The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-06
The Woman Suffrage shriekers

The Woman Suffrage SnTI0KeT >.
Though the Farmers Alliance has sud
denly developed into powerful organize
ton, poisoning the dreams of politicians,
the progress of the woman suffragists has
been less rapid, but will likely be more
permanent, both in this country and in
Europe. In 1879 the world was startled
by the extraordinary vote the movement
got in the House OF Commons. There were
3l7 members present, and lO3 of them
voted in favor OF woman suffrage.
During the past week the Tricnnial Coun-
ell has been holding its sessions in Wash
ington. According to the address of the
President, Miss Francis f. Willard, the
movement has made considerable progress
in this country. "The air of these last
DAYS is electric with delightful tidings,"
she says. "1he last three years. she
added, "haye produced greater results
than the past ten years" Going some
what into details she continued:
.sEn New York City such leaders as ilary Putnam
Jacob and Mrs. Agnew have rallied around Dr.
Emma Kempin, the learned lawyer from lausanne
and arc helping make easier than ever before for
woman TO enter the learned profession that has been
most tllckly hedged away from them. In Baltimore
Miss Mary Garrett, the most progressive woman OF
wealth that our country has produced leads the move
rncnt that will yet open Johns Hopkins University to
U.S. and has already committed its medical college TO
the admission Of woman In the recent National
Convention Of Public School Teachers, women were
made vice-presients for the first time, and given
equal voice in all proceedings; while the international
Sunday School Convention, that meets but once in
three years. made similar advance, and the Christian
Endeavor Society, that has enrolled in the last ten
years over 100000 and woman, places the sexes
side BY side in all Its purposes and plans"
She might have added that in several
western towns every office Of Importance
from Mayor down. is filled with petticoats
and furbelows.
In England too, considerable advance
has been made since the vote in the
House Of Commons in 1879. Victory is
vet, however, far off. 1t is not likely
people so staid and slow to make changes
rs the English are, will trouble themselves
very greatly for some time to come because
women can not vote. We doubt not that
the words Of the Queen, in her life OF the
Prince Consort, reflect the views of a vast
majority Of English women, and it will be
long wears even after the views OF that
majority are radically changed before
majority OF the men will sanction female
suffrage. 1--WE women are not fit for gov
erning," says the Queen, "and if We are
good women we must dislike these mas
culine occupations There is more true
philosophy in this sentence than can be
found.i in volumes Of the speeches from the
female tramps who run over tho country
clamoring for their "rights;" and it will
be many generations before such wisdom
will be overcome by the clamors Of the
agitators.
There is no doubt of the fact that the
tendency is to throw around women better
legal safeguards and shields than hitherto.
The changes in the statutes of this and
other states indicate Enthusiastically the
disposition in this country. Women are
better protected under the laws against
the waste of dissolute husbands than ever
before. We are not prepared to say that
the protection is yet Rs complete as 1t
shoald be; but if it is not, the tendency
of the times 10 in that direction and JUS
sire will be done. They need not seek to
arrsy themselves in commercial conflicts
with men, or TO contend with the ruderI
and stronger sex in the political arena.
Theircaase will lie damaged thereby what
ever the roarers Of tho RESTRAIN may say
Ms would by no means exclude them from
pceapatIons which are suited to theis
deiicacy and skill, but it lii against the