The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-17
" Oman's Influence in Manipulating
Greaf Men and Measures,

France used to be the country, par
excellence, where the seductive influence
of woman was recognized rs most potent
in shaping the political fortunes of men.
The Philadelphia Press, in an article upon
''WOman's Possibilities in Politics." says
that under the BOurbOns as well as the
ValOis the cOurtesan was the recognized
keeper of the Kings conscience and upon
her nod depended the destinies of Sully,
a Richelieu, Mazarin, SAKE or Condo.
Nor was the occult rule of the sex d'Inin :
ished in degree, though changed some what
in form, under the convention and direct
DRY. Robespierre consulted the daughter
of his landlady before sentencing a vic
tim to the block. The laxaties and uxo-
robustness of Danton were as fragrant, if
not an notorious, as Mirabeaus, while
under the directory, the goddesses arrayed
in Greek revivals were court and cabinet
of the tOpsy ulrvey administration The
memoirs of Mime. de Remusat reveal the in
sidious Influences that the unseen females
welded over the resolute and uny ielding
First Consul and Emperor, in spite CT
his assumed indifference to feminine arts
Indeed, the closer the history of state
destinies is examined the more pervasive
the power of women is found and more
II1u luC SSuGIdt IdCL Is the
discovery that it is in republics that
women demonstrate the most faciIe art
in manipulating men and measures. 1t
was remarked, in summing ND the
election of recent Western senator.
that he was indebted to the consummate
address of his better half for his
conquest of adverse political
circumstances. General Logan,
beyond any doubt, owes his politi con
quests exclusively to a wife of rare polit-
Ical sagacity and persuasive methods.
The ObtrusiOn of Wifely intervention in
the fortunes of husbands is, for the most
part, tacitly admitted in this country
rather than emphasized. While no one
dreams of crisicising or censuring the in
strilmentaiities employed by Mrs. Logan
and her rivals, the fact is generally re-
ferred 10 merely incidentally But in Enc
land, where proprieties are chung to with
almost sEperstitiOus fidelity and the an
pearance of woman outside the social or
domestic sphere is regarded as "a INSIDE
meanor, the wives of great statesmen are
not Thought amiss in replacing their hus-
bands on public occasions. Lord Palm
erston went dutifully and married a lady
capable OF mastering half the Wing party
IN her drawing rooms, and never mis-.
Vi ttbA-uS ntT
continue as the official head of his party
propaganda. Lord Beaconsfield's obliga-
tions to his wife he was the first to ow "a.
and the freest. For all this, however,
and Notwithstanding the spectacle we
have had of ladies ''electioneering" fol-
senatorial honors, the recent appearance
of Mrs. Gladstone to replace her huspanC
in Scotland will strike the American a:
rather advanced for our slow-paeed
cousins. So soon as it was decided tina
Mr.. Gladstone could net perform his
promise to his Scottish constituents il
the Midlothian districts, Mrs. GIadston,
discovered an opportune errand in tina
vicinity This coming to the ears of tn
party managers. the illustrious wife of al
lllustrious husband was informed tina
their electors would address her through
their chairman. This, of course, wa
an lntimation that the electors, disap
pointed in hearing the silvery- tongue
veteran, wanted a few words of comfo1
from the faithful helpmate. Mrs. Glad