, 1874-08-02
THE WOMAN QUESTION.
Prof. Goodwin Smiths Opposition to
Woman-Sufrage.
Women in Bnsiuess.Life-The Competency
Of Women for Fighting Purposes.
Mrs. Systematic Staey---Women as Pho-
tographers---Miscellaneou FEM
mine Notes.


Observation-Disclosures Fem
mine Notes.
Prof. Goldrir Smiths Opposition 10
Votnnn-S,,ifra.c.
n, the Editor Of The Ch1cugo 4TWn'c:
s,n. The peres.ence with which Goodwin
Smith, and other more OF less able Writers IN op-
r,osit;on to yo,uan-sui1rage, are teaching the
crnde notion lint, in civilized races, existing
human Governments rest solely upon tho
strength Of the lighting clement IN the society
rt,ycraed. nut illustrates TAat has beon so often
remarked of the difficulty with which even clear
,ntelects avoid a natural tendency TO mterpfcs
facts in accordance with the instructive desires
Of tue individual. For surely, otherwise THESE
writer's would Fec that ut preaent, human doV~
e7u1nout rests upon something
Fac noEE COMPLEX,
ard. on the whole, Ear moro potent III human al
fairs. than the force OF the community resld-
iug ia tie male COX" This is plain when we re-
fleet that the stability OF every Government de-
ponds upon the general confidence in the peace
full acariascence not only OF the - fighting ma
jor1ty,' but OF all governed.
In England and other European nations,
today, the actual foundations Of Government
arc less in tho power OF 'the fighting
element" or in any conscious acqu1escence
Of the s'1lajority OF tho fighting elemcrt,
than in Interpretations reverence for the de-
scenaents Of ''tho fighting element" OF past
generations. joined to more OF less Well
founded dread OF the possible results Of an at
tempt to change tho existing system. For, not
forgetting the sneers st English Royalty and Its
functions, which are so frequent on the lips OF
thoso who delight in calling the Queen and
E,yal family ''mero 1gure-Leads," tho fact re-
u,alns, That the average EngLshman, notably
not destitute Of common sense, does par, out
of the products Of his thrift and industry, a
much l.;rscr sum for the support of his Queen
tEsn any conmon-ecnse estimate Of tho raluo
OF any sort Of ssGguro-l,eads would warrant.
With us. in the United States, our Govern
mcrt had its original foundation III tho wide
spread conviction IN the minds 81 the ':olonlsss,
after their struggles with the Alother-C Country,
that, broadly speaking, the best hope OF good
Government for the future populations OF the
Continent lay i'll the admission Of
ALL THE GOVERNED
to Ill expression by ballot Of choce concerning
it, and III the agreement OF ell to abide by tho
decisions Of the ma jorty Eo expressed.
In this conviction there we're two elements:
FIRST, q slight concession to the tlghting-power
Of the ajority rs it then stood tho other, q
jorty concerning the general conditions under
which all mist live is moro likely to bc just to
the individual, to be wise IN its suggestions for
ehe general welfare, aud more favorable to those
gradual changes which progress implies, than
nnv other system yet devised.
This last conviction is to-day tho foundation
OF whatever stability, peace. or hope Tor tho lu-
tuce. there is in our NepubEc- 1t has hoen
strengthened With the growth ct the national life
b. al that has fed natiolal n1;ac. and by sAo i'll
Ic ft,af fl,1-l l1n nf
the Republic, tho wel-5eia: ard opportunities
Of the individual, unaided Gy inherited wealth,
or the prestige Of NOBLE ancestry. have been
greater than III other nationalit!e6 Ou tia other
hand, this conviction las been checked and
hardened i'll its growth by many causes. promi~
nent among which arc the Instances OF hasty
and harmful legislation. determined by the ac-
uon OF IGNORANT or corrupt Legislators, chosen
by ignorant yoters, in spite Of the protests of !
tho more Intelligent portion, or as has sometimes
h2ppeuc1 with their CRIMINAL couuiyallce or in |
difference.
Aiost thinking persons havo at times echoed
Carlyle's query, ''How eau we expect twenty
seven millions, mostly fools to havo wisdom to
not seen that partial answer to tho query is IN
tue fact that, gwen ycur - 'tweuty-Eoyeu mil |
lions, mostly FOOLS any system in Vhich
AL CAN UNITE AND PARTICIPATE, |
and which all can he Induced to patiently and |
pc.sistenty follow, has more likelihood Of secur-
lus peace. stability. and progress, with all that |
tLcse imply to eaid "fools," than any other
open to them.
Ii. indeed, anything in human experiance thus |
far led to the conclusion, that oT setting alart |
family, OF class of :scrgcns, for the exclusive |
work OF human Government, we should find |
them developing special wisdom, capacity. and |
purity. for their work, we should do we'll to stop
our talk OF tic universal ballot, beseect1 tho |
Divine powers to give us King. and on bended |
knees, and with many yiyas. beg him to coma aud
rule us.
Bnt the truth is, there is nothing encouraging
In that direction.
The Divine right Of Kings rests upon no
better foundation IN the past, and ia. TO better
hope OF promise TOR tho future, than the right of |
any number OF millions, :'mobtly fools !" though
they be- to govern themselves, aud to try to out
grow their folly by go doing.
Aud the conviction is gaining ground, that,
while one man may be wiser than million, the
probabilities are, that any course OF action upon |
which majority OF that million would aeree,
aftcr tnll consideration OF the question,
would be
BETTER FOR ALL CONCERNED
than that determined III any other way get de-
s:t2d.
It in this conviction. more or less perfectly de-
scioped IN the minds OF the citizens of our Re-
public. which Is tho foundation of our Govern
nent. 2ud whase7er "peace and security" are
enjoyed untier it; ard not q conviction that &
voting ina jonty represents q fighting maj jority |
Of huch physical force that it mast be oIeWL
Gradually, but surely, the common scnse Of
|na;'klnd is reaching tie conclusion. tha. there
Es something more potent in human affairs,
more worthy Of reverent regard, and
better entitled to obedience, than tho physical
force Of muscle or need!e-guns.
AAuY facts all about us illustrate the truth of |
this let us mention oue
II: al civilized nations, young men, from 16 or
Is to Il constitute largo porten Of the fight
ing element or physical force OF the Sta!e; they
are e'eTcrywhere unheeitatiugly denied the ballot,
or any voice in public affairs; while men from
G0 to extreme old age. supposed to DO incapable
Ct military service, arc allowed vote upon pub
Lie measures, declare peace vnG aud by their
Fctea, compel young men, during the
life are strongest, and their
Eense OF the public needs least controlling, to
shoulder the knapsack and fight In wars, and
Tor measures which they had no VOICE in deter
mining, and which they arc not asked to ap-
prove. 1t ia probable that the class of young
men from Is to u is numerically larger and
actually much stronger, than tie class Of voting
Een @ aoore co. How does this comport with the
sssascment that elective Governments rest upon |
lac physical force Of the voters j.?
u. as Prof. Smith and others tell us. the ad-
has on w 10 the ballet Of nny considerable num-
,ba " aon,h hshtiog individuals tends . to wcakcn
nInc;,,u u'Iaa:ons ,ans of Elective Governments BY
s,snttGs, .egssla:ive !1s power where it caarot be
+h,t tls .H "!tn tne lighting power" yc must feel