The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-03-27
woman i'm POIitics.-Is She or is She
Not.



: politician, and proceeds to show w
7 mans influence in the political worlC
Now, "Dorcasn is one Of the Beacon
ablest and most valued contributor.
, and it is with much hesitancy an
; many !misgivings that | oppose tn
article in question. Yet, feeling tha
woe is me, if | lift not up my voic
against this erroneous opinion, as
sert-but, with all due Difference to til
sage and eloquent Dorcas.-that wo
man is not a politician. Man ha
seltishly monopoliZed the entire poll
teal field and positively forbids her t
enter the jealously guarded arena
He deems it indecorOus for her even
to speak of politics; and when h
chooses to discuss the subject she
must maintain Il respectful silence.
In his opinion, WOman's mental cal
ibre is too small to allow her to un
derstand anything of the affairs OF
government. She can, by no means
be admitted into legislative bodies.
"Woman is the lesser man: nature
gave her binder motions, bounded il
a shallower brain.n She is not suf
ticiently intelligent to cast vote fol
the man who aspires to the least i'm
| portant office in the county.
Yet the elective franchise is freely
conferred upon the most illiterate,
the most degraded son Of Africa in all
the land. He is a man, therefore, he
can vote, and he does it, too, doubt
less with discrimination and intelli-
gence. He is admitted into legisla-
tive halls, and assists in making laws
to govern the good, the wise, and the
learned of the nation. He may fill
the gubernatorial chair, and, at his
will, approve or reject measures pro-
posed by the ablest minds Of the
State. Even higher hOnOrs than
these may be accorded to this ebop-
hued son Of Adam. He may become
President of the United States. and
when he does so he will rule satisfacto
ly-to himself-so much so that he
will, Grant-like, clamor for n third
term. Like his renowned predecessor
he'll feel that the country needs his
protracted service, and nobly will he
sacrifice his own interests for the pub
lie good. Patriotism, YOU know, is
characteristic of the whole sex. re-
gardless of color.
Dorcas maintains that woman.
despite mans imagininps to the con-
trary, is the real ruler: that. while he
imagines himself supreme, he is. in
fact, ruled bv woman. Nv Opinion is
that it is Dorcas herself who is de-
ceived. But, if it be true that, "NVhere
ignorance is bliss, it's folly to be wise
be it far from me to undecaive her.
Rather would I entreat her to cherish
fOndly the sweet delusion, and instil
it into the hearts and minds of all
wOmanllind; vet, | would counsel her
as she values her life, to hide the pre-
cious secret from every man on the
face of the earth. Should the matter
come to his ear. the whole sex will
instantly become more tvranical than
ever before. What the "Iords of Gre
atom ruled bv weak silly women > |
The idea would be so revolving to
their noble minds that no effort would
be spared to show us how absolute is
mans control. No, no, friend Dorcas,
we are, bevond all doubt the govern
ed party.
If a woman dare brave the tide of
public opinion, and push across con-
lines, if she dare claim the
privileges due to every free-born
American,-men cry out "strong-
and many women too iOiu
II the cry of condemnation-wo
blinded bv custom. and lacking that
audable desire for place and power
which animates their more ambitious
lister. Dorcas app4ars to belong +, 1his
lass. She has no aspirations after
he power and honors attainabIe in
political life: she has no symDathy for
hat woman whose views are more
Enlarged, and who discerns the gOod
which would result to humanity If
benign and purifying infIu- {
nee were felt i'm senate chambers.
Dorcas admits that the influence of
vOman on literature has been purifv- l
no and eleVatinr. and. | may add :
hat her influence. in every spherc to |
which she is admitted has heen OK I
rted in behalf of iustirn and virtun i
hen. is il not reasonable to sunnose |
hat She would. if nermitted to enter /
he political world. frown unon the {
llschood the intrirues and fhe bosr-
ess of officials and narty leaders?
Ter unwayerinr devotion to Drinci-
lie, her faithfulness in the discharge
fdIlty would domuch toward bonisi-
pOrrllntlnn from hiph nIDtIS
as been said that women would bc- i
)me contaminated by sucb contact f
18th the world. Douhtless soUlC +
-ould - weak souls whom but -
reoth can send Ia Destruction but Il
AMY more would he immeasur,bIv !,
pnetittcd. Furthermore thc honofit p
,sultinp from this chance wouId NOT +
e confined to individuals but would n
improve the whole nation
his is but one of the many instances h
, which the few must bS sacrificed !
# the good of the many l.
We have a striking illustr,tion of
,is principle. i'm the case of a general fl
aiding his soldiers to the battie-fieId II
,ere TO encounter the armed invaders +,
ho threaten destruction to his native n
nd. Full well he knows that MANY
his brave and trusted fnlIow.rS nj
hose sniriis are now so h nefII II
hose hearts are all aplow with ma
iotic love. will fall i'm the conflict to
Sc no more; while Others will be
ken captive. and carried into a for
gn land. there t. pine away i'm dark. +,
small prison cells till death ends T
cir captivity. Yet the valiant COM tr
ander hesitates not. He recognizes {,
e fact that these lives, comparative n