The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-27

tain restrictions in the choice of school
officers. In 1853 the total number of in
tending female voters in Boston was
y. 80; IN 1883 it was but 10.5Se; in 1890
it sank 70 1885, and this year. total falls
below 600.
Women, il Is clear, do not much seek
nor care about the suffrage because there
is no necessity for their voting. Their legal
rights are protected, their interests, their
influence and their wishes fully repre-
scented. enacted and enforced by the ballot
OF their next masculine friend, father,
husband. brother, son, lover. as
the case may be. Women do not
care button about the suffrage,
because il would only mean burden Of
serious and irksome responsibilities as =
consequence Of this gift Of most insub-
stantial political benefit. The normal
mission Of women IS TO become the
mothers and educators OF men. Every
effort to escape from this destiny by in
truding On the field OF masculine political
government and those industrial pursuits
for which women are clearly united by
nsture, means mischief IN the long run TO
woman and to society. The alteration is
sometimes unavoidable, but all the natural
drift IS TO return women as fast as possible
10 the business of collaborating. home-mak-
ing and to the sheltered employments like
domestic service, and those employments
where they come least into com petition
with men. Any education which helps 10
make woman better and stronger
mother is good for society, but educating
women 10 the work of politics and govern
ment Is sad waste OF time and mental
energy. The position of Mr.. Spencer, 10
which We have alluded. is stated with
sufficient fullness in the following sum
mary of his views, which We ind in the
Springfield Republican:
women. he holds, lack steaiiness of Judgment
anc the Judicial uiad-q aalities which are
scarce enough among men, and the absence OF
which makes lsw-Inaking so often such bosch.
Ii women were legislators their irnpulsiveness
theif control BY the feelings OF the moment this
neglect OF anything beyond the immediate
effect o. the enacted Laws, which vitiste too
much OF legislation at present, would be mag
nlfsd IN volume and influence and these Ills
AAo.-A NA11cl We sCIsF le Zlte1kl1e1- M speG-
Ger regards the c. pacity 10 form commemorative
ana abstract judgments, taking into account
principles, and remote and indirect effects upon
individuals and society OF any contemplated
policy, IS very exceptional among women as
compared with It's possession by men: and
therefore 20 give women votes and the right 20
ieglslate would be simply 20 multiply the inAu-
ence OF incApaeity over public affairs
Tenderness toward the weak and helpless,
which is stronger IN women than men, would
impel women Legislators 70 unduly favor those
having least desert though most reason for pity.
Women would no: enact laws which would give
the strong and superior their deserts, bu. would
rather De led by their sympath;es 10 treat the
interior and even criminal classes too kindly and
take from their shoulders the consequences of
their weakness or crime Tie sword of Justice
would remain sheaIhed il women were de-
pended upon TO draw it. An opposite charac-
ter1stic OF women would work in an opposite
way Women are attracted by power, physical
or Intellectual, and are moved TO obey authority
isr more than men are, and II they had votes
this superior influence woul1 dictate their USE
This would mean greater political power for the
church, and greater control over the individual
for the state, and Q greater subordination OF
personal rights in pursuit OF what these women
legislators believed to be the public good.