The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-09-22
OBJECTIONS TO WOMAN SUFFRAGE
REVIEWED.


presented to the Legislature, it is of
course to be supposed that a portion at
least of the honorable members thereof
will oppose it, some conscientiously aud
from belief that thereby they are ben
efiting society in general and women in
particular, and others with vehement
speech and unreasoning assertion. For
this latter class we have neither time
nor argument, for woman's aOiH is not
stronger than a mans aOOn't, when he
is determined he aOon't see, hear or in
vestigate anything whatsoever that
conflicts with his prejudices. To the
attention of the first class, however,
whom we hope and believe constitute
the larger portion of our august law
makers, we desire to submit few an
swers to chronic objections which they
have so thoroughly learned by rote as
to implicitly believe. We hope, more
over, that by forestalling these objec-
tions, that much 'illogical logic" will
be strangled ere it is born, and calm,
dispassionate judgment produce some
thing better. With this preface we beg
leave to submit the following to the
considerate attention of candid legisla-
tors.
The first, indeed we may say the prin-
cipal argument advanced by opponents
of Woman Suffrage, is that women are
represented in the government by men,
and that their rights and interests are
better protected by such representation
than they would be by giving them a
direct voice in the government. 1t is
easy to make an assertiOn-just as easy
to follow it with prompt denial, but
neither assertion nor denial amounts to
anything unless supported by valid rea-
soning. The denial in this case is, for
tunately for the advocates of Woman
Suffrage, supported by history, by OBJ
servation, by experience trio that Is
all-powerful.
The second objection to which we will
refer is that women by "meddling in
politics" will lose their innate delicacy
and modesty; that they would be un-
sexed and become noisy political dema-
gogues, Transforming their homes into
caucus-rooms and themselves into non
descript beings, neither men nor wom-
en-. Our own observation is that the
most intelligent, vivacious and pleasing
women whom we have ever known
have all their lives "dabbled in poll
tics" if by that is meant an interest in
elections and other affairs of govern
ment, without abating one jot of their
womanliness; and this interest it is be-
yond the power of man to prevent. So
let all console themselves with the fact
that the innate character of woman is
the result, not of mans laws, but OF
Gods; nor can the laws of man affect
that character beyond very slight de-
gree. Women the most modest and re-
fined are taking vital interest in the
coming Presidential election, while
many of the coarse and vulgar can
scarce repeat the names of opposing
candidates.
1t is said that women do not desire tC
vote. We admit that many women dc
not, but that furnishes no reason fol
denying the right to those who do desirt
to vote. Many men decline to vote. L
that any reason for denying all men tht
privilege?
Another objection is that the right Il
hold Office must attend the franchise
and that women are not qualified to dis
charge the duties of responsible Office
Do men have Office thrust upon them
and how many of our voting population
are qualified to hold high offices How
many to whom the right of suffrage
secured by the 18th amendment are s
qualified? ? Whenever the qualification
of persons for official position is mad
the test of the right to vote and we ar
to have competitive examinations upo
that subject open to all claimants, won
en- will be content to enter the lists an
compete for the prize.
Another objection is that 'wome
cannot serve as soldiers" The capacit
for military service has never bee
made test of the right to vote. If
WeIey luduy WOD6u SOulN HiSSSuI u1u
stronger claims than many men do.
1t is said that women will negle
their homes if allowed to vote. Viii
elections are so infrequent as at presen
the house can scarcely suffer from Il
time Ia half hour to half day. th
will be required to deposit a ballot.
"But it will cause contention in fan
slies," some say. If we were man al
husband, we would let women alol
make this assertion, which is mere
tantamount to saying, "as long as n
wife does just as I say, we will ha
have peace; but let her not attempt
express an opinion of her own" v
know, moreover, that men and won
living in marital relations do differ up
important subjects and yet live harm
niously together in the main. WI
they could not, politically, we cam
well see. But you say, "Women W
always vote as their husbands dc
Then, friends, the objection of ''discc
in families is surely removed. I
hfotorxy Of fha GronO faoohoo ne ho