The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-03-04

gems. On the contrary, if the influence
of women is refining in the home circle,
and in the society in which she moves,
her very presence at the polls ought to
insure respect and good order, to say
the least.
The ladies of our families do not
desire anything of the kind, but want to
remain pureand noble as they now are. "
Women who are pure and noble will to
a great extent purify and ennoble the
atmosphere by which they are sur
rounded, and surely their presence at
the polls, castinga ballot in the interest
of humanity, ought to, and 1 believe
would, convey purifying and restrain
ing influence, which we must concede
is greatly needed.
In case of war, would they shoulder
a musket ?" etc. Does the right to help
adjust the affairs of State so as to pre-
serve the peace and purity of our nation
involve the necessity of shouldering
musket?" Does Queen Victoria
shoulder a musket?" From the very
nature of things man is and must for
ever be the stronger and most potent
physically to carry on the nations hand
work. In our households, even those
in which we reign supreme, as wives
and mothers, all important matters are
harmoniously adjusted only by mutual
help better than by decision settled
by man alone, especially in cases in
volving the happiness and peace of
woman?
"Will they take seat on a jurors
bench?" To this question 1 can but
say universal practice has made pre-
cedent in favor of man for this posi-
ton, and in majority of cases justice
would demand the right of men to sit
in Judgment thereon. But in regard
to women when she has been wronged
by men, ought she to be denied the pro-
lection and sympathy of women at her
trial ? This brings me to a view of the
question which these ladies may not
have considered, but which, to my
mind, is one of the strongest arguments
in favor Of female suffrage. If 1t is
true that we live not for ourselves, but
are self-sacrifcing and devoted to the
interests of others, then we ought
surely to remember these unfOrtunates,
and further any scheme for their adj
vantage. There is large class of
women, wives and mothers, who do not
reign supreme in their households, but
are the wives Of dissolute and drunken
husbands, who spend their earnings in
saloons. and, believe, ever will until
the good and noble women of our land
unite at the polls in their behalf. For
one, do not crave this privilege for
the sake Of voting, or obtaining any Of
the offices plainly assigned by nature
to man /; but in the interest of common
humanity give my support unreserv-
edly to the cause of female suffrage
and its abettors, and ask no greater
privilege than the right to cast my
vote for my country's good. lam will
ing to meet the low and vulgar there
il by my presence and my help the
present evils Of the ballot-box may be
restrained, and / say shame to the hus-
band who will allow his wife or daugh-
ter to dance hand in hand with a
known reprobate, and yet will not
sanction her to cast ballot for fear
of contamination with some worthless
character" Finally, l contend that
to woman who is good, and pure, and
noble, all things are to be made good,
and pure, and noble only by her support
and presence. If there is a spot on
earth sacred to the rights of humanity,
it should be our national polls. Shall
women shrink from adding to its sa-
lcredness the element it needs Of purity
and justice ?-Milaoaetkee Sentinel.