The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-31
A woMAN's PROTEST,
Against Cranky Senator's Effort in Behalf
OF Mnman's SUFFRAGE

Mrs. Caroline f. Co1hin, in reply to Senator
Glairs report OF the senae's special committee on
woman's suffrage, has written magnificent letter
to the cranky New Hampshire senator Her reply
IS based on that dignitary having misquoted and
Observation-Disclosures of which is surprising-an
extract from former letter of Mrs. Corbln on the
subject and so pointed and strong that it deserves
to be put ON record Among other things, size
SAYS:
women who are not wives and mothers. Very true
and when women vote ana hold Office there viii be
more of thCm. true regard for the best interests
OF society demands that theirnumber shall be re-
duced by al natural and reasonable means, but
when political rewards are offered as the price of
services in public life, do you moi believe that many
and those not OF the weak ana ignorant but Of the
more gifted and intellectual, will be tempted TO
toreSo marriage and motherhood for the sake Of
winning lhem! Woe beude the land
which thus offers its political truss
ai premiums tor childless womcni The morals
ol society are corrupt enough now. What do you
suppose they will become when not to be married
not 10 be mother, is the prerequisite for wonans
success in Il chosen and tempting career? ! speak
adyisedly, and in the light of thirty years OF pro
found and piayCrlul study OF social problems when
/ say that the direct tendency Of woman Sin tiIaf,o
would lie to form class of women such as held
high court in Greece in the days preceding its down
fall; women brilliant and intellectual, hut wholly
which chaTaetcrles the Anglo-S0Xon ideal OF
Womanhood, may say the Christian ideal a. we'll
to relceate the wives and mothers OF this republic
TO secondary and SlhServient place ami share the
political leadership ~ this great and free country
with an Oligarchy of AspasaSy
You say that you have only proposed the meas
urc because women have asked y0u 10 don't. The
same plea was made by your great o5cn!tor in the
In The present Instance the Ma
contains but the minimum o. truth. There
are fifteen million of women il lis country
i quote Your own stltisics--o of voting age. VIII
you kindly inform rs what proportion oflhat fifteen
millions you have heard from You ay that these
women are being governed without their consent.
Is II possible that yot sincerely believe that IF
teen millions Of American women could be govern
rather Eel FEEL ASSURED dat i bare majority ti
of that number did NOT consent, for what
nnpear To them To be good ana sufficient rcas0us &c
be governed by indirect rather than 10y direct rep
rtsentation there would be q revolution within
twenty four hours, With every right OF agitation at
their command which man possesses free sneech,
free assembly, the right of petition, . pres ever
ready to disseminate their views, and many pliVi-
leecs of courtesy beside that men lay no claim to
,yhatpoMer could Withstand the moral force of
any demand which these = 0Oo GO should initetly
with what show of reason do you compare free
horn American women 10 the degraded and ooka
men as their masters As Il matter of fact
the power OF men over women is not grttert
than that OF women over mon. Nature lays hol
infant man helpless creature in the lap OF his
mother He is in her power for lie or for death,
and for the frs, ten or fifteen years of his existence
and that during the forming and determining lC
Rod OF his Career8 period TOO, in which he is al.
swerabie 10 no other law than that OF his homehcg
power over HIM physical, intellectual, ana moral,
Is % pcarly supreme that no power which he can
urrogaic over her later years CyeIb9lauee II
Under ordinary CIRCUMSTANCES the iaithinl InteH!'
scout mother may make Of her son man ne essentials
ofmanrerS and morals whatsoever She viii. lfAmcri-
ctn men were today narrowed minded. tyraLnical
vicious creatures they are charged with being d.;
the woman suaragiss united TO De legislators
for the whole nat ION, IL could only he because
tl,r mothers had misunGst0ud on NEGLECTED. nc
opportunities which nature puts Into ineli Aa0Gs
81 E q charge is tremendous indictment Against
ttt ihoi,erhood ol tae natvA' anu u ~ eouW'. u,