The Columbus journal., 1881-11-30
Equal Rights.
EDITOR CoLUMBUs JOURNAL:


Believing your paper to be open
10 ali progressive views, aud remem-
bering your reason given for voting
"sye" on the subject of woman sRf1-
rage, as presented to our last legis-
lature, shall venture to intrude a
few thoughts in the columns of the
JOURNAL on that much-abused sub
ject, Woman Suffrage, or, equal
rights, for man and woman.
Ii is not proposed, however, TO
discuss in these remarks the Ques-
tion of wOman's ability to fill this
important station equally with man.
That has been demonstrated to most
minds by the work which she has
done and is still doing. But these
lines are given TO the public in the
hope that some one will take up the
subject and discuss il in a manner TO
awaken public sentiment to a more
favorable feeling toward this meas
ure,which, rightly understood, means
the moral elevation of the human
family.
Ii is well known that there is an
association in this city called the
Woman Suffrage Association of
Columbus" The wisdom of this
step has been called in question by
its opponents i'm this place, as well
as in all others, when such Organiza-
tions have proclaimed their views to
the public, and in consequence of
this, it seems necessary to correct an
impression which prevails in the
minds of both sexes to an extent,
namely: That the object of those
ladies who are foremost Tn the work
is TO crafty an ambition for power,
and to gain an equal footing with
man, because she has a right to il.
This is an erroneous idea. True, the
primary object sought was and is, to
gain the ballot; but the objects
sought to be accomplished under the
exercise of this power are manifold.
There is work to be done, which is
pre-eminently woman's work, and
which cannot be done while the law
restricts her to a limited use of its
power. This is proven by the fact
that the desired results have been
sought to be accomplished through
the influence of good men who have
gone into the halls of Legislation to
bring about right and justice. But
yet the reforms which we have most
hoped, aud labored and prayed for,
are beyond our reach, ever eluding
our utmost diligence to attain them;
till weary of waiting and expecting.
we have come to believe il no longer
duty TO sit idly waiting, while vice
Is so active that crime stalks in cur
midst and taunts us with our inabil-
ity To control il, but we believe the
time has come for us TO assume the
responsibilities which are crowding
upon Us and demanding acceptance
at our hands. We now have 4 little
over one year to prepare for the
change which we expect will be
made by adding TO our state consti-
tuition the amendment which will
give us the right of suffrage. After
that, there will be work TO do which
will need trained hands and minds,
and the time is not too long in
which to prepare for il.
As this is woman's work, il de-
mauds the support and sympathy of
woman TO accomplish satisfactory
result, both in securing the adoption
of the measure by the legislature
and the work in other directions.
The reluctance of the ladies TO
enter this field of reform may be
caused by the fear of being classed
among the oppressed, and this, ad-
ded TO the fact that they are well
cared for and have all the rights
they care to exercise, is keeping
them aloof from lending a helping
hand to those who need better pro-
lection.
Let US look at the matter a mo.
ment. What if such a fear had
gained the mastery over the spirits
of the reformers who have preceded
us? Are we to-day i'm the enjoy
ment of any reforms which do not
make our lives brighter and better?
And have not all of these had their
martyrsl And, again, who of us
are not glad TO join in the victor's
song of triumph?
We are aware, also, that there is
an objection to this move from a
fear that il will cause discord i'm the
domestic relations. This is an OBJ
lection which would deserve accept
ance if it were true. But why it
should be true, is not evident. 1t is
difficult to see why the discussion of
the evening paper between a man
and his wife, should cause more dis
cord than if the part under discus
sion should be the fashions, or any
other minor part which she is sup
posed to understand. We are in
clined TO think that an allusion to
some of these subjects would cause