, 1880-01-04
WOMEN II POLITICS.

Some months ago Dr. Francis parkman
contributed to the No7t. american Reuiew
an article Oh "The Woman Question, !" which
called forth reply in the same periodical
from five prominent advocates OF female
suffrage, including Col. Higginson, Miss
Anthony, and Mrs. Stanton. The current
number Of the Reutc1U contains Df. Park
mans rejoinder, which, avoiding rs much as
possible the acrimonies Of controversy, is an
able and forcible reassertion Of the best ar
guments against the presence Of women in
partisan politics. This article ought to cl3se
the discussion for the present, as no impartial
person, whether male or female, can read 1t
without being impressed with the notion thas.
the advocates Of female suffrage will be
worsted in any further agitation Of their
hobby in this particular direction.
In reply to the statement-upon which DR..
Parkman's critics seem to agree-that the
reasons he gave in his first article for oppos-
ing female suffrage were not original, he adj
mits as much, and turns the full force
of the parry against his antagonists
by claiming ''an expression of the
convictions, more or less distinctly shaped, of
the great majority Of the sensible and
thoughtful persons Of both sexes" It can
not be doubted that mass Of old arguments
which have received the approval of the
multitude is stronger array than a collec-
ton Of new theories; so that charging want
of originality upon DR.. Parluman was not the
best way to weaken the position he had taken.
Much the same result follows upon the state
ment made by the man-sufragists, that
not take direct interest in politics is, that
they have never done so. This is not the
only reason, but it is certainly one Of the
best reasons, since, in all the manifold mu-
tations Of government "from the earliest
records of mankind down to this moment, in :
every race and every form or degree OF
civilization or barbarism,> the relative posi-
tion Of the sexes has been the same" History
shows that there are always sufficient oppor-
tunities and temptations for political revolu-
tions and agitations without introducing q
new element Of discord.
The champions Of woman-sutfrage dwe1t
mainly upon the many virtues of women,
and evidently intended this showing to be
complete answer to Dr.. Parkman's sugges-
ton that the Intriguing women would come
to the front in active politics. But they ig-
nored the fact that the private virtues
which now exercise so potent an influence
upon public affairs might be neutra1ized by
the fewer women who are bold, unscrupu-
1ous, and adventurous, and who would be
the very ones to take the active leadership of
women in politics. The shining qualities Of
be ineffective in scramble for political place
and power. The same consideration answers
Col Higginson's suggestion, that Woman's
sway in society denotes her power. "Why,
then,' asks DR.. Parl1man, "dethrone her and
drag her down to the dirty ropes and wheels
Of the political machine?". Col. Higginson
virtually admits the correctness Of this posi-
ton when he exacts woman's vote "as a
duty"; but the feminine advocates Of fe-
male suffrage take different view Of the
matter, and claim the ballot ds q right. IF
it is question Of duty, we may trust won1-
en- to realize it sooner than men, and the
proof of such realization fll be found in a
general willingness among women to accept !
the responsibility in place Of their preser'
general indisposition to assume it.
Dr.. Parknan draws attention ~ the 1ae1
that his meaning has been poryerted in some
instances and even his language mlsquoteo'
BY his feminine critics, while they have IN
other cases deliberately misinterpreted and
the writings Of Dr. Johnson |