Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-31
THE DIVIDING LINE.

The WOman's Suffrage Movement Retarded
by a 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 mon. 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. Tho result, writes
II. b. Blackwell, in Woman's Journal,
Is an unjust subordination of women to
men, where 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 mon;
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 ''wom-
ans movement" As a consequence it
sometimes becomes positively divisive
separating the sexes instead of unit
ing them. Naturally, the large ma jori-
ty of active sulfragists in State and Ma
ton 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 mon re-
gard the cause as exclusively or prima-
rily a ''wOman'S movement" they will
avoid and neglect it: so long as they do
not feel it to be their own work to re-
lievo 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-
lions might be moro efficient if they
should adopt the Quaker method of sep
aratc meetings of men and women for
certain purposes, and joint meetings of
both for general business. If some of
side view of the workings of their Sys-
tenn of separate and joint organization
of the sexes, it might throw light upon
a difficult subject. What is needed is
to awaken men to 4 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, i'll 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 limited
extent, and have found it an element |
of strength. Why would it not be well |
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 |
~ 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 |
Women exaggerate the cor
ruption of politics and depreciate the
motives of politicians, while men I'M
duly dread the impractical and pro-
scriptive spirit which women sometimes
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
he country seriously consider these
and try to secure as active
members and managers an equal pro-
portion of women and men? Upon the
and non-sectarian platform
VI the National American w. S. A., men |
# all parties may consistently affiliate |
without sacrificing their connections,
political or religious, but using these to
the enfranchisement of women.
Mrs. HANNAH WHITALL SMITHS
Christian Secret of a Happy Life" has
'een translated into the Swedish lam
'uage by Mrs. Princell, the wife of
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