Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-07
For the VERMONT FARMER
The Rights Of Women.

was pleased with Sister Minerva Boyces
well-written article on "Woman's Rights"
and yet do not agree with her entirely. /
admit "human happiness is the will divine"
but will the right Of suffrage make the hap
piuess Of woman any more sure or complete
Will man feel greater respect aud love for
his wife when he takes her upon his arm
to the ballot-box? Will domestic broils be
any less frequent? Will there not be other
causes for contention than now exist 2 Sup
posing husband and wife disagreed in polit-
cal views? lear there would be q lively
war OF words about election time to say moth
ing Of the poker and broomstick that might
be called into rsquisition. a woman must
live in the vicinity of a strongly contested
election to understand the full force Of this !;
to see the quarrels, and lifelong enemies
that are made every election time. do not
think woman is inferior to man 10 intellect.
Her moral faculties are superior to his her
affections stronger her perceptions keener ;
she has more ideaity; shrinking instictivcly
from anything coarse and rude. making it
hard for her TO buffet with the world. While
man having more powerful reAectives is the
kiSosOA laIkCI tOhUdblNOutSS Iuhh-
ing rough.and-tumble 6ght with the world
pastime for him, enabling him to command
armies, to meet the foe, with unblanched
cheek and flashing eye in deadly combat
upon the battlefield. There have been
"sagacious queens" there have been female
warriors. yet how many Of US would like to
shoulder the musket and march to the music
Of fife and drum. Not that woman cannot
be brave, or is afraid to face death when
her loved ones are in peril. Yet with her
keen sensibilities, her delicate physical or
ganization how long would she endure the
hardships of war. Would she not feel more
in her proper place in the hospital, tendery
caring for the sick aud wounded, breathing
words of Christian hope and comfort into
dying ears. 1t is conceded by all that wo-
men make the best nurses now this does
not prove that she is mans superior
or, because he being the greater warrior is
superior to her. 1t simply proves that tho
sexes are differently organized, mentally aud
physically, and cannot be confined to the
same sphere of action without great injus-
tice to both.
do not think American women are suffer-
ing greatly from enfranchisement only what
is caused by fashion and their own folly.
The man that raises hand against his wife
is considered monster, the man that tyran-
ICES and lords it over the wife of his bosom,
the companion Of his joys and sorrows the
mother Of his children, no less a brute. There
are such instances, but let us hope they are
not the general rule, in this enlightened
country, where pure minded woman is con.
sidered akin to the angels. In claiming the
right OF suffrage instead of raising her still
higher, will it not rather bring her down
from the position she now occupies and her
vesture of purity soiled in the strife and
contests OF public life. What sensitive wo-
man could endure the calumny Of evil
tongues that assails even the purcst aud no.
blest of our statesmen. Not that think pol.
itics beyond a woman's sphere by any means
l think it every woman's privilege and every
mothers duty to make herself acquainted
with politics as much as possible so she
may be able to instruct her children under
standingly, that sons may not grow up to
mans estate ignorant in these matters with.
out fixed principles and firm convictions Of
right. Think you if the mother does her
duty Ito say nothing Of the iather) her son
will go to the ballot box not knowing the
difference in the sentiments and principles Of
publican and democrat voting Just as
somebody tells him to, not knowing why OF
wherefore. Is it any wonder his vote eau
be bought when he is in such a pitablC
state Of ignorance.
Aud who is to blame who has the train
ing of the impressab!le mind from which the
first ray oiinteligence dawns upon it Who
watches the unfolding of this precious bud
day by day, hour by hour, rejoicingly, yel
with fear aud trembling that human soul
is entrusted to her care, Mothers do we re-
alile the great responsibilities resting upon
usl Soon the bright eyed youths that non
enliven our Ere sides will 60 forth upon the