The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-04
WOMAN'S SPHERE.
Protest Against Proposed SUI
frage Legislation.
Petition Of Chicago Society Ladies TO tA6
Illinois Assembly.
The Doctrine Of Political Rights Denounced
as False and PerniGiOuS and Op-
posed TO Natural Laws.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

SPRINGFIELD Qll), March 3.-An inter-
esting petition has reached the members ol
the Illinois General Assembly. Ii is slgneu
by some of the best known Of Chicago
society ladies, and is protest against plu
extending municipal suffrage to woman anu
denouncing as false and pernicious all at
tempts to secure legislation in that drec-
tion. Among the signers are Mrs. j. j. I.
Odell. wife of the well-known banker; Mrs.
Caroline Corbin, wife of Lieutenant -Colonei
Corbin, U. S. A.; Mrs. Elizabeth Gary,
wife of Judge Gary; Mrs. E. f. Griggs, Mrs
CornelIe MeAvery, Mrs. George w. Smith,
Miss Frances T. Higgins. Miss Isabella 4.
Gait. The following excerpts are taken
from the petition: BUSY in the
cares of their homes, women have
neither time, strength nor inclination
to enter the public arena and defend them
selves against dongs which they earnestly
believe to be pernici0uS and destructive OF
the true power and influence OF women 10
their homes" The French Revolution is re-
viewed and authorities cited TO prove that
woman suffrage would result in the degrada-
ton of the sex. The petition adds:
When wOmen share with men the burden OF
laDorland government, communism. with all that
IL implies, Is already begun. We regard me
question OF tile property rights OF Compare
lively few women one OF minor Importance
compared with The vastly greater right Ol women
In general 10 lller maintenance and protection IL
the home, while they are engaged IN the absorb
ing Offices and duties OF wOmanbOId And TINS
paramount right OF woman Is tlreatened WIN
entire destruction by the sOciSiistlG doctrines
above cited. We eXhort you 10 remember
that above all human laws stand those
which no man nor body OF men Can cOn;rOYene
and that these laws have forever established
difference between the powers and privileges OF
lie sexes, 10 disregard which Is 10 nycke TIE
penalties by which they are relentirssly enforced.
We beg you To consider mat tle revolution OF
France could net override these laws, but X frH
crushed under the burden; that III so lar as any
political body in TINS country has attempted 10
DO so, It has suffered defeat and we believe no
greater miSfOiIune can attend the forming Ia Dor
party OF lbs county in It's attempt TO secure
legislation in The Interest OF the iarneT artisan
ana labUr5r than that II should espOuse tho
false and pernlcOus doctrine OF lOlllcu lights
for women.
We pray, therefore, that no matter what argue
menI TO the contrary NAV be urged upon you as
Legislators for the commonwealth, you viii
stand last by that ancient Oh Wark Of liberty. tie
home, remembering that the same power which
says 10 all men, "Behod, God Is your ia her and
all ye are brethren" has joined also the husband
and wife rs one flesh for the orderly bearing and
rearing OF children and the maintenance OF
society, and has given to each their own dis
tlnctlye ahd equally honorable share lu tue
labOts ana rewards ui life.
Tie ladies, in conclusion. say they have
held council with many women in different
parts of the State, and feel assured that the
petition represents the wishes of the oyer
whelming ma jority of the women OF ILLINOIS.