The Portland daily press., 1889-02-18
An Echo from oxford County,

Noticing an article in the PRESS of Feb. LIST
in relation to woman suffrage, entitled A
voice from Oxford county, felt constrained
to briefly reply to few points therein con-
tanned. The writer of the article evidently
has the advantage and experience in
writing. Doubtless when she was engaged in
the instruction of the youth was battling
with the stern realities Of life as wife and
mother Although the article is learnedly
written, still to my darkened vision it seems
labored, and from one on whose shoulders
maternal cares have lightly rested. 1t is
true that ladies in SO called high life will
naturally object to the care and study of be-
coming versed in politics. Wives of govern
ment officials by reason of their position can
live in ease and luxury willing at all times
to do the will of their lords, knowing full
well If woman suffrage should become estab-
lished, there would be likely to be an unseat-
ing OF some OF the unsavOry incumbents of
high places. Again there will be those who
taking their cue from society, will as nat
urally fall into line as the taking Of the duck
to water. The average woman not educated
in politics! How will she compare with the
hordes of foreigners who come here from the
old monarchies of Europe with anarchy
coursing through every vein, with no knowl,
| edge of our Institutions, needs or wants?
| In brief space of time they are naturalized
| to do bidding of the political bosses. The
doubtful patriotism of the man who does not
| vote Who would doubt the patriotism of the
man who would refuse to vote for bad man
Would it not be in keeping with the princi-
| Piles of an honorable man not to vote rather
| than to vote for man whom he knew to be
unworthy Of the trust imposed? Besides
what proportion of men are actually actu-
ated by patriotic principles? How would
they compare with the thousands that are
governed strictly by party? As mother of
sons and grandmother of grandsons feel that
Ihave a duty to perform in educating them to
act and vote on the side Of morality. A few
years since in lecture at Auburn, Me-, by
Mrs. Livermore she made this statement, 81
am tired and sick Of the sound of smart
men," Not long before on train in the
West aboard of which were delegates
enrOute to o convention for the nomination
she heard from two delegates the following
conversation. One of the delegates was en-
deavoring to persuade the other to vote for
certain man. The reply he received was
drunkard, heis an adulterer and I'll never
vote for him r To this the former made
reply, Il don't care If he is, he is smart"
This is the patriotism, if we choose to lname
II thus, that governs too many in these latter
days. We know that many oppose granting
the right. Many clergymen oppose it as in
like manner they did the election of Lincoln,
twenty out of twenty-three opposing him in
his own city. Springfield, ILL.,, when all knew
he was opposed to the extension of slavery,
a means 10 an end-the final liberation of the
slave. 1t came, and sooner too than the most
sanguine were led to expect. As that great
reform came so will the rights of suffrage to
women or l am no prophet The time has
been that wOman's property at marriage
became the property of her husband. Today
she holds her own and has proved herself as
capable as her lord and master. Suppose we
petition to change all this back? Do we
hear a howl? In these days woman is
granted the privilege of engaging in business.
She avails herself of that privilege, and in
many cases supports her husband and per-
haps children. The husband is allowed to
vote but she has no voice in the protection of
her rights She may have a neighbor, Ia
shiftless fellow,) he can vote her property
away perhaps out of pure spite. she is help
less to cancel that vote, Look at Mrs. Dow
of New Hampshire, a railroad president
from her own exertions, wealthy but no
voice in relation to taxes yet being and car
rying the heart of woman she is importuned
by mendcants for charity, by priests for
money to build churches and thousand and
one projects which the mind of man can
invent. Still she has no voice in the leyying
of taxes or of directing wha. shall be done
with them, X