The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-20


ciety. We are not unmindful of
the fact which history teaches, that the posi-
ton of woman has not always been such as
the Creator designed, but it is also true that
as Christian civilization has advanced woman
has been elevated to the equality of man In
all matters calculated to add to her happi-
ness or bless the world. As mother, sister,
wife and teacher, her influence upon the af-
fairs of the world is simply incalculable, and
to what extent ii would be augmented by
comforting upon her the baro. together
with its effect upon public affairs generally
are the real questions at issue. We can con-
ceive of no greater calamity to society than
the inauguration of policy, or the adoption
of measures calculated to unsex women.
We mean by this such departure from the
present order of things as would take women
from the homes which they beautify and
bless and introduce them into the mad whirl
of political agitation. 1t requires
no far reaching Imagination to bring
to view such series of domes-
TIC irregularities as would form throughout
all the country the most repulsive tableaux.
Deserted homes, with their affairs broken
down; children disregarded and early
taught lessons, particularly the female por-
ton, utterly incompatible with that nice
perception OF the beautiful SO necessary to
the development of their minds; women at
the hastings wrangling with one another
and with men over measures of public poll
cy; women at the polls jostled and
pushed by masculines intent on
partisan supremacy-can not be contem-
plated with any degree OF composure. Nor
do we see that such rights, il conferred,
would elevate or refine the female sex, and
if this was not accomplished, and the oppo-
site should occur, inaugurating an era of
female coarseness and masculinity, society
would suffer to an extent beyond the power
of expression. We. know that it is said
that such things need not occur,
but the lessons of experience, which
ought in such cases to be regarded with spe-
women can not go beyond their appropriate
sphere without mourning risks dangerous to
themselves and to society. 1t is a matter in
which the men of the country have quite as
deep an interest as the women. In fact,
since the women are the teachers OF the
boys, and since the boys are not over
burdeped with refinement, it is
not difhcult to perceive if the
restraints of home which mothers
can exert or in any degree relaxed, that we
shall at no distant day have a race of men
still less calculated than now, whatever
might be constitutions and statutes, to exalt
womanhood, so that women by their efforts
to obtain the ballot aud to mingle with the
public affairs of the country may be laying a
foundation for the debssement of men and
the infelicity of women. There is another
aspect of this woman suffrage movement well
calculated to arrest the attention of those
who are capable of reasoning from cause to
effect. 1t Will be remembered that all ques-
tons that relate to the public welfare IN
this country are directly affected by the bal
lot, 1t is the ballot that gives party suprem.
acy, and it is the party in power that molds
the policy and the legislation of the coun-
try, and thus it might be, and the idea is by
no means far-fetched, that women with
the ballot might involve their country in
war. In such state Of affairs
they would be incapable, by virtue of their
physical organization, to meet in any regard
the responsibilities of their own acts. While
they could force their fathers, husbands,
sons and brothers to the battlefield, they
could never 60 themselves. Or if they were
to go then their suffrage prerogative would
introduce into modern warfare regi-
ments of amazons, that are the
disgrace of barbarous countries and saw
age tribes. AS the case now stands,
the relations between men and women, wo-
men and society, seem to be as near perfec-
ton as II is possible to adjust them by divine
and human laws. We are persuaded that
there are privileges which women should
enjoy that have not yet been accorded them,
but it is also true that the barriers are being
steadily broken down, and that in
ali departments of employment where
wsnen seek positions, society is
becoming more favorable to their claims.
Women are in all our schools. They are en-
tering the professions Of law and Of medi-
cine. They are among the brightest lights
in our literature, and are not unknown to
fame in the schools of art; and, under the
full orbed noon of our Christian civilization,
we are persuaded that the ballot could con-
fer upon them no additional honor.