Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-05-09
woMAN's VOTE.
The Power 1t Would be In the Making OF
Good Government for Cities.

Boston, short time ago, Mr.. L.. I'd
win Dudley, secretary of the Massachu-
sets Law and Order League, made the
following remarks:
Somebody has said that free gov
eminent is a series OF experiments, and
! it seems to me more than probable that
we are about TO experiment in the
direction OF municipal suffrage for
women. believe it will be conceded
that women upon all questions involv-
ing moral principle are more discern
ing and more uncompromising than
men. In all conditions OF life the aver
age woman has higher standard of
morality and lives up to it with more
fidelity than men OF the same class or
condition. We have only to examine
our records OF crimes of all grades,
from the highest to the lowest, to find
that this statement is strongly backed
by the statistics. come before you
to ask that women be given the right to
vote for all municipal and county Off
GERS, because the recent election in
Boston has convinced me that the good
women only need TO feel that any OF our
cherished institutions are endangered,
to come out and throw their influence
and their ballots on the side OF good
government. will not take time to
describe the scenes OF that stormy day,
for the facts are fresh in all your
minds. Tho women had realized that
the most imminent peril threatened our
free schools, and they rallied in suffi-
cient numbers to avert the peril. The
remonstrants have dwelt upon the lack
OF political intelligence OF our women,
as one reason for refusing them the
suffrage. should have no fear for the
Republic, if the male voters OF the
whole country average to possess a
tonth part of the intelligence of the
women of Dorchester who voted at the
last election.
The speakers for the remonstrants
must have Travelled beyond their in
structions, for / do not believe any wo-
men of Massachusetts, wish TO be re-
fused the suffrage because they are not
sufficiently intelligent to exercise it. Ii
the saloon-keepers and their followers
are deemed sufficiently intelligent, the
ladies who teach in our schools, day
and Sunday, the thousands who fill the
responsible positions in our stores and
offices, and those who make and move
society," may well be trusted upon this
ground. But the remonstrants urge an.
other objection. They claim that the
privilege of voting will impose very
onerous duties upon women which they
will regard as great hardship il com
PEELED to exercise them. This reason
is little stronger than the other. With
, some slight modification OF the law, the
| privilege of voting may be exercised
, with about as little hardship as writing
/ letter and going to the post-office ant
= dropping it into the box. Only sixty
per cent. of our men eligible TO vote dc
SO in Presidential years, and only abou
\ forty per cent. in other years. There
8 is no law now made, and none is likel,
to be made, which will compel an,
, person, man or woman, to vote, If tina
| person prefers not TO do so. / do no
, find the Inherent weakness and dislik,
of public life among women which i
, urged as reason why they should no
I vote. The thousands " he perform sucl
, acceptable service in offices and store
l and as teachers, contradict the state
1 ment, and the society life OF anothe
1 class is an equally strong refutation
The preparation for and participation
in a ball, to say nothing about givin,
one, involves more hard work and NOR
-, publicity than a woman need incur b
: qualifying herself to vote and voting.
"A few more such hearings as W
had here the other morning, with sue
reasons as were given why wome
should not vote, would be sure to max
mo full convert to woman suffrage
. ! was not little surprised to hear Oh
reverend gentleman from Danvers Gan
no one respects him more highly tina
9 - urge the lack OF courage as one {
S his reasons for refusing the suffrage {
: women. We allow many very tint
men to vote, and l can certify to tn
T fact that you deny the privilege TO g
: least one brave woman whom / hav
o seen in places of the greatest peril o
both land and water. exercising a sci
IS command and exhibiting fearles
a courage excelled by no man in the con
IL pany. More than once have seen he
!. cool and brave when strong men at he
side were demoralized by fear i adm
IL that the same woman who faced hostil
II Ute Indians with as much courage 6
II Custer ever displayed, can be terribl
frightened by harmless little nous,
but you will not convince me that Gov
ardicc is such peculiar characterize
u of the women of our land as warran
II you in refusing them part in its Co
70 eminent You know how much MOI
bravely women endure pain and suffe
ing, and how much more calmly the
face death than many men. Let ,
u hope that the remonstrants will in f
ture instruct their speakers to drop tn;
II argument The representatives of Il
> remonstrants laid great stress upc
20 the point that voting carried wit
it the responsibility to fgh
. This is another absurd prop
a sition hardly worthy a moment
= consideration. Military duty is no
. imposed upon all able-bodied male cit
"a Gems between the ages of eighteen ar
q forty-fve, with these exceptions: ju
! tees and clerks of courts of recor,
o registrars OF probate. registrars
deeds, sheriffs, persons who have he
commissions in the militia for FIVE year
D, ministers Of the gospel. and practicir
"A musicians. officers of State hospital