The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-01
SHOULD oME VOTE,

THT APPEAL. Is gratihed to be able 10 announce
70 Us readers that Gov. Taylor signed the bill ex.
tending 10 women tho right 10 hold the Office Of
County school superintendent This, let ny hope,
u but a tirSt step toward the cnfmnchlscmcnt OF
the women OF the state-MEMrnIs APPEAL
II Is much to be feared that this Is the "drst step
toward the cniranchisemcnt OF the women Of the
State" and We arc Of the opinion that Gov. Taylor
would not have signed the bill had he thought II
would lead 10 the cnimnchisemen Of women In
TENNESSEE. Has tbs APPEAJ thought Of what
would become Of our homes, who would rear.
train aud educate our sous aud daughters should
women be cnfmnchlscd aud become eligible 10
oilico2 BESIDES II Is only such women as Belva
Lockwood that demand tho exercise OF the ballot
Charleston sun.
Our friend OF The Sun is needlessly
alarmed. Tho question he puts as ITO who
are 10 rear, train and educate our SOM and
daughters should women be cniranchiscd?'
has been answered long ago by the
women OF England, who vote for and serve
as members OF school boards and vote for
and serve as members Of county govern
menis. II has been answered by the wo-
men Of Kansas, one Of the most prosperous
and progressive Of agricultural States, who
vote for and serve rs municipal officers
and vote Tor and serve as members Of school
boards. II has been answered by the wo-
men Of Massachusetts,, who vote for and
serve rs members Of school boards, and
without in the least derogating from their
dignity and purity as women, or
impairing their fine faculties as
wives and mothers. Intelligence does
not impair the womauliness OF women or
turn them from their natural functions.
IL makes them strong In all these respects
and fits them In a moro ample way 10
meet the demands OF maternity and per-
form the duties Of household. In Ken
lucky tho women arc moving for equal
rights, and in Michigan they have Just
had scho oil suffrage perfected, and a bill Is
now before tho Ohio Legislature
granting women municipal suffrage.
Tho sphere and obligations Of wo.
men are being enlarged aud increased
every year. They now engage in more
than three hundred trades. professions aud
law, medicine and architecture be-
Ing among them, and II Is generally adj
are faithful. earnest workers. And
20 ut the polls they are always found on
he side Of law and order. the advance
ncnt OF morality and education. Instead
Of being affected iniuriously aud losing
anything Of their modcsty or womanly re-
serve by attending at the polls, they
tho ballot and compel peace
and dcccncy. Our friend Of The Sun
need not fear that the world Is
going TO como 10 an end whom wo-
men in every state are made the equals Of
men before the law, and enjoy, rs they
should enjoy. every right and privilege
that men enjoy. They will continue all
the Same oloyo aud bo loved, 10 DO wood
aud TO wed, 10 bear children and train
them, and preside In homes made
brighter by their freedom and intelligence
as mothers aud wives who, In every sense.
are the equals Of their husbands, willing
and intelligent helpmcots, commanding
rcspcc, and Strengthening society from a
more rational standpoint than even tho
mos, favored rs TO suffrage have yet at
/ tanned TO.