Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-02-25
From the Baltimore Sun. February 10th.
WOMAM'S PLACE IN The WORLD.
TIE QUESTION STILL AG1TATEs THE MIND
AND PRODUCES A SHOWER oE INK,

TIE QUESTION STILL AGITATEs THE MIND
AND PRODUCES SHOWER oB INK,
uGivs way to the women is the cry
now, and the gentler sex is still coming
forward to advocate its own cause. Sever
al letters are published below on the dis
cussion of Miss Katharine Pearson Woods's
address, delivered recently at the Woman's
Literary Club. Both sides of the question
are discussed, and the views of both men
and women are expressed on the subject OF
women 10 politics and the advisability OF
her going to the polls.
PURIFICATIoN OT POLITICS.
"E." gives her views of the subject in
thsse words: 81 am a woman, and work
for my own living. I believe any woman
has q right to be independent if she chooses.
believe it is every woman's duty to 60 out
in the world and earn her own living by
doing any honest work for which she is
qualified if she has no one to do 1t for her,
and do not believe any man, who deserves
the name of man, thinks any less of her for
it. have been surprised that in this dis
cussion 20 woman has spoken against wo-
nan suffrage, for believe that maLy of
the thinking-I might say strong minded
women of today are opposed to it. l
want to answer the one argument that all
have used-that woman's suffrage would
purify politics and remedy the many social
evils that now exist. A writer in the Sun
of February points to injustice and
wrong that now 60 unreproved, and says
this proves that woman's influence is not
felt 10 the State, and she will have to move
the ballot to make it felt. But may it not
prove equally we'll that she has not done
her whole duty in the sphere that has been
assigned herr If woman's whole influence
were given to the cause of truth and right,
she would not need the ballot to make 1t
felt in the State.
"What reason have We for thinking that
women would make more incorruptible
voters than menf sM.' says: If women
have done so much good and have so much
influence outside the State, what would
they not do for humanity were they in the
State? In all the humanities of the past
ages women have stood equal with men.
Women have showed fine abilities to rule;
each queen has made an epoch in history
But how many Of those queens showed
themselves above the influences and pas
sious that govern men in the same position7
Queen Elizabeth was great ruler, but she
could lie and resort to trickery when it ad-
vanced her ends. What ruler was ever
more governed by prejudice than Bloody
MaryP What was the influence in the
State of Catherine de Medici or of Mary
StuartP Women took an active part in the
French revolution, but they were control
led and led as blindly by their passions as
the men were.
SIN past ages, when Rome was renowned
for the bravery of her sons and the virtue
of her daughters, we do not find the Roman
matrous crowding into the forum and pro-
claiming the beauties of virtue and honor,
but we find them instilliDg into their Sons
from their very infancy those principles
which made them in manhood the pride
and glory of their country.
"tM.' says that Frances Willard and her
$50. 900 followers would vote according to
their convictions, and do not doubt it;6ut
what is to be done with the vast number of
women who have no convictions? M says
those who do not want to vote need not do
it. But if the ballot is given to women and
some vote, it then becomes every womau's
duty to vote. If they vote without being
Informed OH all the perplexing questions OF
the day think how disastrous to the State
their votes will be. On the other hand
think of the great work they undertake in
studying to become intelligent voters.
How many women are ready to add an
other heavy burden to the ones they al.
ready bear? The advocates Of womau's
suffrage seem to take it for granted that
women instinctively know the right, but
We all know that women are governed by
their feelings and prejudices to greater
extent even than men. Of course many
men vote ignorantly and without principle,
but I am answering those who say that wo-
mans suffrage will make all these wrongs
right. M says you could not buy a wo-
mans vote with whisky, I hope not. But
there are numbers of women who, with the
promise of a new gown or an imported
bonnet, could be made to vote for any
thing.
M says there is only one thing lack
| ing to woman's triumph, and that is citizen
ship; that Mrs. Julia Ward Howe said that
the soundest and safest base for any claim
to rest upon is that of abstract right and
justice, and that suffrage for women has
been claimed upon that ground. But can
a woman with justice demand the full
rights of q citizen, when abe is by nature
Incapable of performing the whole duty of
a citizen. One of the duties of citizen is
to take up arms in defepse of his country,
and ! do not believe the most ardent wo-
man suffragist would contend that it is the
duty of a woman to do SO. We honor our
brave soldiers, who, on the field of battle,
laid down their lives for their country, but
we honor none the less the brave women
who endured untold hardships at home.
woo ministered to the sick and dying, and
inspired the living with courage. Their
names may not be sung in song and story,
but what does the true heart care for the
applause of menp So it aeems to me it is in
the battle Of life, man and woman have
each separate part to rerform, and who
can say ~hich is the greater?
II believe with all my heart in the high.
er education of women, but l believe il
makes them more capable of doing theil
own work in their own sphere-not more
capable of entering mans"
IS. c." says: "Givipg women the privi.
lege of voting will certainly not purify the
ballot. 1t might if only pure women went
to the polls, but would not the impure, the
,illiterate. the slaves of vice unseen be more
apt to go To IN the fond wife and loving
mother, who finds her greatest pleasure in
home and home duties2 Some one says tt
i linit voting to property holders. How few
of our fathers, husbands and sons, who ar,
good, true men, would be able to hell
make the laws that now govern cur ooun
tryf Being Southern woman, know O
many malicious, ignorant women who arr
property holders and whaae vote could b,
: bought over and again Is will never d.
to give women the power to vote, for sh'
Twill followin the wsy the man leads. lie