The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-24
Women and War.

mo partisan of female voting has
EMS votes might bring on a war that
men would have to wage"
So writes Mr.. G. w. Smalley, from
London, in letter describing the late
discussion of suffrage in the English
Parliament. Mr.. Smalley usually writes
in a very clear and well-considered
manner, but in this case expresses him
self with degree of confidence by no
means warranted upon examination of
his premises. In the first place, there
is no reason for the violent suppositiOn
that all women would ever vote to-
gether for war against the interests of
all men; and therefore it is illogical to
adduce such an argument, if argument
it may be called. There is nothing in
the history of woman's conduct in any
age or country, and nothing in the
analysis of female character, to lead one
to believe that such an event as Mr..
Smalley supposes could ever occur. In
deed, it is almost impossible to conceive
OF war declared by the votes of women
under any circumstances whatever. All
that we know of the disposition and
sentiments of women leads to the con-
clusion that womeu's influence would
always be against war, if they were
called to political responsibilities. 1t
may almost be assured as an indisputa-
BILE truth that the enfranchisement OF
women would be step in the direction
of universal and everlasting peace.
Mr.. Smalley's remark seems to imply
that wars are brought on by popular
votes in general elections, which idea is
utterly unfounded in fact. Scarcely any
war ever waged would have been begun
! if the question had been submitted to a
vote of the people. Wars are begun by
rulers-usually without open delibera-
ton. The people are hurried into them
without knowing it. The people sud-
denly find themselves at war with
somebody, scarcely knowing how OF
wherefore. 1t was so even in the late
rebellion. AS Shakespeare says, "WaI
kings would not play at"
! The people who make wars hardly
ever fight them themselves. Some me1
make wars for other men to carry on
1t was so in the late rebellion. The wal
for the Union was fought mainly, OF
both sides, by young men from seven
teen to twenty-five, who knew but little
of the causes of the war, which lay bach
i'll the slavery controversy of the previ
Gus generation. AS u general rule, ole
men instigate wars, and young mer
carry them on. But we never heard il
proposed, even by Mr.. Smalley, to dis
franchise old men therefor.
There is really no force in Mr.
Smalley's remark. 1t is one of those
observations that seem to be impOrtan
until you examine them critically
when their emptiness becomes appar
ent. There is no historical fact, and M
philosophical principle which gives i
the least basis to stand upon. We Nigh
as well imagine any other absurd anC
really impossible thing, as, for instance
the possible universal insanity of WON
en-, and dignity that with the title of al
"obstaele" to any proposed amelioratiol
of her condition. Indeed, Mr.. Smalley'
supposition is the same as that, 70
whenever, for the first time in history
it happens that all the women are in ia
vor of a war which all the men are op
posed to, it must be period of universe
insanity.-SdLenl Observer.