The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-29
SOCIAL QUESTIONS.

SOCIAL QUESTIONS.
The good old days are ahead OF us, and not
in the past, yet some features of former
days would-b e welcome now. The old-fash-
toned sociability, the feeling of neighborly
kindness that ran through the whole COM
munity generation ago. would be whole
some substitute for the frivolous formalities
of the present The notion that every mem
Der of the family should work and be pro-
ducer as we'll as a consumer, was better econ
omy than prevails now. The chief end, in
too many cases in modern society, is to be-
come ornamental; the fact of being useful is
minor consideration. This phase is not
confined altogether to the female side of the
house. But to the great credit and honor of
the women themselves they realize the stu
alton into which they have drifted and
are making decided progress to-
ward a better condition. The ideas of
women's work have been greatly enlarged and
the acknowledgment of her ability secured.
She has knocked at the doors of the higher in
stitutions of learning and has been adj
mitted. True, she has almost knocked the
door down in some instances before gaining
entrance but she got in, and promptly
demonstrated her right to be there She is
there to stay, and the man who does not
like it must go. She has fought her way into
the professions also. In literature she was
famous before the tyrant had time to frame
J his objections In short, woman has cleared
the way of most of the obstacles that hitherto
.-:--~-<>ra4- aor fidnntly
upon the common plane of the race, ex
cept the political disability in being
deprived of the ballot The proposition
| whether she is greater and better without the
ballot than with it, is grave one and is
being carefully canVassed. All parties to
the controversy have at heart the common
welfare, and the solution will be wrought
out in the light of intelligence and in
spirit that clings about the nobler impulses.
The question is an old one, and yetit is new.
| The masses do not understand it; neither do
all those who are so dogmatic in favor or
| against it. 1t has couched in it philosophy
that reaches TO the very roots of the founda-
ton of human society, and those who would
precipitate a measure of such moment are
not the wisest people, Such problem can
not be solved by intuition. However sim
pie the suffrage question appears upon the
surface, and the fippant manner in which
it is frequently discussed has given it char
acter of this kind, thoughtful people, both
men and women, hold in reserve the right
of further investigation. They will content
themselves with nothing short of probing
the question to the bottom. so that when a
conclusion is reached they can afford to
stand by it. The position of the Journal in
favor of equal suffrage is well known and
has long been maintained, but we recognize
the fact that such revolution will come
slowly and therefore the more surely. But
while enlightened opinion is working its
way to the end and final solution of this
question, there is, in the meantime, ample
room for the full exercise of all the talent
in the land, both of men and women.
Men can we'll afford to employ themselves
in growing better while the women would
make ahappy hit by growing stronger.
There is much to correct in social and do
m este affairs when a fearfully large per
cent. of the women of the land are confirmed
invalids. For whatever part of this deplora-
BILE state men are responsible, they should
furnish remedy and the rest be wrought
out by the use of The good judgment of the
be better and stronger physically and moral
ly, and when this sort of evolution has done
its work the suffrage question can be justly
settled.