The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-05-24
Would Female Suffrage be Advantageous
70 the Country.
Read before ne Addisoa Resusfon ef Wsst.
minister, Nay Isth, 1873, By Nary b.
Shellmaa, and Published BY Request.

Shellmaa, and Published BY Request
Having been absent on the occasion Of
the debate upon the subject Of female suf-
frage, |, as one Of the appointed speakers,
beg leave, although at this late date, to
give my views upon the subject feel
little backward in following the speakers
who have preceded me, but without apology,
trusting to the leniency Of my fellow mem
bers of the Addison l viii briefly give
woman's view Of the subject, presented
in ieat and argued so seriously. In few
words, then, | believe in sfWoman's
Rights | am firmly convinced ia, and
strongly advocate the inalienable, un-
changeable, and unalterable rights Of wo-
men-rights, which all the sneers aud ieers
Of men can never take away-righls given
her by her Creator and which it is her
proud privilege 10 guard and use at will.
Not "Woman's Rights as advocated BY
the Etrong-minded women and weak mind
ed men who haunt the hails VI CongFean
and agitatc the country with their silly cry
for representation at the polls. Not Wo-
mans Rights as understood by Victoria
Woodruff, Tennie O. Cladin and others Of
the same class, who, lost to II honor; capa-
bic Of no shame, bold, unwomanly and
coarse, clamor for representation ia public
places; proclaim the doctrines Of free love,
trample upon all womanly modesty, and
bring the blushof shame to the cheeks Of all
other members OF their sex--shame, that
they too can claim the name OF woman.
Womans sphere, and woman's influence
is in her home. She has been endowed
by her Creator with certain graoes, which.
contrasting with the rougher and stronger
faculties Of the sterner sex, lend her the
charm, and throw around her the halo Of
glory which attracts and fascinates When
woman distorts and crushes these feminine
, attributes, and becomes strong minded,
and loud tongued, man is repulsed instead
f Of attracted. Rob the violet Of its modest
! beauty, the rose Of its 9ueenly grace, aud
$ the lily Of its purity, and its charm is gone
D Even the homely sunfower will please as
0 well. Rob woman Of modesty, purity
0 and lovliness, and she falls lower than the
j brute. Contact with the rough shoals and
4 breakers, harden instead Of softening the
r humhn character. Constant contact with
Il pain and misery, makes itseem less horrible,
d and our sympathies are not so easily ex-
v cited. We may enter q crowd to-day,
. timidly and fearfully; tomorrow il will
:, not seem so dreadful, and as day after day,
Is faces and sounds become familiar, We will
feel as one Of them, and enter as boldly as
s. the rest. Suppose for instance the right
q Of suffrage were granted to the women Of
y, the land. Who amongst US would like to
Is see mother, sister, wife or a dangh-
s. ter standing shoulder to shoulder with the
v roughs, black and white, who throng the
ID polls from daylight to dark every election
lg day. All are equal at the polls, and wo-
to man with her ballot in her hand, would be
70 regarded in the eyes of the law on the
he same equality with the poorest black, Oh
il toughest white man who shared the equal
in privilege Of vote. The coarse jest and
w. proiane language would not be restrained
TX because it grated harshly on the car Of the
er female enjoying the delightful privilege o
cd universal suffrage. Aud rs the ear be
ng came accustomed to the sound, it's terri
be bic profanity and low vulgarity would be
he como less and less repulsiye, just as the
at local idioms TO which we have been ac-
sh customed for years, sound less harsh and
he quaint TO us, than to the stranger who
~ listens to them for the first time. Let
Of such women as DIR. Mary Walker clamor
r.. for representation at the polls, They care
not for character or reputation. All mod
esty is gone; virtue is at discount, and
beauty has passed away with the passirg
years. They have nothing to lose, but
much TO gain. But laying aside all OBJ
ie jections as to propriety and decency--al-
e lowing that the polls may even have at
=, fractions for some women, let us look at
y I. the practicability of the question. There
u is suca thing as Homes, how to make
3 them and how 10 keep them. 1t Is an
u y utter impossibility to do too important
I, things at once, aud do full justice to both
q ofthem. Granting il is right aud proper
q = for women to vote, think all win agree
u Il would be wrong to vote upon a question
a without becoming thoroughly familiar We
ic it, The FIRST step, asked BY these cIamor-
Is ers after public notice, is the right Of suf
le frage. The second step will be meetings
o for the discussion Of important political
G. questions; money to defray the expenses
q of the essnpaiRf, and last, presence at tho
y polls to iasurc a far electiop. In the
y meantime, home must keep itself; the
e children must be left TO the care Of hired
e nurses, who ten to one win want to 90 10
q the polls themselves. Disordered homes,
: Ignorant, bad children, and discomfort
pe generally would characterize the majority
=. Of American households. Constant coa-
% tact with the outside world would slowly,
= perhaps, but surely destroy the distinguish
- ing traits Of female character, and her Ia
er fuence would be gone forever. A wo-
pe mans vote is in the cradle. Let her guide
es the little hand clasped 50 helplessly in her
p own, to grasp the truth and hold fast 10
. i; let her train the infant mind 10 study
ne the great questions Of political economy
y and justice, until right can be distinguish
ae ed at glance from wrong. Let her study
u the questions Of tho day and make the
q public good her private interest. Let her
~ teach the children, whether in the school
~ room or the nursery, 10 respect the law,
Is and honor the emblem Of national iude.
n pendence, so that when they take their
y. places in the great arena Of public life,
y they may strive to place in power only the
" good and wise Let her pracfics iempcr-
Y ance as we'll as preach it. both at home
Y and in the social eireles lending q helping
y hand 70 fallen brother guiding and en-.
70 couraging him, until she wins him back 10
- Temperance aud respect Be Florence
T. Nightingale II she win, aeyoting her lie
! 70 the sick and helpless. Make the Amer
= lean homo the model Of the world. re.
7 tanning modesty and grace, and woman.
: hood, and her voice win be The stronger.
9 and her hand the unconscious, but certain
\ guide in all questions Of public interest
2 Man BY nature is more able 70 huiIa9 with
y the storms Of ihe world. Woman. fin;d
4 and eonfding, sympathizipe ii sorrow. and
= picking the thorns from bruised hearts.
whenever ihcy come ia contact with fhe
sharp temptations efthe world. let, tlrn,
the taea of our nation ho the scsme1 u
o rnide our grand nld ah,r .f s:..4> 4is.x