The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-01-14
Women In Politics.

All the lecturers on woman suffrage we
have heard, have prejudiced their case at
once by their constant and sweeping denun.
Citations of men. There are so many
husbands, and fathers, and brothers, wor-
thy of all the credit we can give them, il
seems unfair to have them all classed in
and roundly scored with those who are
the occasion of denunciation and The
source of much sin and wreichedness.
1t is a sorry thing when woman's un-
fortunate experience with male relatives
embilters her against the whole race of
men. A shifiless, brutal or drunken hus-
band is cloud so big in woman's life
that il is not strange that II eclipses all the
brightness and goodness in the world,
which really exists though she does not
see IT, That the ballo, would in her hands
work speedy and great revolution in the
ends Of justice, truth and righteousn ess, is
not at all sure to follow.
Utah women do not seem TO exercise
their privilege with great deal of free
dom or tor the general good. There would
among the unprincipled and the iyranni-
cal, be great deal OF intimidation and
suppression of opinion which love Of do
nestle peace, aud womanly pride would
operate to conceal rather than expose, and
the courts never get at to punish. or
course there are tens Of thousands Of wo-
men more capable Of exercising wise and
good influence through the ballot, than tens
Of thousands OF ignorant and bad men who
are allowed to vote, but whether the good
and intelligent women could be got 10 the
polls in sufficient numbers TO out.vote the
! ignorant and unwise is uncertain. We
presume that young ladies are not numer.
Gus who would put the tempting cup be-
tore the man whom they knew was trying
to conquer dangerous appetite. But such
do exist who are either SO unthinking that
they never reason IRON cause 10 effect, or
so reckless in seeking to please, that they
would ruin a man, If necessary, to mike
him their lover. The ballot in such hands
would not work much moral reform.
This whole question of suffrage, Is al
ready so over.weighted with abuses that it
does not accomplish the wish of "the say.
ing remnant" Of good, and pure and high.
minded men. Ignorance, irivolity, I'm.
reasoning prejudice, and selfish mo.
tives would all moe or less have to be
contended with among women just aJ
mental aud moral unftness do among
men given the right Of suffrage. Cam.
paign labor would become enormously
multiplied and complicated. Woman
with her more delicate physical frame
ana greater nervousness, would be even
more deeply exercised than men, and her
feelings as well as intellect drawn into
the conflict. Doubtless many would sleep
better il they thought they were having a
hand in shaping political ends, but 10 others
it would be an added anxiety.
Quite number would not wish TO begin
or stop with voting. They would be will.
ing 10 be regularly employed in the timer.
acy o! the campaign, and to 6ll eligible
Offices thereafter. Political ambition often
so demoralizing to men is even more ruin.
Gus 10 women. The brightest girl in her
studies, the most accurate scholar, the one
with keenest wit and most ready and en-.
tertaining gifts as a writer among all the
schoolgirls We knew, who should have
been with her ardent nature her rare men.
tai endowments and her unusual advanta-
scs OF education and culture, the very high.
est type Of woman, missed 1t through the
unhealthy stimulus Of excessive ambition
and the influence OF constant familiarity
with politics; and though achieving finan.
cial and social success, is disappoint-
ment and grief to her friends, who had
rather seen her develop into lovable
womanly woman, than one versed in all
the shrewd and devious ways Of dema-
goguei deferred TO and feared at the Ma
lions capital, for the power she holds in
her trenchant pen. Not one woman in
thousand could have any such native abil
ity or preparation for usefulness, but
great many would be turned aside from
their truest mission and fail as certainly
under the same influences. Woman loses
her peculiar atiraciiveness and power just
in proportion as she loses her straight.for.
ward and gentle simplicity of character,
and her modest refinement, which shrinks
from publicity, scheming and contention.