News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-05-15
OenfrerdHrf.
BY THE LAMOILLE COUNTY
GOOD TEMPLARs' UNION.
Ought I?


By MRS. w. A. BUsHEE.G
One of our good women has just called
with request. She is a worker in the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
and held in her hand two papers-one the
list of membership of the Union, but as |
was member, she smilingly said: " You
do not need that, but will you sign your
name to the other?" I took it and read ::
I'VE, the undersigned" etc., it being n
request from the women of Vermont to
its legislature to enact a law to allow
women to vote. l thought moment.
fought L? ~ Do these women whose
names are on this paper realize what they
have done, and what such step implies
Do they realize that they are imposing
upon themselves an obligation if this pc
tition becomes law? AS L handed back
the paper without my name. she said {:
perhaps you have not thought much
about this subject; allow me to leave
some reading matter, and If you Will look
it over / am sure you will be converted.
She left me Phillips, Higginson and
Blackwell, a strong trio for woman suf-
frage. Since reading these authors have
given some time and thought to the sub
| iect. l believe it to be an important
question that each woman should ask and
answer for herself-''OughtI II" L have
enquired of some their reasons for thus
signing. 'Why, l don't know; l had
none, only thought would" Another
said: Il did not think much about it
anyway, only saw so many names down
| supposed it mus6 be all right or th"y
would not have signed it, so did," Does
this imply a sense of personcL obligation
When God created them male and female,
he gave to woman the greater power
through her spiritual capacities. To man
he gave those special powers, which pre-
eminently qualify him to govern. and in
woman's constitutional Limitations i'll this
direction lie the secret of her special
spiritual power and personal influence.
We all know that as a rule our churches
contain one-third more women than men,
and in all our church work it is every
where evident that she cXerts leading
influence. A most wonderful Illustration
of what women can do in this direction
was made manifest III the Temperance
Crusade Woman in her weakness went
not in the might of numbers, or of law, OIL
authority but in the power of the Lord
, God of Hosts and with him accomplish
ed what no other power on earth could.
] 1t was grand achievement for God to
work out such results through woman
; And now as this work has increased ano
multiplied. and Uuions have been formed
all over our county, carrying on the 81
gantic work through prayer, it is truly
lamentable that these devoted Christian
, women should have allowed for one mo-
ment the question of woman suff age
to enter the consecrated field-so that
to the grief of many Christian women
female lecturers, advocating woman sui
frage. come to our towns and address the
people under the auspices of the Christian
Temperance Union, and the workers o
the Unions carry on the work OF the sui
: fragers.
Has not the Lord shown to us wha
great things he can do for his people
What the law could not, or did not do, ii
that it was made void, God accomplished
through woman's prayers. without
dwelling upon the facts that woman
constitutional characteristics. both phys
t ical and mental. indicate to her different
= sphere of activity and labor from that o
public or political life, it is fact that NJ
true woman should lose sight of tina
5 ''when God created them male and fe
= male" he gave to woman through heI
motherhood, a power that cannot be
euualed on this earth. Mothers, do you
not see what great things the Lord ha!
= put into our hands to do? | know full
q well that the laws are not what they
, should be, know that good laws are
evaded and trampled upon, know thai
i women are not always protected in theil
: rights as they should be; but is it pos
I tive certainty that all of these wrongs
0 would be righted if women should vote
:, Would the millennium come sooner BY
J women going to the polls, and holding
public office, and at last reaching tn,
4 White House," which is the consumma
ton professedly aimed at by some o
the leaders OF this movement? Christian
{ mothers of Vermont, | ask you, if all tn
8 time, energy and zeal that has been de
81 voted to the sunrasse question for the las
- twenty years had been given to the rear
} ing of Christian men, who should fea
}: God and do right, would we not as
3 country be in vastly better conditio
e to-day than we are? 1t is my solem
conviction that if all the mothers woul
concentrate their talents to the wor
IL which it is evident God has given ther
to do, we shall find in that great da
n when we receive the jewels in our crow
:. that woman's power lies not at the poll:
} or in public office, but i'll making men,
Vermont Chronicle.