The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-31


emit from man. and will always remain diff.
iefent, mentally morally aud socially. |
not only admit tbis-what thinker NJ the
present day doubts this7-but this 10 one of
the strongest reasons for advocating woman
suffrage Here IL n feminine element wholly
excluded ffon being organised into the Gus.
toms ard laws Of the State. God has given
10 one half OF the human family n certain
special way of thinking, feeling, acting, and
We shut that quality OF life out OF public NJ.
fairs. We orgsnss one half Of the human
nature into our State and leave the other half
unsx pfstnad,
male and female. did he not intend that
both these elements Of human nature should
he embodied Ia society, In laws, ia manners,
la institutonsf We do not undertake Co
say which N the hlghe a or the beat the mails
or femals, bat We ray they are different aud
that II takes both 10 make man,
We weioos,e therefore all that IL said about
tho essential difference between man and
woman. II woman Was only undeveloped
man, II might be- safe 90 leave her out, for
then her nature would be represented by
his. Hut now, this great divinely created
woman nature remains unfepfensnted. Who
Ca . say how much may not be Loot ny our
thus buying her talent la the oaIthf Who
can say how much this woman iniiasnoe
might not do 10 purify, elevate and ennoble
the Slater
IL 10 also argued that women have not any
abstract right TO vote, since no ono has any
such right Voting II 10 maintained, IL not
right IN man or woman. To this, also, wa
readily agree Voting have always stated
90 be mere mechanical oontrivanee for get
ting public opinion organized lat0 law. We
do not only demand OF women the right Of
votinR, but We wish 10 put upon her the duty
OF voting We wish 10 have her do her share
or the work OF the nation. IL - OF for her
sake chiefly bat tor That OF the country, the
age, the future that We claim her vote. To
this view of the subjeo which Is the most
important of all, many oppooents OF women
suffrage hardly aliude. They speak as II
women were claiming the right To vote In
order 10 beoo ne prominent, In order 10 come
before the public 10 wrangle, 10 debate to at
tain an empty notoriety. That Is not what
the true wotnsn asks who seeks the ballot
Women feel. many OF them bitterly, this ex-
oluslon from share in great duties and no.
BILE respop Utilities; feel themselves treated
as an inferdr race In being thus excluded.
But what They ask Is not Publicity or motor.
iety, but tht opportunity To be companions
and helpmeats OF man In this, as we'll as in
other dnties
And, again, when ii is said that women
are not nada TO govern. IL is asa u med that all
governmentlis an act of force. But in the
highest and best government force does not
appear. Reason governs, wisdom governs,
knowledge governs, public opinion governs
nine times cut of ten in human affairs. Be-
cause y woman votes, does IL follow that she
shall issue orders that she shall drive aud
command2 The ballot which we ask for is
weapon of another kind; it governs and con.
trols the most quiet of all authorities. The
ballot expresses not rude force, but opinion
ii does not govern as the sword governs, as
the cannon governs, but ii is the very out
come of that kind OF power which has been
assigned TO women.
Eghty-ive one bundredths of the common
school teachers of Massachusetts, are women.
The community does not object to this; it p
proves of it. Yet these women are obliged
to govern directly, by voice and will, from
morning till evening. Men are afraid that
the ballot will have hardening effect on the
character OF women, because In dropping a
ballot into box she is performing an act of
government. But who objects to a woman's
governing a school OF noisy, willful children
six hours day during the Year,
The philosophers who define the sphere of
woman, say that her sphere is home. But a
woman who keeps house governs all the
time. She governs her domestics she governs
her children from rosy morn till dewy eve.
This is all right, this is her sphere, this will
do her no harm. But she must not drop
ballot into the box once year, because
she is supposed to be inadequate to govern
ment.
With the common view of politics no won.
der it is thought that women should have
nothing to do with il. Politics is assumed
to be only low, base struggle for Office, |
power aud wealth. 1t is said that 1.-The great |
objection TO suffrage is that the primary as. |
semblies are filed by the most rude and vic |
lent elements, and that good men are wholly |
out OF place in them" But whose fault is |
this? 1t the fault of the good men," who |
will not go TO the primary meeting, and then |
complain that il falls into the hands of the |
mob. When women have the ballot they |
may attend to their duties better than we do |
and 30 reform even primary meetings
There is nothing greater. nobler, more i'm |
portsnt than politics or the art of govern. |
ment especially with Democratic institu- |
tons. 1t is not a struggle for power; it is |
the combined action of all honest and intel !
igent people to organize and carry On |
; late 30 as to bring the greatest good to the |
greatest number. The happsness and virtue |
Of every man, woman and child in the land |
are influenced by the laws and institutions |
Of the country.