Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-28
For the vERHoNT FANNIE
The Rights of Women Again.

My good sisters, Mrs Boyce and Mrs
Mansfield, have given US their thoughts on
this subject, and il must bs admitted that
they have given the best points on both sides
Of the question bat though Mrs Mansfield
is sister by birth aud Mrs Boyce only by
marriage, yet must agree with the latter
rather than the former. This fact shows
conclusively that nature moulds minds after
different patterns, and no surrounding cir
cumstances can afterwards render them
alike. The same mother hand that rocked
her cradle rocked mine; the same hand but
toned each of our pinatores, smoothed our
tangled hair, aud administered the rod OF
correction when II was needed. thought
then, and do still, that sometimes got more
than my kalf Of the chastisements. As we
grew older, we shared the same studies and
pastimes by day, the same couch by night.
There was no moulding process which her
mind received which mine did not receive
also. Still we cannot agree on all points, as
to the rights of women, for instance.
She asks, "Will the right Of suffrage make
womans happiness any more sure and CON-
plete?" answer, the experiment remains
to be tried; but Of one thing 1 am certain
it cannot make her happiness any more un-
certain than it now is. All will admit that
woman has just as much moral right to vote
as man, and if he should give her the legal
right also, cannot see what possible harm
it could do her, and it possibly might do her
considerable good. The experiment is worth
trying, at least
My sister admits that politics are not
beyond woman's sphere, that it is every
mothers duty to be informed on the subject
that she may teach her son to vote intelli-
gently. This is good as far as it goes, but
hold that it is every Woman's duty for her
own sake to know something Of what is going
on in the political world, and when they
know that they are to help make the laws
that they must obey, and have a voice in
Olecting our rulers, then they will educate
themselves for it, and not till then. The
incentive Of being able to teach her sons is
not incentive enough for the average woman
to inform herself IN political matters. The
deplorable Ignorance of two-thlrds our wo-
men on the subject proves this. ..
And all have not even this incentive. MY
boys all chance to be girls, 80 she will admit
my moulding power is rather limited, unless
my girls are to be taught to fit themselves 10
vote understandiDgly. If girls we're taught
that the same responsibility is to rest on
them that rests on their brothers, 10 my
opinion they would read less novels and
study the Constitution of the United States
more their views of life would be broader,
and their minds more symmetrically dsvel.
oped. fsag.'"'
She asks, "Will man feel greater respect
and love for his wife when he takes her on
his arm to the ballot box r.
IAnswer, "Ifm man, who has the run political
machine so long, has allowed it to become SO
foul that there is danger Of woman's SoilinR
her vesture of purity by going on her hus'
bands arm to deposit her vote 10 the ballot
bSx, it is time for woman to try her hand Al
cleansing the Augean stables Of politics.
A woman may 60 with her husband, OF
without him even, to the Good TemplaI
lodge, to the grange, to almost any sort Of .
meeting where the sexes meet together, aud
her husband respects her none the less. Hel
influence is said to be refining and slsvatinl
10 all other places. But in politics she i