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

why uO hOIltu III utTUHUO wake no
Demand for Sufrrage" was the text for an
able and exhaustive address delivered by
Madam Clara Neyman before the Woman
Suffrage Convention Thursday. 1t is given
below in full:
AS / have often came before you direct
advocate OF woman suffrage and have ex-
pressed my convictions at various times
that woman's equality before the law Is the
next step to be taken In American liberty,
may be allowed to-day to swerve In the be-
ginning from this specific theme and speak
to you about woman's status In Germany.
There are so many Germans in this coun-
try who are either Indifferent or opposed to
our reform that an exposition Of their early
training may lead to a better understanding
of their peculiar aversions.
In understanding more definitely why
German women stand aloof and what are
the natural causes Of their baclSwardness,
we In this country may gain stronger con-
viction OF the propriety, Importance, and
necessity OF our reform. Circumstances
alter cases; our circumstances have all been
favorable to this grand agitation, while the
position and developments Of Germany have
been averse to II.
IL has been my privilege this last year to
visit again the old fatherland, to look with
maturer insight into the condition and as
pirations OF German women. In using this
universal term German women | mean, of
course, only the comparatively small class
OF thinking, progressive women, who, am
sorry to say, form in all countries, aud es-
pccially In Germany, only small percent
age OF the women OF the country. The
average woman OF every country Is not in
terested-is thoughtless, dull, apathetic.
Many Of them are Interested solely in the
adornment OF their own persons, differing
In degree only from the Indian squaw, who
paints and bedecks her body with bright
colors. Others take pride also In the adorn-
ment Of their houses, which is an improve
ment upon savage living, but the greatest
number are so absorbed in work, in getting
their daily bread, that from them no inter
est In new IDEAS, In new modes OF thought,
In woman suffrage can be expected. And
II is on account of this dizziness aud apathy
that we must hold conventions, stir up the
public mind, and dare not rest until we have
the majority on our side.
"The few says Stuart Mill, "whose ideas,
II adopted by others, would be an improve
ment on established practice, are the salt
of the earth. Without the human life
would become a stagnant pool" Through
agitation and education the few become
many; and then the few again go on to fur
ther works and progress. Right here let
me say why the woman question in Ger
many is not so far advanced as 1t is here
In England.
Because public agitation is considered
odious In Germany, IL Is condemned by
public opinion and suppressed by the state
authorities. The cause Of this aversion to
public speaking and practical agitation is
not difficult to trace. IT. lies In the pecu-
liarity OF Germany's political development.
The German people, until Of late, have not
been noted for political independence and
political sagacity. Their reputation was
that of being excellent scholars, artists;
steady, quiet, faithful workers.
Xhe characteristics, which are developed
by national contest and party strife found
no field Of action in Germany before the
late wars.
1t is only since the martial spirit of Bis
marck and the Emperor Wilhelm has
aroused and stimulated the ambition
of the German people that political life has
become OF paramount importance. But de-
priyed of public agencies TO enlighten men
and women, let us see what means German
women have employed TO rid themselves of
the thraldom OF ages Of oppression let us
us see In what way they overcome the
prejudices, the wrong conceptions of woman
and her sphere. They had to use different
tactics. They commenced at the opposite
end; instead of speaking about rights, they
took upon themselves larger duties; In
stead Of agitating In public, they worked
in Privately the slow process of education,
by making women more competent and
pecuniarily Independent they hope to OBJ
tain their emancipation.
/ concede that this is q hard, laborlous
way, and our sister workers need all
the help and sympathy we, In our advanced
position, can give to them. Inch by inch
they have to gain their ground, but this is
the German manner. They never jump at
conclusions, but arrive there by a slow la
hn. ,1aI,a ,,t ,Nfr
never accept facts on presentation; these
facts have to be tested from all sides, for
the Germans are born skeptics, and hyper
crical. Another characteristic of theirs Is
their overcautiousness. They fear to run any
risks, and Just see what great risks they
would run In extending to women the same
privileges as to men. Who knows what
will become OF ltH May not men be obliged
to take care of the babies, to stay at home
and cook the dinners, spend their evenings
in mending their clothes instead OF sitting
In the barroom, beer saloon, or club house
smoking their cigars and having a good
easy time among themselves. Just con-
slider all these changes. Why the whole
creation would be reversed, and man, hith-
erto the lord of creation, would have to
take a rear seat In this great theater of life.
This is actually the fear of those petty men
and women who cannot look further than
their church steeple, who are so Indifferent
that they will take no pains to gain clearer
insight, and are too selfconceted to listen
to truth and common sense, which would
free them from this bugbear. equal prlvi-
leges for women mean simply an extension
OF their present duties and opportunities,
so they can use and develop ali their God
given faculties and innate qualities OF
heart, Of intellect, and soul.
And whence comes this opposition to an
enlargement OF woman's sphere of action
1t comes from those men whose sense of
state duty is circumscribed being them
selves unaspiring and unpatriotic In the
true sense Of this word, they cannot see
why woman should not be satisfied with
her limited sphere Of action.
Show me man who Is imbued with the
true republican spirit, whose instinct Of
freedom is keenly developed, who believes
in the sacredness of human rights, and IL
will take very little to make him warm
defender and jealous co-worker In
woman's Acknowledgement. Most all the
men who have aided our cause were either
men OF superior minds, OF larger hearts, or
of gobler characters; their Keen intellect
realized the importance! their high sense of
justice. and their love for humanity, saw the
righteousness OF our demand, A good head
and strong heart are essential to become q
good and true woman suifraglst. And II
you hear man or woman arguing against
IL you muy eltner uOuOJ tne one or the
other. The principles upon which our cause
rests are those which every American born
youth ought to have learned In school |;
they are based upon equity, universal JUS
tice, civil liberty, and equal rights. There
is no excuse for the antagonism of the
American-born citizen to our reform.
Either universal suffrage is wrong aHd has
injured our growth, or II is right and has
made our nation what It is to-day. The
American people on the whole are so sure
OF its benefits, and stand so firm on their
feet, that 1t can test Its soundness in the
further practice OF woman suffrage,
This is the country for political expert
ments. We have tested many and have
succeeded, and we will succeed again, for
Justice, this all.powerful and supreme god.
dess, is ON our side, If unjust 1t will not
find harbor for itself or continue to have
footing in the universe for justice was