The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-03-21
Woman Suffrage.
REV. D. M. sLEETH'

Ind domestic considerations sttat
bear upon the suffrage que suNon.
Woman's physical structure is as a
rule finer and more fragi' le than
Her sensibilities are cor
respondingly acute. 1t will not
explain this fact to say that her
secluded life has establ ished the
condition, for each succt ,ssive gen.
Grafton of men and " omen have
the same origin and ye' ; the physi-
cal difference is manit est in very
early life.
There is evidently a divine pur-
pose in this. What more evident
purpose than that tn is finer mould
and more gentle touc b should stand
at the fountain h. lad of the race
and give form and direction to it's
Juvenile beginnings.
By an irrevoca BILE decree of ma
ture, woman has been placed there.
Even when none other can sympa-
thize with her in the tender con-
nection, woman, in the quiet of the
home, begins to mould the charac-
ter of the generations yet to be.
Later, when motherly tenderness
may share it's joys with compan-
ion, she yet holds the secret springs
of the young life in her grasp.
Ruder hands may not yet be en-
trusted with those delicate respon-
sioilities. This very fact seems to
suggest its converse that ruder
responsibilities ought not to break
in upon these sacred duties.
Now let it be always borne in
mind, as both logic and observa-
ton in the limited field of observa-
ton now open, attest that suffrage
and official life are inseparable.
They are but parts of the same
whole. The first may at any time
and by an irresistible necessity of
its own nature pass into the second.
Who can be blind to the fact that
the delicate conditions incident to
wifehood and motherhood, and the
helpless dependence of infant hu-
manly upon the wife and mother for
its very sustenance would be.nat-
ural barriers to the proper and
timely discharge of the duties Of
tentimes of the elective franchise
and more frequently of official life ?
Is it not q reasonable presump-
tion that an allwise God, in order
ing the family and it's elements,
had in view the providing the sa-
cred quiet of the home as the holy
sanctuary where these high func-
tions should be exercised and their
sacred influences set in operation,
removed from the ruder blasts and
less refined influences of public life
and activity? ..
| Who does not know the sensitive
susceptibility of the delicate and
refined nature of women during
these days of new and growing re-
sponsibilities? And who is ignor-
ant of the fact that through her
the very sources of later life may
be unconsciously poisoned '
| Into this holy of holies it is not
fit that other than the exalted. the
far-reaching and womanly duties
of home life should enter. Tender
regard for the priceless interests of
the mother with her treasures seems
to stand guard at the door and bid
other cares seek other shoulders to
bear them. ..-
| Domestic refinement and the hal
lowed enjoyments Of the charmed
circle seem to say, let not these cur
tains be rudely pulled aside, while
acknowledged propriety in view OF
these considerations joins with
feminine modesty in saying, let
not the drapery Of the home be laid
off for the habiliments of the halls
of office or even of the brief strug-
giles to OBTAIN official position for
self or for favorite candidate.
Take away the mother from the
home, though but temporarily, and
you leave open a broad avenue for
the entrance of hurtful influences
that no hand but hers can check.
You pluck out the keystone Of
the arch from its place and ere it
is reset the goodly structure is a
wreck. Or if to obyjate this neces-