Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-05-15
Why the Suffrage for Women.

If there is an axiom in American
politics it is that the people Of sound
mind, full age and out of Jail are
capable OF governing themselves and
ought to take part in civil govern
ment. Half the people are women.
a woman is human being of sound
mind and full age and quite generally
allowed to run at large Some
metapbysicians describe her as in
,uitive in her judgments, whatever
that may mean, but this intuitivco
nature does not disqual,fy her for
domestic shaving, for teaching, for
mothering, and for earning her own
living. In fact, more frequently than
not she is expected to do one or all o.
these three things. She is also re-
quired 10 pay taxes to the govern
mcnt in which she has no share This
creature which we call woman dis
plays certain peculiar apti,udes. She
has tact, the cart Of all arts as
Emerson calls it, and is peculiarly
fit for works Of instruction, refUrma-
tion, charity, etc, which now make
fully one-haf Of the functions of gov
ernment Why should she not be
given voice in government, then?
This is the fundamental question,
and we are led to ask it again by the
constant efforts which are being made
by good women 10 make their voice
heard or to secure minor rights and
privileges which would all come to
them as matter Of course if the one
crucial privilege Of political power
were granted There has recently
been great petitiOning of mothers,
pro and con, on the case of Jesse
Pomeroy. The petitioning may all
be wise or unwiSe,- is at least on
par with the petitions which Edward
Crane carries to the state-hOuse,- but
it simply proves that woman takes a
more or less intelligent interest in
questions of civil administration, and
has right TO give in her mite to the
sum total. of representative opinion of
the people of the commonwealth.
The election of numerous women to
school committees proves the same,
and the Boston squabble over this
question would all have been settled
by the granting of suffrage
Mrs Zina Fay Peirce, the wife of
the Harvard mathematical professor,
has letter in the Boston Advertiser
ON the "WOman's Education Associa-
tion" and Harvard college. She is
not suffrage woman" herself, and
she was astOnished to find, after she
had founded the above named associa-
tion, that none of the suffrage
women" Mrs Howe, Mrs. Cheney,
Mrs. Dali, etc) were to be admitted
to membership. She has great con-
tempt for the Harvard certificate"
granted TO women who pass an ex-
animation, which is, indeed, con-
temptible, and charges upon President
Eliot little double-dcaling with her
in that matter.
Now wouldn't II be wiser in Mrs.
Peirce and all the workers for reform
on side issues, to make q grand as
sault on the central stronghold of the
opposition, the citadel of prime incon-
sistency, the denial of the vote to
women? If the political disabilities
Of women were removed, does any
one suppose that President Eliot
would meet the fair applicants for
admission to the university, which
the state has so generously lowered,
with denial? Would he say: ANY
dear Young ladies, we are very soIic-
itous for youf intellectual. advance
ments, but our curriculum is very
robust and might give you the back
ache. Only young men are allowed
TO sit in such q draft Of learning" "
Or would he say: Really, the
university is quite full, and you will
have to wait for another car ?" If be
was in the habit of turning away
young men for these reasons, be
might possibly turn away young
women for the same, but about tha,
time we imagine that the president
would begin to point with pride to
our increasing numbers" and SO pass
around the hat on State street for the
molev to provide more accommoda.
tions, if they were needed. Spring
feid Republican.