The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-19
Woman Suffrage in Michigan.

UO1dA - uAAe1SC z Al MlCulgGu.
The movement in favor of the voting
Of women has acquired a gravity which
cannot be disregarded. In the Senate of
Massachusetts, the proposition of sub
mitting the amendment TO the people
was lost the other day by a majority of
five only, and in Michigan the question
has been laid before the State by the
Legislature, and exeites very great in
terest. We observe among the support
ers OF the suffrage movement the names
of well-known citizens, judges upon the
bench, and other official persons. and
the press enters warmly into the debate.
The proposition is very serious. What
may be called the American arguments
In its favor are obvious and conclusive.
so much so that the meetings of its
friends are almost monotonous from the
familiar tone Of the speeches. That
women have an equal stake in society
that they are property owners and tax
payers-that "virtual" representation is
not representationAthatt they are there
fore taxed without representation, are
truths that an American cannot deny.
Again, that many laws, made by men
alone, are, for that reason, unjust TO
women-that an improving sentiment
constantly demands their notifications
on the ground of injustice-that on
School Boards and in certain local ques-
tions their official presence and suffrage
are Of high public benefit, is not sub
ject of dispute. But there is a serious
and thoughtful doubt and opposition
reasonably and temperately urged which
deserves the candid consideration of the
friends of the movement.
The first and the most powerful of
these, because the vaguest, and suscept-
ible of highly imaginative treatment, is
the argument of sex. 1t is adifficult ar
gument to state plainly, because it i'm
plies what is no matter of public dis
cussion; but it is substantially this, that
the influence of sex in its widest and
most comprehensive sense would be
found practically the source of a cor
ruptiOn i'm politics quite beyond any of
which we have experience, and that the
effect both upon men and women, and
upon the national character and pros
poets, would be most demOralizing and
alarming. The Nation, in a clear and
admirable presentation of this argu-
ment, illustrates il from the case of
church government in which the fact
of sex has bred such scandal and trouble,
and cites, as an instance of what might
be expected to arise from the relations
of men and women i'm political life, the
! trouble in which very distinguished
and most honorable man, an advocate
of Woman Suffrage, has lately been in
I volved.
| But in view of the fact that men and
women are OF necessity most intimately
associated in every relation of life, and
| that, so far as sex is concerned, its influ-
ence would he neither more nor less
| than it is now, we cannot see why adj
mission to the suffrage should produce
the extraordinary results feared. IF It'll
true that this degrading element of sex
surroun Is the cooperation even of the
best men and women with serious dan
gers, is it also true that where there is
the least cooperation OF the sexes in the
common interests of life there is also n
purer morality and n higher Individual
character? Does the association of
women with men i'm the management
Of education, or the right of women to
vote as Stockholders, or their equal as
ISOLATION in churches-cOnceding the
scandals and troubles-prOduce lower
moral tone in the community Or is il
not rather true that il is as society be-
comes more truly civilized, more intel
ligent, more self-restTained, and i'm COM
munities of the highest moral tone, that
the demand for the ballot is the most
earnest? We do not admit that a fe-
male politician would hold her male
opponent at her mercy in the sense and
manner alleged; and we are very sure
that any increase of the trouble sup
posed would by the necessity of the case
tend to cure itself, that is to say, the
damaging power OF such calumny would
be weakened-while, on the other hand,
there would be an influx of more gener-
GUS motives and nobler feelings, arising
equally from the Indifference of sex, and
which any man who has been associated
with women in works of practical char
ity fully comprehends, but of which
those who urge the objection Of sex
seem TO be wholly unmindful.
Such considerations are in their ma
ture speculative and abstract, but there
is another more practical objection. IL
is that to multiply ballots is not TO in
crease the virtue and intelligence with
out which no number of ballots can Sc
cure good government. The argument
, which underlies this objection is that
the Suffrage should be educated; that a
certain and rather high intelligence, in
. dicated by proper degree of education,
| should be required of every voter. This
? may be good reason for regretting that
= ignorant black men vote in Carolina
but is il reason that intelligent and
| educated white women should not vote
| in Michigan? And is it sound reason
: for excluding such citizens from the
) polls that, II admitted, the ignorant
would also vote? If the reason thai
+ women should not vote is not their sex
I but the ignorance OF some, then the fac
of the exclusion Of educated women, by
: which the advantage of their character
4 and intelligence is lost, should be rea
D son not for opposing their admission
: but for the most strenuous advocacy o
|. of an educated suffrage only, in orde
: that they might be admitted.
= We are very glad that the general de
3 bate upon the question of Woman Suf
a frage is to take place in the State o
: Michigan, because the judgment Of 81
q intelligent n community will be Of grea
: weight. And there is this satisfaction
y i'm the discussion, that the decision will
represent much more nearly than i
usual at the polls, the actual, unbiaset
opinion Of the people Of Michigan
L We have no doubt OF the ultimate re
}, suit; and il the State decides aversely
e the question will have a fair hearing
t and the cause, retiring in good orde
:. from Bunker Hill, will proceed to York
e town.-GeO. William Curtis ia Harper
! Weekly.
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