Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-05-21


and unworthy Of the name of man When
woman has lost this protection and the de-
sire for It and has all paths of life and
power open to her what will she be but a
weaker man2 Because that we are not all
presidents or senator's Is no sign that we
are slaves or subjects to those that possess
that honor, nor is our position any more
degrading. The position of the husband
In the home Is nearly the same. What re-
spect has either man or woman for the
"henpecked" husband? and Is there anv
more respect given the wife than the hus-
ban'? There is no man but woul,. object to
being called effeminate or any woman but
would be equally indignant at being charac-
terized as masculine. 1t is regarded as a
term of contempt In either case
To obtain complete success in any avoca-
ton needs complete devotion. To make
success in public life then would be pos
ssote with woman only after she had final
ly and completely renounced marriage.
There are weight and power in force OF all
kinds. Great physical force carries with
1t respect which amounts almost to awe.
Man Is the stronger sex and possesses a
force which must be respected. Leaving
aside all other arguments, however bar
barous we may consider IL, womans lack
of this force forms an everlasting barrier
to supremacy or even equality with man in
reference to administrative power The in
herent and natural principle that the weak
er must give place to the stronger will
never sllow man to be ruled by any in
ferior power.
Queen Victoria is looked upon as a mod
el for the world to follow. But her rule
is only nominal, All her measures are the
product Of the minds Of men adopted with
her consent. The power is there; but
welded by body in her majesty's name
suppose women had by superior female
vote enacted law in opposition to the
wishes and desires Of the male portion of
the citizens, how could this law be en-.
forced? 1t must surely become dead let
ter Man would disohcy it with nn fear Of
the consequence. Then surely lawles,ness
must follow
Under the exercising Of female suffrage
We may readily suppose that many meas
ures would be adopted Incompatible with
the wishes of man. Extreme legislation
would surely follow stringent prohibition
might be put on all the statute books, as
x.st1 ta,,
where Is the force to come from to carry
these laws into effect Those women who
are at the head of suffrage movements
forecast the future a. times of peace when
all questions and disputes arr to he settled
by arbitration. They confess their inabil-
tty to legislate in regard to measures Of
war and peace. But in these DAYS when
the air is filed with rumors Of wars and
foreign troubles. when the powers Of
earth are engaged In a rivalry a. 10 invent
Ing the most eifectuaI means Of tesiruc.
tion, what assurances have we OF peace
and arbitration? Many times even WON
en- would by their own peculiar genius
and elastic moral structure" urge on a war
inspired by sentiment, that man would ut
terly refuse to carry on.
The right OF franchise of course II to
carry with 1t the right TO be elected to i'm
portant positions. Here we should again
meet difficulties. They could not be held
to their duties or criticised in their meas
ures as can men and we revolt at the idea
of woman being subject to the scandal and
publicity incumbent upon the candidates
in the political field.
But our sutiragIsts may urge that under
woman's direction political purity Will fol
low. But We may safely doubt if this
would result, whether they would purify
Others or themselves be corrupted. In
the elections of England women have TAX
en- the stump, but the records do not show
any moral Improvement either in them
selves or others indeed many times far
otherwise
The moral standard of woman while it
differs in character, In some respects, from
mans | do not believe il can be said is
any higher. On the other hand the bad
traits in her nature are of more subtle,
persuasive and dangerous character. Eve
sinned first and most and by her wiles per-
suaded Father Adam to become the tool OF
her wickedness
What injustice has woman to complain
of. Every complaint ever made BY her
has received due consideration and a Just
return The opportunities for obtaining
divorce have been increased and extended
until the number of divorces that appear
yearly on the records has become some
thing frightful. Many Of our universities
are open to them giving them ample oppor
| tunities to obtain u liberal education The
| trades also are open to them as proprietors,
| clerks or bookkeepers. There is com
| plaint often made that they do not receive
the same remuneration for their ser
vices as men But where must we look
| for the cause of this: Not to defective
legislation. but to demand. Prices, wages,
etc. are questions of economy and de-
mand and so long as female help can be
I
long will these prices continue to exist
| Legislation is in all cases a question of
benefit to the mass, not to few. The
problems of tariff and free trade are prob
lens of majority benefit. Should we then
extend the right of ballot to all the women
in the state for the benefit of one alone, as
"H" expresses it? Such an idea is simply
preposterous. Undoubtedly there are
many women who could exercise the use
Of the ballot as wisely as men. However,
in our large cities what host of women
whose ballot would be held for the high
est bidder! Undoubtedly this is no worse
than men do, yet two wrongs cannot max C
one right. and the scenes around our poll
ing places would be even more tainted
with bribery, intimidation and crime than
they are at present. The women who are
SO persistently knocking at the door Of
our political edifce" even go so far as to
threaten sometime to take the law into
their own hands and create scenes of vio-
lence and confusion. Those will be la
mentable and exciting times when these
Amazpns with conquering and martial
tread ascend the steps of the capitol and
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