Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-20

it is useless here, unless first done else
where But where little children learn to
think and speak-whprc mon love and lis
ten, and the word is forming-is the Office
she has to fill, the crrand She has to do.
The question is, can she do both Is there
need that she should do both Does not
the former and greater include the later
and less
Hers are indeed the primary meetings
in her nursery, her home and social cir
cles with other women, with young men,
upon whose tone and character in her ma
turity her womanhood and motherhood
join their beautiful and mighty influence
above all, among young glrls-the little
women" to whom the ensign and com
mission are descending-is her undisputed
power. The whole cause on trial may be
summary ended by the proving o! an
alibi, an elsewhere of demand. Is woman
needed at the caucuses, conventions and
polls She is needed at the same time
elsewhere Two years of time and
strength, of thought and love, from some
woman are essential for every little hui
man being, that he may even begin life
When you remember that every man is
once IL little child, born of woman, train
ed-or needing training-at wOman's
hands that of the little men, every one
of whom takes and shapes his life so,
come at length the hand for the helm, the
voice for the law and the arm to enforce
law-what do you want more for wo-
mans opportunity and control?
The following letter was read from
President Seelye of Smith College:
So far as my experience extends, a large
majority of the wonderland those whose
intelligence and refinement entitle their
opinion to the greatest reSpect-are OppOS-
ed to female suffrage. While this remains
the case, can not think it wise to thrust
upon them IL responsibility which they
diSclam, and the exercise of which they
believe would be an injury both to their
sex and to the nation. NO such measure
seems necessary ut present to redress wO-
mans wrongs. Whatever injustice she
may have suffered under our laws is be
ing steadily and rapidly removed. With
increasing intelligence, in manifold ways,
woman can already affect most powerful
ly legislation, and can obtain from the
state whatever protection and liberty she
needs The ballot could add but little to
her power; it would imperil the intu-
ence she already possesses 1t does not
seem wise craftsmanship to hazard that
which we most highly prize to gain ends
which can be secured without the risk. |
do not, therefore, favor 50 radical Il change
in our political and social lite as granting
the ballot to woman would he likely to
cause. l.. CLARK SEELGE.
Smith College, Northampton, Mass,
/ Feb. >, 1855.
/ Rev Brook Herford said Il believe that
the general custom of the world, which
has allotted the functions and duties of
government as part of mans special work,
is not blunder or Il tyranny, but the real
dictate of nature. Second that though
there are some women entirely lit for such
functions and duties, it would be II mis-
take to alter the whole character of WO-
mans Ike to the scale of what these few
are fit for. Third, that such an altera-
ton, viz, the imposition Of the political
suffrage upon women, would be an expert
ment in Il field in which experiments are
peculiarly dangerous because practically
irrevocable), and, therefore, ought only to
/ be made on the clearest and most urgent
necessity. Fourth, that there is no real
necessity or urgency for it, the great ma
jOrity even of thoughtful, educated wo-
men distinctly not asking for it, and many
of them earnestly protesting against it.
/ Lastly, that these arguments are strongly
confirmed by the fact that where the eX-
pertinent has been tried its results are
doubtful, and in the opinion of many
thoughtful observers unsatisfactory and
miscellaneous. For these reasons | regard
any further extension of the suffrage to
women as unadViSable.'
| Lewis ID. Brandeis, Esq, presented half
Il dozen questions, with the answers which
the suflragsts gave to them, rs follows
/ Question-Do the men always ignore
the women's rights
. AnsWer-Yes
QuestiOn-Have these men wives
Answer-Some of them.
QueStiOn--SiSterS
. Observation-Disclosures.
/ Observation-Disclosures
, Answer Sually.
Questioh-And they always vote to in
jure their wives sisters and mothers
/ Answer-Always
This reductiO al dbSurdttm closed the
presentation of the case on the part of the
demOnStrantS.