National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-20

the best Offset to the vulgarlty OF man
Look ut the election farces, the bad taste,
and the coarse language used. Listen to
the speeches, nothing but words, phrases
to prick the ears If you wantto hear true
patriotism you have to come TO the woman's
suffrage conventions, for here It Is where
the eternal principles Of justice and right
eousness are again eXpounded. And IL Is
the success Of our cause which will, In time,
make American politics the noblest occu-
patton Of the noblest minds.
Politics, now the occupation Of schemng
cgotistiCal, unprinclpled men will become
the life work OF morally inspired men, and
women; of persons who will look upon
this occupation as being sacred intrusted
to them not for their own benefit or ag-
grandizement, but for the good aud the
welfare OF the community That politics
has moral bearing upon the community,
and that the whole nation will become con-
tnminated II the source from which It
draws its life is impure-this truism has to
be reiterated time and again until IL Is diff
fused and understood by all the voters
and all the applicants. 1t Is high time in.
deed that our best, our ablcst men should
again take part In public debate, In Con-
gress, in the state legislatures. II is high
time that character, fitness, capacity,
morality should be considered in the eleva-
tion Of officers.
provement and welfare Of the people how
man stands In his party; how much In
fluence he eXerts; how many votes he can
pollY But, alas, these are the measures Of
his ability, the more subtle his character
the better he understands the business of
treating and drinking; the more friends he
can make In the barroom, In the slums, the
surer is he to be appointed and elected.
There is no more disgusting affair In this
life tlnn the manner aud fuptlpda l,y which
men are ushered into the political arena.
No wonder that educated men keep away:
no wonder that they feel an adherence of
having their wives mixed up in such
crowd. Dut will we follow the rough,
coarse ways and manners men have insti-
tuted and try to perpetuatep VIII we not
make a clean sweep Of all the dirt and
filth that has accumulated? Do you not
trust women with the power and gift Of
making all these places clean, healthful,
orderly, decently, and even beautiful
What is this continuous prattle we hear
so often repeated OF woman's moral in
fuence If she cannot carry II with her
wherever she goes? 1t seems to me that
those who are so anxious that woman might
lose her peculiar attractiyencss have little
faith In 1t. That which is a part Of my own
nature can never lose; in fact, opportunity
viii bring 1t forth more distinctly and
beautifully. The spirituality of woman is
divine gift, and no earthly power can rob
her OF this possession. American men may
boast that they possess wealth, immense re-
sources, energy, and many worldly goods.
But, alas, they cannot boast OF their honesty
their Integrity, not even of their wisdom In
those who represent their interests.
Now, | am as good republican as any
man or woman born in this country. be-
lievc In freedom; have faith In democracy,
In our institutions; faith In the government
OF the people, by the people, and for the
people. But have an equally strong faith
In the aristocracy OF talent and the aristoc-
racy of character. Men are not equal In
these attributes. We are not born equal In
talent and ability, and we must chose our
representatives, our responsible officers,
from the highest aristocracy. Weneed men
who are learned and wise; who have large
sympathies; who are generous, and yet have
the heart to say no when duty demands 1t.
Keep up the mischievous policy of place
hunters, Of favoritism, of bribery, Of lobby
ing as II exists to-day, and In hundred
years from now our republic must be
doomed. No nation can prosper for any
length OF time which does not consider
morality, strict conscientiousness, an In.
tcgral part of the body polite. No nation
can be saved from ruin when the voice of
conscience is stiilcd and the claims of honor
are ignored.
Look to Germs any. Notwithstanding the
despotisms under which the people groan
and suffer, see how they prosper and gain
new laurels every year.
Do you know the secret of this seemingly
unwarranted successP 1t Is the integrity
and honesty which is made rule through.
out the administration of the government.
1t is the scrutiny with which public officers
are chosen, the severe task they are put to,
the rigidity and severity of the discipline.
The emperor and the chancellor alike
conform to the strict discipline Of their po-
sitions, and high sense OF duty directs all
their actions. The German believes yet In
the old proverb opportunity makes
thieves" Consequently the state watches
closely over its officials. Temptations are
put out Of their way,and strict obedience is
everywhere eXacted. You probably have
no faith in honesty so closely guarded |
myself think not well Of 1t, for we IN
America do no longer believe In military
regime, in brutalizing, coercive obedI-
enCe.
Obedience, restraint, control there must
be In every government. In Germany the
restraining power Is the crown; the police
in free America. II must come through
the power and influence Of woman; II is she
who represents the conservative element In
the state. Woman more than man Is
ADAPTED to conserve, to keep Intact that
which is good and pure. IL is she who has
the courage to raise her voice against that
which is bad, pernicious, and destructive.
Look at our women sutlragsts, how their
forces increase with every year, how they
have aroused by their example the noblcst
and purest women Of the country. And
thus will our foremost women, when once
In the possession Of the suffrage, use all
rightful means to guide and instruct their
less apt and educated sisters to use their
ballots nobly and well. They will inves-
tigate our present system and by their active
experience they Will learn Its defects and
how to remedy them.
There is one vast difference which eX-
plains the different attitude between Ger
man and American women fully. The Ger
man girl is brought up from early child
hood with the idea that she Is inferior to
her brother. While she is restrained in all
her movements and actions, he Is free to go
and travel about wherever his fancy takes
him, while she is made conscious all the
while that she is the lesser OF the two. She
learns to rate his Importance constantly
higher, while his educational advantages
are superior to hers. The gulf widcns. For
him no sacrifice is too great to afford him
a thorough and substantial education; for
her the merest trash is good enough. Thus
habit, public opinion, institutions-all work
together to convince the girl that she is by
nature designed to he mans subordinate,
The American girl receives different i'm
pressions. She has everything better
than her brother. While he must 20 out
early to work and earn money, she is in
dulged In all her whims and fancies. In
many instances she has a better edu-
cation, longer years for study, and grows
up to find herself when she Is 81 years of
age the superior of her brother and her male
friends.
Now the distinction commences. The
state, the law, steps In and says; GAN your
training, your superior knowledge, counts
for naught henceforth. You are by statute,
by the laws of the United States, the in
ferior, the subordinate of your brother and
Of every other man in the country. lie and
they will decide for you In everything that
pertains to your happiness" You say you
have no faith in their judgment; that they
cannot represent your wishes and your
ideas. swell, you may ilatter, you may