The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-25
THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN.

THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN.
It is atural that the women assembled at
Washington to celebrate the fortieth ami
versary of the equal suffrage movement
should exploit themselves, as the programme
of the week indicates that they will do, upon
being the direct and only cause of the indus
trial and educational advancement of their
sex which has taken place within that time.
In the matter of suffrage rights actually
cured they have comparatively little to re-
joice over, and where such privileges have
been enjoyed for the greatest length of time
it would probably be difficult for them to
point out any striking i'm proyements in the
administration of public affairs above the
methods in operation where only
men have the franchise. At all events they
seldom dwell upon the results already
gained by the women who vote, but prefer to
point to future millennium when all women
shall have the ballot and to take unlimited
credit to themselves for the privileges they
enjoy in other directions It is true, without
doubt, that the suffrage agitation, continued
as it has been, for forty years by energetic
and aggressive advocates, has had its effect in
changing the status of women. With its at
tention so constantly called to the feminine
problem by the demands of e few among the
the sisterhood for equal political rights as the
only means of righting their wrongs, the
public could not fail to consider the wrongs
more or less seriously and to form its opinions
accordingly.
But if there had been no other power at
work it is highly probable that the revolution
which has taken place would have been far
less complete. Many causes have united to
bring about the changed condition of women
other than the suffrage cry, and of these the
civil war was the chief. When the men left
their homes and went to the defense of their
country it came about as a most natural
hind took up the work they had laid down
The wives, and sisters and daughters went
into shops. and Offices, and into the fields
and other occupations previously consid-
cred un womanly, not as a matter of pol
icy or by way of asserting themselves, but
out of necessity. When the war ended, with
hundreds of thousands of those men under
the sod, the women continued in the same
course, still of necessity, and the generation
which has arisen since then has profted by
their example, and finds the way to self-sup-
port, once so narrow and uncertain, now
broad and sure. With increased responsible
ties and business experience came the call for
a removal of legal disabilities, and for prop
erty rights, the need of which had not hith-
erto been widely felt. All reasonable de-
mands in this line have been promptly met,
and, indeed, often anticipated by the law
makers-the same men so dercely assaulted
by the. suffragists "tyrants"-until it
is a matter of common remark that
in many States married women have more
rights than any other class To such an ex-
tent have these rights been bestowed that
supreme judge in Pennsylvania is quoted as
saying that married women engaged in bust
ness in that State are licensed pirates"
The women who have had most to do with
effecting this change have gone their way |
sional fields, and have in the main cared little
for, or have had but an incidental interest in
the suffrage movement. 1t is, perhaps, I'M
kind, just at this juncture, to dispute the
claims of the celebrating suffragists TO all the
honors but truth demands that word should
be said for the other class, who are not likely
to hold conventions.