Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-06-28
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
what It Requires of Women and the Posi-
ton III whieii 1t Places Them.

tion In which 1t Places Them.
If women are called ON TO vote, they
will feel it their duty to examine pubs
lie and political questions; they win
take much greater interest in them
than they now do. They will study
these questions, read about them, talk
about them with each other. with their
husbands and sons; and thus the femi-
nine element will go much more into
public life, and woman will become
the companion and fellow-worker with
man In this matter also, rs she has
gradually become his companion in 50
many other things. For, as we can not
fail to observe, the progress of the race
has been along this line of develop
ment-in making woman and man
more and more associates and COM
panions in every thing. In the savage
state, woman is the servant and man
the master. In the second or Oriental
state, she is the plaything of the man.
In both the steps of development, she
is regarded as an inferior being. inca
pable of holding equal t0mpafiionship
with her lord and MASTER But in the
third step of human progress, which
came from the alliance of Christianity
with the Teuton;c races. woman rose
into companionship. This change has
been steadily going on. She shares
with man in his education, his amuse-
ments, his work, his religion. Her
mind, heart and hand become in all
things more and more allied with his.
An who can doubt that this co-opera-
ton gives us much higher type of So
cietyp All we ask Is that another step
shall be taken in the same direction,
and that woman shall become the COM
panion of man in his political aud pub
| duty. as she already is in almost
every other.
This would be an argument for
woman suffrage in England, France or
Germany. But the reason is much
more cogent as regards this country.
Where the theory of government is
that of an oligarchy or an aristocracy,
it is logical and consistent to keep the
power in few hands But here we
proceed oh an entirely opposite theory.
We say Government by few may
be better for time, but it Is more
dangerous in the long run" An oii-
garchy or aristocracy is in state of
unstable equilibrium, always liable to
topple over in popular eonvulsion
But here we confidc the power to the
whole people, we take in all interests,
all convictions, we let these balance,
correct neutralize each other, and
thus m, dify all extreme tendencies,
and then we educate the whole people.
So we have a governing power which
is able to correct its own errors by the
force of publ, opinion, and to re-
strain its own extravagancies. Ithas
the power of automatic self-regulation.
That is our system; and we have to
stand by it, whether we like it or not.
Our security consists in putting the
| whole thought, interest opinion, con-
science that there is into the public
service. You may possibly prefer an
aristocratic government, but you car
not have it here What we must do i:
to take this government of the people
by the people, for the people, and max,
it as wise and as Just as we can, by
putting into it every element of hu
man nature, and so causing it in deco
and truth. to be a government of th'
: largest majority. This nation is found
ed on faith in man, on the belief tina
man, in the long run, means to d.
right; and if you can have so much o
humanity interested and active as t.
/ control the influence of local interest
personal and private ambitions an'
: party prejudices. you will secure +
J the whole people the greatest prosper
; ity and peace.
And now we ask. Why should one
half of the people be excused fror
taking part in these great and all-im
portant duties Why. in a govern
e ment by the whole, allow one-half
bury this particular talentin the earth
: / leave it to others to speak of SUI
frage as Alright or a privilege. / spea
of it as duty. Not every right is
I duty. but every duty involves righ
> 1t is sometimes said that whatever
1 right is also duty. Not neeessaril,
a ] may have the right to many thing
n which | consider ihexpedient or vi
b necessary. But it is always true tina
when it is my duty to do . thing.