National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-21
THE PEOPLES COLUMN.
Communications Upon Various Subjects Re-
ceived by the Editor
What Virginia Lady Says About the
EnsIayed Sex"
The Urgent Necessity Of Free Bridge Across the
Potomac Shown by Farmer.
How the New City PostoHico Question
May Be Settled.
THE ENsLAyED SEX.


1t is with feelings of fearful dread that
read daily in the current aud popular news
papers, 50 freely circulated throughout this
enlightened land, some article, or frequently
many articles, on "woman's rights, woman
suffrage" or "a woman licensed to practice
law" &c, and felt an appreheusve alarm, as
the perilous evil pro ressed so rapidly rs to
assume the form of bill for the first
mentioned measure presented, and its passage
voted upon, by the representatives in the
congress of these United States Nv fears
somewhat subsidized at the defeat of that bill,
but for the last week or so every fiber Of my
being has again started at the daily
accounts of proceedings OF certain COM
mittees. resolutions offered, and, in fact,
actual sessions being held by n representative
body Of female delegates in the city of WASH
ington arriving to excite tho entire country,
and bring about tho recognition of female
suffrage Now, feel tho utter helplessncss
Of one weak voice against an overwhelming
army. yet in your columns of some weeks
since / read, with great satisfaction and
hearty approval, an article from the pen of
the late Solicitor Rayner presenting clear,
spirited views of the subject in question.
Ho defined the awful peril and foretold the
disastrous result should this damaging bill
ever become law. Would to God ten
thousand such advocates of judgment and
right could raise their voices to deliver our
land from q doom deadier and more horrible
than civil war. In the first place, detrimental
effects upon the public would be inevitable.
While there are many, tits to be hoped a
very great many, ladies of refined, cultivated
natures, who will consider the question
gravely and shudder at the appalling danger,
hut when we remember how few women of
this age see, read, or interest themselves in
the dull, daily columns of foreign or mu-
Dicipal affairs, whether treating of the pro-
gressive or aggressive status of times or the
political or practical management of the
government, you will find that not one hun
dredth part of the female population of this
country understand the fundamental prinCi-
Piles of republican government or even
the primary laws of it's establishment Are
they to be trusted with sutfrage2 Ignorant
suffrage is tho most disastrous enemy
to any government on earth, and that right
will be given to o class who will take
advantage of the right Some will
vote from pure motives and principles;
some will vote because others do so some
will vote because they have right some
will vote to DO like men, and some will vote
because it is fashionable. Even fashionable
politics will prove aluring, habit will become
second nature and what some will shudder
and shrink from at first, they will pity,
then embrace" aud our prettiest, refined,
bravest women, on an American election day
will figure in scene az motley and riotous
as that presented at the opening of charity
soup house in salt Lake City; hence the de-
grading effect as to the public, but an all
wise God eau only see the end Of Its domestic
ruin. Since mans only rest from taxing toll
is his home, and the keeper of that refuge
his wife, mother, or sister, let public aspira-
tions dispossess him Of these, for women are
as ambitious as men, and his state were as
hopeless and helpless as was Adams
before tho creation of his help
mate. The popular voice that elects
| Il r. a..
management Of public affairs, involves man
into a vortex Of ruinous con fusion, deprives
him of the joys and comforts Of home, casts
him adrft from moral and Christian in
tluences, and exert tendency to dry up the
source of affection and tender sentiment
which so softly blends with lofty intellect
and commanding courage to complete perfect
manhood. Let this "hue and cry" for those
dangerous rights" be granted, and to her
shame, woman will loose the honor of mans
respect and the value of mans protection.
And why? Because moral sensitiveness les
sens or weakens in any nature that endness
daily contact with rude, rough association;
tender sympathy becomes crusted with
hardened indifference at continued scenes
of cold inhumanity. and woman's nature
so exposed will readily assume the, stornness
of masculine development and gradually
thrown off mans protection. 1t is not the
innate sense of feeling that goes through
lie so ulnerently with tne sexes; III Is the
greater or lesser extent of contact with rude,
rough association that softens the one and
hardens the other. IT'S far, very far, from
my intention to speak detgimentally of
woman's intellectual capacity or her high and
cultivated qualifications for elevated posi-
tons now filled by those Of the opposite sex,
but it seems that those superior endowments
could find filter usage in her own reserved
sphere than to seek the rostrum of some
police court to display her eloouence or ex-
ecuting some criminal sentence to exhibit
her dignihed grace.
urge chat woman seek to attain the high
est mental attributes with which to grace her
modest position. Let her aim at the highest
possible state Of cultivated, congenial COM
partnership for man. Let her mature and ex-
ercise tho most improved judgment and use
fulness for the good of the world. Let her
develop every mental and moral faculty to
crown her public and private life with honor.
But God forbid that in her eagerness for fame
she should involve rough association, thereby
tending to unsex her exclusive character of
modest refined womanhood.
A VIRGINIA LADY.