The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-23
WOMEN IN POLITICS.
Their Energies Wrongly Dr.
rected, Kate Field Says.
DEnuNclAnon OF THE ". c. T.u.
'.Men and Women Are EsernalIy Equal
and EternaIIy DEasrenss-Ss Sunday
Law wanted Here.

The average woman Is represented in the
average mother, whose FIRST duty Is 70 gov
ern her children No European observer
ever visited the republic who did not mar
vel at the lack OF discipline in American
youth, and the absence OF respect shown 10
parents. No intelligent American viii
deny these glaring facts. The d0nbter
need only visit Q fashionable summer re-
sort 10 have his mind ses as rest o. this
score.
II must be admitted. then, that tho aE-
erage woman does not govern her children,
who are the units Of the republic Is she
likely. therefore, 70 be versed IN the art and
science Of governing anythingg Yet the
average woman Is deeply imbaed with
sentiment, and through sentiment viii, If
reused to effort, exert great, If not 3
beneficial. political influence.
Therefore, though women are rot versed
IN the science and art OF governing. they
are great and unknown quantity Ia shap-
ing the destiny OF this republic When
passion takes the place Of reason no prophet
can predict the resuit. Ii is, then, from
this same average woman, whose intellsct
is unframed, whose Judgment is faulty, but
whose sentiment Is always 70 the fore. that
most Is to be feared IN politics.
As an abstract right women are as much
entitled ~ vote as men. Wendell Phillips
told the whole truth in stating that '.men
and women are eternally equal and eter-
nally different" Because Of this eternal
difference. which makes each sex so at
fractive T. the other, man does not repre-
sent woman at the polls, and 10 cali
suffrage universal which excludes half
humanity Is q sarcasm. Did believe that
all men should vote / should today belong
To the Woman's Suffrage Association; but
as, from my point OF view, suffrage should
be privilege-and as universal manhood
suffrage il a CHASTITY mistake that il piung-
ing this country into grievous errors In
the present reign OF universal ignorance /
have no desire TO see every woman voting.
What women have done for politics south
of the Mason and Dixon's line history re-
cords. What Northern women are doing
is shown by the well organized body OF
energetic and aggressive women known as
the "Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, who mistake hysterical sentimen-
tally for morality, and whose knowledge
Of the English language is as limited as
their knowledge Of human nature, Tenn
perance does not mean total abstinence,
which is the doctrine OF Mohammed.
Christ came eating and drinking. His first
MIRAGE was the turning Of water into wine
Prohlbitsonists have no RICH to call them
selves either temperate or Christian.
And now female Pr0hihitionists enter the
arena Of politics as promoters OF q third
party, the object of which is Co abolish al
cohoi and make humanity neral by act of
congress. incidentally the same organiza-
ton wishes Sunday newspapers and sun
day trains and other recreations for the
people annihilated because its members be-
ieve in Puritan Sunday.
The facts that every nation ON earth has
stimulant. that Nature produces alcohol
in almost every plant, that the world is
ing soberer as its population becomes
more prosperous and intelligent, that pro-
hibitory laws from the days of Eve never
have prohibited, ali are thrown to the
Winds, and state legislatures and con-
gress are ballied into passing laws that
are opposed to personal liberty, the sup
posed foundation Of our republic
Alcohol Is poison, shrek sentimental
fanatics, and stSaightway congress and
many states make ii obligatory on children
attending public schools, for which the en-
tire nation is taxed, 20 be taught physiol-
ogy and hygiene out Of books prepared by
the Woman . Christian Temperance Union.
These books cannot bear the test of
science; in certain respects they are an in
suit 10 intelligence. / contend that Pro-
hibitionists have no more right TO
force their dogmas on our school chill
dren than have Catholics or Protestants.
Do these third party female politicians
SET an example 70 men in their manner OF
Troseiytizing2 They have not hesitated TO
enter saloons and destroy property because
some OF their characterless. badly-reared
husbands, fathers, sons or brothers have
died drunkards. They have no more right
60 destroy barrel of whisky belonging TO
another than they have TO burn a house.
Thus far in our history women have
excFted hanetul influence on politics
first, as giving aid and comfort to the
Rebellion; second, as consolidating a po-
lygamous theoeracy. third. as being prime
movers in passing sumpsuary laws as In
temperate as they are unrepublican, and
which beget lying hypocrisy end cowardice
Southern women during the rebellion
were governed by passion. Mormon
women are aetuated by dehasing religion
Female Prohihitionists are controlled by
personal suffering or sentimental fanati.
cisfa.
That women will eventually exert a be-
niga influence Oh politics, do not doubt.
bat that blessed era viii not arrive until
prejudice and feeling yield 20 reason, and
knowledge Of the world is based on more
extended observation than can he obtained
by revolving round the family teacup.
There Is ne more diseouragiag spectacle
than good woman earnestly and az
gresslveiy IN the wrong, Unknown to her
self she IL power for evil, and justice signs
At the terrible waste Of energy. At present
the Iaited States is IN tae clutches OF this
form Of female politician, and believers in
women as 4 rezeneratiug influence hide
their heads. PRAYING FOR her illumination.