll,htened nations, the fact is SO concealed that
many are not conscious Of IL, still the fact re-
mains that vote derives its power Simply
from the fact thst behind every vote there stand,
the military power Of man. And the nun.
Der of votes which party has, is an exact in
dex Of its physical force; and hence when .
party is out-voted it acknowledges itself infe.
rior in power and submits to whist seems like
moral force, when 10 reality it is simply test
Of physical force. No man can estimate the
amount OF slaughter prevented by this simple
device And so long as = vote represents
man.so long voting may be the only test requir-
ed by parties 10 nation TO determine which
party shall rule; but as soon AS women vote
the vote will lose Its intrinsic power. For it
will not represent power and no amount OF
legislation can make it represent power any
more than legislation can make = paper cur.
rency represent real worth where there is no
coin for its redemption. Now it Is very evil
dent that it is much sifer and more likely to
promote the peace Of the world that votes
should be an exact index OF the power Of
party, instead Of simply indic,,ing the desire
Of certain number Of individuals regardless
Of their power.
should woman vote there would be . fright.
full uncertainty With regard to power and No
man can tell how many rebellions and reyo.
lutioas would spring from this uncertainty,
And 1t will not dc to dazzle our sober reason
with the glittering fancy that the millennium
Is so near that men are going to submit to ma.
jorities in matters that affect their property.
their various interests, and their rights, simply
~N 50 80 '"'' Va A6us su"s lucy eooutu W
SO; for the worlds history shows that man has
submitted in these matters no further than be
was obliged TO. either by actual force or vote
representing force; AMI certainly men will test
their force and as soon rs the vote ceases to be
= reliable test. some reckless reforme. will in.
vent another. Can We afford to try this exper-
iment!
Doubtless this will seem to ome \ very bru-
tai argument. but the history Of the most en-
lightened nations In Europe aud America, fully
warrants the assertion, that the only right
known to nstions b might!
X. L GRNDLE