The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-01
a Voice From oxford county,


To the Editor of the Press:
In the late papers there are some points
among the claims and arguments of woman
| sutfragists, which claim particular attention.
Are these rights, if granted and assumed to
be taken as privileges, only. or do they bring
memorable responsibilities? If the latter is
| true, itdoes not seem to be thoroughly real
lied in the proposition that, if the right to
vote be granted women, it may be left OPP
tional to use. Suppose such law were
passed for men? We know there are men
who do not vote, and we know how their pa
triotism is regarded. What do the advocates
of woman's suffrage think? Do you imagine
that those who will decline to vote are so
few and uninfiuential that they will not be
missed? Do you believe that the women
who DO vote. will be so unanimously in favor
Of all things pure and good that those silent
sisters can be easily set one side? Every
one knows that the ballot holds vital issues
on National prosperity, reputation, existence
Ii a great mass OF people, who have never
used 1t, are granted the power of doing so,
are they in condition to better affairs while
they considerlthat power optional--a privilege
10 lay aside when distasteful? Is not this a
grave question when so large part of our
women, among the intelligent and refined
anly?
1t is true that there are many men who do
not estimate their responsibility in this d.
rection but we do not desire more such voters
-or aof-voters' The writer would by no
means wish any law of coercion, but would
ask IL there Is not large number of wives
mothers and teachers who, for sincere rea,
sons, prefer to influence their country as
they have done. for more than hundred
years, to accepting the new and more public
position? Ii those who claim suffrage fol
hGa nv n
easily of allowing any who prefer to with.
draw, to do so; if not, is their judgement
good?
Whatever influence political life may have
upon woman's character, is Queen Victo-
ria case In point? No woman in America
and few, perhaps, in the world, has such q
multitude to attend TO every minute domes-
tic need. Moreover, the majesty of her high
position and dignity of royalty are most Eff
fectual guards of her womanhood What
american woman can be SO entrenched and
Dedged In by any.p0ssible rank? Who, of
the most partial to woman's suffrage but
can realize that there is little comparison be-
tween Victoria with her Cabinet ministers,
and lady at the American polls! As to her
reign There are host of brilliant names,
masculine, too, connected with it. some OF
which are as closely Identified with her rule
as her own title. Victoria's reign in Eng
land, is not Vctoria's reign, in the sense
that Catharine's reign in Russia, acds Cath
dIlut reign.
1t Is an unsolved problem to some of MS to
understand how woman can attend to her
nome duties, especially the rearing of chill
dren, and yet acquire that intuition, grasp
and tendency of events, and Technical
knowledge, that comes with an intelligent
idea of political life. There are those among
us who do not belive In allowing children OF
immature Judgment to select their own
church or physician. do not know that the
children spoken of in late paper were OF
Immature Judgment. but i appeal to the
Christian fathers and mothers Of the State
OF Maine whether they desire condition
IKE this In their own families?
In nearly five years of boarding-schoo
teaching, the writer has had occasion to see
some bitter results in allowing youthful
Judgment its scope that it might be educated,
unbiased and unbroken. Politics NAV NOT
cause family to disagree but there Is A
subtler danger In a lack of unity, a drifting
away, without sacred home bonds. Some
who recall how mothers love- mothers
faith, mothers WILL" blessed our early. lives
and were sheet anchor In after days, can
hardly wish to see families with this state .of
agreeing to disagree" through our land
But II is not necessary for a woman to
have all this political knowledge in order TO
vote. No, but this is only the door to wom-
en- legislators andlexcuto rs and how the aver
age American woman can enter the arena OF
politics and still be her children's mental.
physical, religious and political guide, is a
question she must decide with those children
and with God.