, 1876-04-02
BOSTON,.
Thu Radical Club Meeting for March,
1 Stranger in the Gates, and =
New Subject,
A Fluttering of Feminine Eeath-
ers---Co1. Hi@ginson to
the Rescue.
Fundamental Principles Going by the
Roard--.The Polite Nay in Which
Kadical-C -Clnbbers Fight.

From Our otrn CorTetrondenk.
Bosros, March 30.-Tho March meeting of the
Radical Club WAS one of tho spiciest meet
inga IN tho Nay Of discussion that have ever
taken place. Tho essay was ali ont Of the gen.
sral course Of Radical-Club essays, being noth-
ing more OF less thsn TRADE against woman
suffrage. The papera that are uaually road ~
the Club are either highly scientific or highly
philosophical, upon whatever particular topic
they may turn. And any novice could perceive
that they we're clearly exhaustive Of their sub
iects, and intellectually conscientious to . re-
rnarkable degree. But the essay Of this month
was another thing entirely. 1t Was we'll written
enough, as far as composition went, but 1t VAs
not highly intellectual production in tho way
Of thought by ans means It was simply an Or
binary lecture against womsn'u having the right
Of suffrage, and, as far as precedent wont, moro
fitted for the platform than the Chestnut street
parlo.s- However, the discussion which susuad
was the main thing, and that Was
ESPECIALLY LIVELY.
The "essayist was Mr, Elders, lawyer Of
Lexington, Mass, and he 1as invited to give his
particular "yiews at ths suggestion Of one Of
tho Z. @. members, who favored these *'views."
Tho ordinary arguments Of the opposition we're
used. sprinkled in with which were several as-
aumntions Rbout women which Mr. Elder had
7ery evidently drawn from few indlviduals OF
his own acquaintance, rather than from large
observation and study Of human character.
ThoGe arguments were sensible, but the asaump-
.iops were not Bpecially 80. The points which
be dwelt upon Wero the claims by the WOMAN
suff1agsts that aB suffrage Was considered IN this
country an naenable ana natural right for all cit
izens women we're entitled to it, aud that, under
aYntT1Gi1u 0f fGFnAfA influence 6Y
vote, laws were unjust to women as regards
property md wages. Mr. Elder Insisted that
these lsws concerning property, though not por-
feet we're rather more IN the interest OF tho
woman than tho man; that the woman had her
third always, even uhere the property Was in
numbered with dobt; that taxes we're imposed
On property, not porsonB, and that it made
No DIFFEAEScE WHETHER II WAS HID 81
WOMAN Oh MAN.
Tho idoa that wages could be affected by the
vote and legislation he thought an absusdity.
Wages, be said, depended on the law Of supply
and demand. II an employer could employ
man for tho same price as woman ho would
prefer the man usually, simply because he YVES
capsblo Of UNINTERRUPTED labor. When women
talk OF this matter thoy seemed.to forget, be re-
marked, that "these men" who made these
lays we're fathers, and sous. and husbands, and
brothe7gr ard that they had tho interests OF
their foninine relatives IN mind etc. But It
was s'togethes absu:d to think u1l taat eTen e
bxllot~box could right every evil. There
axa pe.sons in America to-day who think that
tho Mosaiah of tho United B1atea is
the b2llot-box- Bat We were suffering
now from too much Of this ballot-box business,
and il i: Was extended tho present danger would
be increased, and be believed thas the tinae Was
At hand when it 1il b found that tho ballot
box ia III idol
ppBSIBLY DEVIL CERTA1fsLI NOT GOD.
As for natural democracy. it was impossible.
(,,n3,v de11,rcrarv nn49hla
Even the most ideal Of Republican Governments
must be representative. The smaller the repre-
ssntation the better. It WAS pevor matter Of
complaint. he said thst men were not allowed
to vote until they we're q and thls LAW vas, lke
III the rest, matter OF erpedis"cy; and under
thus head he considered the decentralization which
would come to Honen it thoy had the vote. We
sav what voting lad. leone to only amongst men.
Tho argument that women would purify polihcs
he Thought only another Of tho fallacies Of the
anything to do with politics they had marred.
not made it better. The female lobbyists at
Washington wore cited as tie most unscrupu-
loua Of politicians. And going to France, both
in this century and the 1azt some OF
the most monHtEous acts were commit
ted BY women The reason why women Hero
better and puter than men now YES
becauko they were out OF public ffe- Then
followed tho touching little picture that ia usu-
ally presented, Of the wonderful influence Of
never permitted to pus their dainty littlo noses
into the Impure placos of mems political hauuts.
and consequently to sn0 the m1sama
WHICH 1AKEs MEa bUcH DREADFUL CREATuRS3!
And yet thass very dreadful creatures. these
men who are 80 corrupted by tho ballot make
better, juutsr Jurors for Womon than their own
sex would, VAS oao of tho conclusions Of Mt.
Eldsx.
L mas very amusing to see tho faces
Of the wonen-suhEaelsts who wero
TIr4Jn i'm
digpation in the eyes the elevated
eyebrows, tho derisive smiles which went round
in excbsuss Of slancea from faco to face, Were
something worth aoeing. Ono lady seemed a
When another lady laanod forward and Whispered
to her,
"HloG1ssoN Is HERE"
In moment tue perploxed, the indignant fnoe,
beamed with triumphant smiles- Here nas the
knight, tue champion who Was to f1do down a.!
Preaently re should zee the misguided alz. E1-
der routed and damaged entirely. ThoRe Of us
who we're not such jealous believers in the
c.uge as to glow With this white neat
were noTerthoiess . gsSy mach Mn ts,E pleased
surely coming. When 1lr. Elder, therefore, con-
cluded, thore WAS general f1utter Of feminine
feathers, q general expectancy aud glauclng
towards the doorway, where CoI alg6lnson was
seated. And as two OF three Seconds OF silence
not only impatient hut wroth. Were we to be
cheated Of our tilt after ali Was this stranger
within the gates to sit there and toll ua that he
had solved ali the feminine problem. and put ua
all neatly away ia ideal little packages married.,
"Home, Sweet Home," and not q voiee be
raised to diapute his authority, not even the
yoice OF our Captain Of tbs campaign
But no, this disappointment, this hunilia-
tion, Vas not to be ours. Right in
The midst Of Cur fears, A1r. Waason broke thu ics
by saying that 10 wss glad to hesx the ssaayi7t
declare that
i NATURAL DEMOCRACY WAS IN7osslBLE
and the like YieuB Of representative government
because the idea that there Was duch thing as |
q 1,ArgonAl Birht to vote WaS absurd, not Gply