Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-03-07
They Present Petition to the LeeiS-
lature That Must Command
Respect.
Protest Against the Suffrage OF
Women in Municipal Elec-
tons.
The Sanctity Of the Home Not to be
Invaded With Unfeminine
Duties.

SPRINGFIELD, Marsh 3.-Au interest.
ing petition has reached the members of
the illinois general assembly. 1t Is signed
by some of the best known of Chicago
society ladies' and is a protest against the
bill extending municipal suffrage to wom-
an, and denouncing rs false and pernieious
all attempts to secure legislation in that
direction. Among the signers are Mrs
~, j. Odel wife Of the we'll
known banker; Mrs, Caroline Cor
bin wife Of Col Ccrbin, u. $. a.
Mrs. Elizabeth cary, wife of Jude Gary;
Mrs. Il. L Griggs, Mrs. Cornelie Me.
Avery, Frances T. Higgins. Isabella
Gault, The following extracts are taken
from the petition: Busy in the cares of
their homes woman have neither time
strength nor inclination TO enter the pub
lie arena, and defend themselves against
the doing of which they believe to be per
nici0us and destructive cf the true power
and influence Cf women in their homes.
The French revolution is reviewed and
authorities are cited TO prove
that woman suffrage would result i'm the
degradation of the sex. Instances Of com
munistic societies etc, are cited.
with the implied destruction of the family
relation, and the petition adds when the
women share with the men the burden of
| labor and government, communism with all
that it implies is already begun ~ 1--WE
regard the question of property rights Of
comparatively few women as one Of minor
importance compared with the greater
| rightof women IN general TO maintenance
and protection in the home, while they are
engaged in the absorbing Offices and duties
of womanhood. And this paramount right
of woman is threatened with entire de-
strucuon 10y the socialistic doctrines above
cited. We exhort, you remember, that
above all human laws, stand those great
natural laws inherent in the uniyers, which
no man nor body of men can contraveue,
and that these laws have forever established
! difference between powers and privileges
of sexes, TO disregard which, is 10 invoke
! the penalties by which they are relentless
! y enforced. We beg you TO consider that
| the revolution of France could not over
| ride these laws, but fell crushed under the
! burden; that in so far as any political
! body in this country hls attempted TO do
so, it has suffered defeat, and we believe
mo greater misfortune can attend the
J lNlulAAlE VI q tttbbA PM " VI NAlA' NFhitNt
in its attempt to secure legis-
lation in the interest Of the farmer, ar.
tisan and laborerer, than that it should
espouse the false and and pernicious doe
| trine Of political rights Of women. "Ws
pray, therefore, that no matter what ar
gument TO the contrary may be urged
upon you, as Legislators for the common.
wealth you will stand fast by that ancient
bulwork Of liberty, the home, remember
ing that the same power which Says to all
men, Behold God is your father aud all
We are his brethren, has joined algo the
husband and wife as one flesh for the
orderly bearing and rearing of children,
and maintenance of society, and h,s given
to each their own distinctive and
equally honorable snare in labors ana re-
wards of life The 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 overwhelming majority
of the women of Illinois.