Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-02-28
Sam Purdy on WOmen.


 The following were the opening re- m.-k' Of Hon. Samuel Puriy n his speech opposing the Woman's suffrage bill:
 MR. SPEAKER: The noblest of all Gods crHtures IS pure woman, the brishte-t star in the firmamen. of hu- man nature IS mother; the kindest, fondest and most sympathic consoler Tn tine trials, troubles and tribulstIOns of life, is the sister; the greatest treasures on earth are our children. And sir, 1t IS the pure woman, the mother, the sis ter ana our children, that create that most blessed heaven of rest-a home. IL for us, perhaps, the frontier, to un- derstand and appreciate to greater ex- tent than others, the soul-absOFbing de- llghts of a home. for to most ot us 1t Is u paradise of the pasta lovely vision connecting the worldly aspirations of today with the purer thoughts and sur rOundings of our youth. In the univer- sal struggle to obtain position n the ladder of prosperity, there can be none Oi us who dO not retain upon the camera of the brain "A picture, however IndIs- tIuct, oi a once happy home, presided over by B mother. whose loving face and tender care sOOthed our childish trou blss. and whC ss devoted mind and heart bent their energies but in the one dIrec- ton Of our future welfare. There Can be but few of us who cannot recall the peaceful solemnity of the nights spent among sis. CTS and brothers, listening to the cheerful yet awful words of the great Author, as they fell from the liIs of that mother. A home, sir, must be all peace. The outside world has ever proven an irksome and tumultuous struggle. |: k the women that create and preserve the hOmes-It Is the men that must face the struggle outside, with no hope of a greater reward than that found in the sympathy of wife and mother, sisters and children. From the fist moment when the bride enters her new home, with trembling but earnest determination to be a helpmeet to her husband until the time when she IS the happy mother of growing children, the woman becomes the honOred and re- spected queen of a realm richer than any kingdom known, because her treas ure are directly from the hands of God and blessed by nature. Her scepter consists oi heart inlaid wlth the lnval nable jewels of maternity, and her throne k made of th t mysterious and God like element, emsnatIng from na- ture, but unequaled except, perhaps, ID heayen-a woman's love.
 It is proposed, sir, to introduce into ihIs home Ihe d'strac;ing influences of politics It IS proposed that the argu- m.nt- of the professional dehater usurp inc living truths of the bible, aud the minds of our children be warped by a moth r's example and conversation; from the precincts of christianity aud society. into A groove made up of politi- cal misunderstanding and bickerings. Mr Speaker, cannot consent. Women have uobler and higher duty to per form than men. They are the e1ponents uf nature Tn the reproduction of human kind, and 1t Is their mission and ddty proclaimed by the laws of God, to de- vote their attention tO the rearing fu- iure men and women; to carry on the irresistible demands of progress. The duty must be an undivided one. or II can be but half done. woman cannot neglect her home and children and be a true wife, mother or sister. Sue cannot enter the mire of politics without such neglect. and without being stained by a loss. to d greater of less extent, of that purity of womanhood which to-day rem ders her Ire mIrror of all best things. MT. Puriy then proceeded 10 answer the arguments of Gen. Wardwell in favor of the bill. but our space IS too limited to publish his whole speech Courier.