The sun., 1890-11-18

since the publicatson Of acocunts Of fashion
abls entertainments was resented becanss
Il brought the names Of ladies into promi-
nence. Now such functions are reported 30
. matter Of course, and feminine leaders Of
fashion arc almost as we'll known to the
public ss leaders In politics. In every part
Of the Union fashionable intelligence is .
conspicuous feature Of the newspapers. and
the ladies OF social dlstinction In New York
have national reputation.
Women, too. meet and debate In clubs and
associations. They hold public Offices. and
they are not abashed when they appear ss
speakers on public platforms; yet they
evince no desire whatever for q share IN the
government. They might control by the
sheer force Of superior numbers, but they
do not want to seize the power. II they 80
desired. they could make the policy Of this
country purely feminine policy; for. Of
course. they can get the ballot whenever
they choose to unite In asking for
1t. During tho late municipal cam
paign q large number OF women OF high
fashion went so far as to organize them
selves In support Of particular Ticket
thereby stimulating greater multitudos OF
women to unwonted, though less methods
cal, efforts In opposition to them. Yet not
the sl;ghtsst desire for woman outrage has
been expressed by either party. They show
no discomfort with their representation by
mon, provided they be men Of the party
they favor.
Tho little experience Of the organised fem
inine politicians In that campaign was hard
ly Of kind to stimulate them to 60 further
In the same direction. It was bitter lesson
for them, and probably brought out many
all their circulars. their pretty badges, their
electioneerins persuasions In churches and
drawing rooms, their prayers. and their en-
treaties, they produced no effect whatever
ON the result. unless to make their
defeat the moro overwhelming by
stimulating their political enemies to
greater diligence. Even In the very
circles where their influence IL presumably
most powerful. the opposition found much
Of its most resoiuts support. Their CAM
psisn accordingly was without avail II was
futile and hopeless from tho beginning. and
now that they have 90 found out them.
solves. there has probably succeeded . revul-
sion against the new business which will
prevent any future repetition Of tho expert
ment. at least under their present political
restrictions.
The result shows very plainly that the
only way for women to influence elections
practically Is to get the privilege Of voting
themselves, and yet they do not give a
thought to that lesson Of the canvass. They
may think Of It some day, but at present
their discontinue Is 90 complete that
eyerythinp cOnneetAd with nolitics IA renul.
sivo to them.
Yet we are glad they went in. They got .
valuable lesson. American women generally
take too little interest In politics. Jhey
made the campaign rather moro interesting,
and. on the whole. they did far less harm to
their ticket than it suffered from tho clerical
politicians. In fact. they did very well,
considering their inexperience, and they
were wholly unselhsh. As the Methodist
women are ready to expend their efforts for
the glory Of their Church without asking
any share In its government, 30 these en-
thusiastic women worked for what their
pastors told them was the publication Of
politics without thought OF gaining any
political advantage for themselves. II |
was q purely charitable, an altruistic effort,
stimulated by delusIon, 1t is true. and in |
dicative OF credulity and political ignorance,
but none the less creditable to feminine |
goodness Of heart. The trouble was with
men about public matters OF which they |
knew nothing as to which they were
wholly misinsormed; and they promulgated |
lies just a. boldly as II they had been
truths.