The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-11

sided projectile fired by Mrs. Todd a
her, supplementing these few words Of
our own by others from several of the
grandest and brainiest women il
America.
To begin with, woman never steps
over the bounds Of her sphere,-the
sphere for which God intended her, OF
nature lies,-that she does lot immedi-
ately become persistent in extremes.
Like a star that has lost its orbit-path
she shoots off on whatever tangent she
may have struck, whether it be right or
wrong, never to stop unless restrained
by superior power or cut short by what
might be considered a calamity, but
which in her case is a blessing, death.
The downfall of every great nationality
is traceable to the extremes of women
who had gotten outside of their spheres.
All the blood of the dread French COM
mune lies at the door of woman. Rus
sian nihilism and French socialism of to-
day would die out but for the women
who feed the fires. If the present AL
lance ever brings trouble to this country
and its homes, it will be through its
female element.
The racket which comparatively few
abnormally constructed women will
raise on occasion is as wonderful as it is
misleading. That the great majority of
women who believe with Mrs. Hogan
may feel assured that their hearts are
right, and their heads too, we have only
to refer to the late movement of the
prominent mothers and wives of the
ideal homes of Chicago in protesting
against the Illinois Legislature making
any attempt to force the duties and
responsibilities of man upon their
lives, as also the late remonstrance
from the brightest women of several
states against the same thing, presented
to congress and the various state legisla-
lures. There is no question of the aver
sion TO suffrage among the more intelli-
gent and thoughtful of the sex, and right
here is good place to quote some of the
greatest women that this age lras pro-
duced. Mrs. Louise Chandler Moulton
writes:
have never desired suffrage for women. Think
woman has her sphere and man his sphere, and that
less if suffrage were given to women, fear that
should feel II my duty TO vote. But 1. for one,
would prefer that such Additional burden should
be laid upon me.
To the question whether she would
vote if the privilege were given her, Mrs.
Celia Thaxter replied: 81 have only to
answer, No" Mrs. Henry Ward
Beecher wrote:
If suffrage were given to me- / certainly should
not go TO the polls without my husbands company
Had that right been given me before he was taken
rom me. 1t is not necessary for mo to say what
would have done.
Mrs. Julia C. r. Dorr, while she
thought it would be the duty of women
to vote, if the suffrage were given them,
said:
of the right of suffrage to women would on the
whole, be to her advantage or to that of the state
Mrs. Augusta Evans Wilson, the au-
-hor of "St. Elmo" expressed very forci-
oily as follows her objections to having
suffrage thrust upon her sex:
Under imaginable circumstance could 60 to
he polls or exercise the right OF voting American
women enjoy without restraint every civil. social.
feminine dolicacy and refined Christian woman
lood and TO invite them into the OF politics
oosen the ties that link them to their true king
iom, the home hearth and prove as disastrous TO
o the households Of Troy. "womaps right e5t 70
Toten would involve the forfeiture OF woman's
privilege Of commanding the reverence and deferen-
ial homage OF mankind. Feminine opinion is
powerful political factor when expressed gently in
he sacred precints OF home, by dropping OTIS of
loble aims and exalted principles and sentiments
nto the open hearts and minds OF brothers hus-
election polls" would Inevitably resolve the whole
question or womans political influence into one OF
mere numerical valuation.
Marion Hartland" wrote, with scarce
y less emphasis:
Under no circumstances would I exercise the
light of suffrage were il possible for me do So
zee no benefit that could accrue 10 my sex by such
IN act. On the other hand see the harm which
he refining influence OF women upon politics, but
ne .coarsenlng effects OF politics upon woman are
,ote and hope the day may be far distant When
ny sex Is given the lawful right to do so.
Anna Katharine Green, author of
The Leavenworth Case. declared that
she had no sympathy with the woman's
movement, and added:
When think OF the attendant necessities, such as
separate polls for women. women inspectors OF cleo
ion. the means of appointment and the gradual
'oitics into womsl.s life ca mot but say that Il
; BAD enough when men are compelled 10 mlngle In
he political Caldron.
Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote that
he should not vote, as she has ''onlv
enough mentality. vital force. and time
low TO inadequateiy meet the demands
If nearer duties than national affairs"
Mrs Adeline D. T. Whitney said:
might vote II pressed into the necessity By the
citing OF sill sorts of OF her women, but shall hope
hat II may never TALL 20 my experience heIisva
hst woman occupies central, not an external
rider turned inside out
Mrs. Rebeccs Harding Davis wrote:
should the right of suffrage be extended 10 wo- !
nen? ! am very that for one should sFr hv !
he FIRE on election day while my cook and iaundres,
ons ctentious faithful TO my duty n this matter
ban are the majority Of educated American rrsn |
~ elections and the polls 10 men who neither
ducstsd nor Am erican.
Mrs. Rose Terry Cooke replied very |
positively:
Nothing would induce me TO GO 10 the polls and /
ote. For the reason that do not think IL Is |
Vonan's p ace or within woman's capacity 10 40 |
o. fully sgree with 81 Paul N Ais estimate OF /
EomAns powers and duties
SO much for eminent women of brains 4
nd hearts who believe with Mrs. Ho- (
,an. Gladstone recently. before the /
-oung ladies of the famous Burlington |
chool for the Higher Education of !
Women" declared that suffrage would |
cad to unhappy results and prove an |
.ttempt 10 alter the fundamental rela- /
ions established by the Almighty. |
thomas Wentworth Higginson. life /
ong advocate of woman suffrage, in the /
forum refers TO the Woodruff and Olaf +