National Republican., 1876-01-28
A Contrary Opinion.

"AShlN1IONs AL 1910.
To the Editor OF the National Republican:
SIR: Your editorial notice OF the subject this
morning comedies Importance to the question Of
woman suffrage, and, since many OF the adyo.
Gates thereof are laboring now in this city to ad
vance its claims and press action, please permit
soms adverse consideration, which, we trust, may
be candidly and philosophically considered. Tho
opposition to woman suffrage is neither tyrannI-
cal nor insincere In Its purpose, but honest and
willing to be convinced. Mere defamation will
not accomplish this, and sentiment is not q suffi.
cient IeasoD. We therefore suggest few out of
the many considerations which have occurred to
our thought upon this subject. What is the na-
ture and the origin oil the system of affairs called
part and duty? Are women now, have they ever
been, or can they possibly ever become qualified
ior this duty Civil government had its origin
in force, and is to-day sustained by force. There
was time, back at the origin OF society, when
the separate
DUTIES CT THE SEXES WERE ASSIGNED
by some determining influence other than our
powerful custom and law. When committees
mutual relation each had equal chance. II the
wild beast attacked the family 1t was native
strength that dictated the choice of man for the
defense. Man for the same reason naturally and
unavoidably first used the club, the stone, the
sling, or bow, and afterwards welded ths axe
roads made, houses 10 be built and forests felled
the strength Of man must be used. So when
wars came between tribes and communities some
PRAYER, stronger man, one more powerful and
trained distinguished himself above his fellows
and was hoisted upon their shields and made
CHIEF or king as II became; When robbers at
tackled man defended, and so society fell un-
avoidably under his protection and regulations
or laws were made to define otfenses and direct
were they that when crime was so fearful in san
Francisco In 1852 gave that splendid exhibition of
local seltgovernment, and by vieilant commit.
tees made peace and order? Was that movement
OF physical power to restrain
.MoB VIOLENCE
any stronger directly because Of the women in
the city. Why in 1776 did not the women Of
tion Of Independence from Great Britain, and
establish Government here into which they
would consider If man should be admitted. An
tion by saying, why, nobody would have paid
any attention TO It II they had so declared" The
cause is in the total lack of power to enforce the
resolve. So It has of necessity always been mans
province to WELD the weapon Of war, to fell the
orests, build the roads and houses, traverse the
seas with commerce, and build Pacific railways
yaster than plain or mountain, and not only these
but to supply the physical power to enforce laws,
whether to arrest the petty offender or preserve
are because there is 20 large proportion Of the
force on the side Of the law. Cali it BY what
name Jon viii, ,.that is the basis Of governments
Hence when laws are passed which do not meet
with popular approval they are dead letters or
sumptuary laws. We have such Roninforced
always, because the moral sense and Judgment
Of the lawmakers are generally IN advance Of
enforce better laws unless approved, and what
gain in giving 60 vast an access to the moral force
Of laW-maRing, and none to the
PHYSICAL FORCE
OF oflaw.enforcing? Why do the women expect US
to give them the suffrage direct, whereby they
would have full power, when they ailege we will
not grant them certain subordinate rights? If
woman suffrage were established in this District
tv.f1y n n ha
per cent. Of the men were to enact some great
municipal reform against the determined opposi.
cent Of the men Of what account @ Wsrs goGr Pc.
form lsuf Itwould mot be enforced, but would
add one to the dead-letter laws, Of which there
iTS law fOQ lightly. # women now ali had the
suffrage, and men we're tyrannical, Al Is some.
times charged, they could reduce women to total
moral susslon and good Sentiment. Without % force.
would suppress ofenses and keep order we would
not need government at all; but that situation is
We need civil government at all Id must rest on
force for It's authority Uses and displays Of this
force are only Desirable when necessary, but this
Do not misunderstand this as requiring o return
Of force when not needed, nor Of denying the least
e al The amenities Of life .he reIikiOus and an
solely about participation in government. Woman
sufrageis
.... NOT A srcC Ess IN WYOMING.
and is crime as employed in Utah. If 1t were
generally IN force in best States It would fall
into disuse, as 1t did in New jersey, for 1t has no
value.
on the other hand, for womans right employ.
ment, let all be done that is required. About one
hundred colleges and universities now open their
doors 70 women, and all should soon do so. Her
wages are being rapidly and Justly regulated. In
all things but governing she Is soon to be rightly
placed. She now has many advantages provided
Tor her in property and other rights which man is
not allowed. In demanding equality, does she
propose to relinQuish these? Much error arises
frcm general conclusions drawn from selected m
diyidual cases. There are women wronxed, DO
are men also. Individual women can be selected
who seem to deserve more power in government
than certain men. The question, however, Is
with all Of both classes at once. Men seem to
have greater freedom than women, only because
their employment is so public. So In Eastern
countries, where the slavery Of woman is de.
plored the men are also slaves. They are en-.
ployed more publicly, but are equally slaves.
So, Mr.. Editor, we have merely Indicated points,
and not argued them at length, and close with
the statement that women, as a class, are mot
producers, but conservators In society. -LlL
W. II. II. B.