The morning call., 1891-10-09
WOMAN NOT THE G0vEEx1NG SEX

The Remarks OF Writer on Woman
Suffrage Reviewed at Length.
Editor lF0mGn's Column, Morning Call:
a writer for prominent conservative paper
recently published in that paper an editorial
under tie above quoted heading. 1t is not
easy to tell whether the writer was setting
up some targets for the women suffragists
to fire at lie declares that 'the mass of
intelligent women think themselves unfit to
share government" and cites remOnStrants
in England, Massachusetts and Illinois as
proof. The defeat Of Methodist women on
the question Of admission to conference he
calls "a signal expression Of Indifference or
hostility on the part of women" He says
that women in the church seem anxious to
remain what they have ALWAYS been,
the governed; that there was time
when the "Matriarchate prevailed as there
was q time when canDibalism prevailed"
and he implies that "civiiZatiOn has sent
both to the rear" He claims that when
women have had the substance of power
they have ABUSED it more horribly than the
average man." and snys that women have
risen above the so-called Pauline" posi-
ton and stand about under Roman law, and
adds, "the Romans OWNED the limitations
OF woman, and modern civilization has
finally gone back to that standard Of JUS
tice and common sense"
hbAAAN SbL \ lsAbE 10 a FAD
The only male forces back OF it are Pro-
hibitionists, written with little 'p." Let
the editor talk with the women Of Wash
ington, and he will, rs a rule, find that 1t is
the intelligent, philanthropic woman who
wishes to vote, and that the ignorant, the
fashionable or the exceptionally sheltered
who do not Women who face the world first
hand, and best comprehend the causes of suf-
fPTing, are just the ones who wish to vote.
Several days Srent about Puget Sound five
years ago when women voted revealed to
the writer, who inquired of all he could, but
three women who did not wish to vote
one, 4 young schOOmarm, who did not like
the Territory and was anxious to find en-
plOyment in California, her parents home;
one, hotel-boarder. from Oakland. Cal,
who thought the Territory awful, mo So
ciety, 10 TesOurces"; the third, the wife of
drummer, returning from short resi-
dence 70 her homo in Baltimore. Washing
ton or wyoming IS good place to measure
the women who do and do not want TO vote.
English women have pettioned by thou
sands for suffrage, the remonstrants by
hundreds, Mary Somerville, Harriet Mar
tineau, Annie Jameson and Elizabeth
Browning. the four most prominent women of
England at that time, signed the first petit
tion sent to Parliament as did the women
of the Bright, Cohen, Fawcett, Quincy aud
other famous families.
LADY AMBERLY.
of the Russell family did valiant service,
while the remonstrants' petition had the
names Of Lady Churchill, Of titled women
who know nothing of real life. with Mrs.
Humphrey Ward about the only name that
represents the individual. Most wera simply
known for title or husband. women whose
own property is secured to them, who know
nothing of real life. Massachusetts has sent
more than quarter II million names to the
Legislature, asking for suffrage: never but
a few hundred against The remonstrauts
send out anonymous Petitions hire agents
and are represented az legislative hearings
by paid lawyers, in fact men and money are
back Of their petition, while on the other
side women like Mary Ltvermore, Julia
Ward Howe. Lucy Stone, men like William