The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-10
WOMAN IN POLITICS.

[ A Female Taxpayer ON mrS. BRrber'S Case.
A Voice Lifted In Behalf Of the Sup
pressed Sex.
To The Editor Of G'G EateIligaatr.
sIR: Your columns have bean open to
men in politics, but Saturdays issue was
the first one in which I have noticed "wo-
men In politics" and IwRnt to say, aa an
American citizen, that am proud there
Ia such woman in New York State as
Mrs. Lucy Sweet Barber, woman who
dared to do right. Would to God we he'd
such bravo woman in every State. We
men Rs well "a men exhibit the most
exalted virtue when they enter in the
concerns OF their country. There Gro no
mems rights, no women's rightg-but hu.
man rights, and women arc deprived OF
them. They are placed on c level with
dumb brutes. A horse we'll fed, groomed
and stabbed, is sRtiHfed; perhaps women
ought to be, and would be were her men.
tai capacities on level with those OF this
animal. Bat it is humilisLing and de-
grading to our sex TO think Of tho unequal
position she holds with the male portion
OF humanity. And II the Constitution OF
the United States fails to give to women
equal righta with an American Citizsn, 1t
is time for the sixteenth amendment.
The very thing that our toretathsrs pro-
nounced piece Of tyranny on the part OF
Standardization without Representa-
TOMS nov being imposed upon the
weaker sex. They are made the subjects
OF law without any will in the matter.
The women's aufrsge question generally
has been dealt with lightly. 1t has bssn
ridiculously slandered. The women who
have received q baptism Of fire, and entered
the lecture field, have been pictured as
cosrse and masculine in their manners
and dress; aud with this bit Of strategy
the men have deluded the fair sex into
believing that it would be unwomanly,
unbscoming and masculine, TO 30 TO the
polls and vote; that, somehow or other,
| II che came 10 contact with the polls, her
polish OF refinement and modeHty would
get rubbed of. II the polls are this dc.
moralizing 1t 10 time women were there TO
refine them. No place haa ever exhibited
the refinement Of civilization and social
order where women were held in con-
tempt and their rights not properly res
pected and preserved.
The women reiormers and lecturers who
are agitatiug the rights OF their sex are
among the best educated and most refined
OF our land. The same argument that
gives 10 men the right to voteapplies to wo-
man.
Isit any wonder that We are called the
weaker sex, and are told that We are con-
stantly in need Of something to lean upon,
like the honey Buckls upon the tree or
fence? That does very well for poetiCal
sentiment, but pity some poor women
with the shRky fonCes they HAYS to sup.
port them. And again We are told that to
be wife and mother is our sphere. There
is not GUd fearing wife and mother in
our land who does not feel the impor-
lance OF such q position, and there Is no
truer or more elevating one in the world.
But this very position makes II the more
important that we should have personal
right to help make tho laws that govern
our children and ourselves.
And 1t is said that wives would vote as
their husbands do. Suppose they did;
that would be no argument either agRinot
or In their favor. There are laws existing
that do not Justify women. II they had
voice in the making Of these laws, no
doubt they would vote their own senti.
msnts.
God speed the day when tho daughters
Of America will enjoy equal rights with
her fellow citizens.
A WOMAN TAXPAYER.
Wheeling, Jan. 9.