Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-07-10
THE DIVIDING LINE.

The Womnu's suffrage 1hsVemeEt Retarded
by IA TOO Distinctive Policy.
Nothing can be more contrary to ma
ture, reason and common sense, than the
gulf which at present exists between
the interests and activities Of women
and men. With the increasing diversi-
ties of social position, and the growing
complexities arising from the subdi-
vision OF labor, the sexes tend to become
more segregated from each other as civ
ilization advances. The result, writes
ii. b. Blackwell, in Woman's Journal,
is an unjust subordination of women to
men, whore men and women work to-
gether, and mutual ignoring of each
other, where men and women work
apart
We have separate colleges and profess
sional schools for women and for men;
women's boards of missions, women's re-
lief corps, women's press associations,
etc, all distinct from mems institutions
for similar objects. We have women's
clubs and mems clubs, but as yet, few
or no clubs of women and men. Even
the woman suffrage movement, which
in theory and purpose means the union
of the sexes in the worlds work, is very
generally regarded merely as a ''wom-
ans movement" AS consequence it
sometimes becomes positively divisive
separating the sexes instead of unit
ing them. Naturally the large majori-
ty of active suffragists in State and Ma
tion have hitherto been women. But it
has long seemed to me that this virtual
separation of the sexes, wherever it ex-
lists, is a source of weakness in the equal
suffrage movement. So long as men re-
gard the cause as exclusively or prima-
rily "woman's movement" they will
avoid and neglect it; so long as they do
not feel it to be their own work to re-
Heve women from present legal, polit-
ical, social and religious disabilities, so
long these disabilities will remain.
1t has sometimes seemed to me that
philanthropic and reformatory organiza-
tions might be more efficient if they
should adopt the Quaker method of sep
arate meetings of men and women for
certain purposes, and joint meetings of
both for general business. If some Of
our Quaker friends would give us an in
side view of the workings of their sys-
tenn of separate and joint organization
of the sexes, it might throw light upon
difficult subject. What is needed is
to awaken men to sense Of equal re-
sponsibility for the promotion of more
perfect union between women and men
in the home, in the school, in the
church, In industry, in society, in liter
ature, in politics-in short, in every de-
partment of human thought and activ-
ity. How to bring this about is the
problem. The system often adopted OF
late, as a sop to Cerberus, of advisory
boards" of women without power to car
ry out their suggestions, is mere eva
sion, and method of appearing to do
something, while in fact doing nothing.
On the other hand, the Grange, the
Grand Army, the Prohibition party, the
Qaaker, Unitarian and Universalist de-
nominations, and the Methodists in
their election of lay delegates and
transaction of church affairs, have all
tried joint action by women to a limited
extent, and have found it an element
of strength. Why would it not be we'll
for American women also to organize in
assistant Republican and Democratic
clubs, like the Primrose and Liberal
Women's Leagues of England?
As things are to-day, men know hard
ly anything of the public work of wom-
en-, and women know almost as little OF
the public work of men. Neither fully
appreciate the work of the other, or do
justice to each others characters and
motives. Women exaggerate the cor
ruption Of politics and depreciate the
motives of politicians, while men un-
duly dread the impractical and pro.
scriptive spirit which women sometimes
manifest in their exercise of rights al.
ready attained. Each sex stands sadly
in need of the friendly counsel and CO.
operation of the other.
VIII not the local suffrage leagues OF
the country seriously consider these
suggestions, and try to secure as active
members and managers an equal pro.
! portion of women and men? Upon the
non-partisan and non-sectarian platform
of the National American w. S A., mer
of all parties may consistently affiliate
without sacrificing their connections,
political or religious, but using these tc
I Mps HANNAu WurrArr C.n-uss