The morning call., 1891-08-28
POLITICAL ADVANCEMENT.
The True Inwardness OF One Mans Opp,
sition to Woman,s Rights

The True Inwardness OF One Mans Oppo-
sition to Woman's Rights.
Editor HOmdn'S Column, Morning Call:
In laborng for the politica! advancement of
women il is we'll to call attention now and
then TO some of those salient point in fe-
male human nature, which, in spite of
theories as to how things should be, and
complaints that they are not so, continue to
clog the wheels of progress and can only be
removed by going to the root of the matter.
To Illustrate. the impracticability of look
ing backward as a political reformer lies
largely'il the fact that an insuperable bar
at present exists in the shape of selfish am
bition and personal avarice, and, to effect
reform as set forth, there must first be radi-
cal changes effected in human nature. 1t has
been shrewdly said that women are unchar-
liable judges of each other, and | have heard
many remark that they preferred a mans
verdict as more impartial and fair.
Then she has a lamentable tendency to
indulge in petty jeaiouSes and acrid crti-
clsms OF her sisters that furnish man mater
ial for many satire. Women can never
work together effectually until they stand
more stanchly by one another. They should
be as loyal each to each as the members of
the great secret fraternities of the world,
and in addition learn to keep secrets like
men. ! admit the many noble exceptions to
this charge whose public and private virtues
have been the light of their age; women
whose phllanthropic love for their own sex
blossomed forth into grand works in behalf
of woman. But the great majority use
THEIR NATURAL WEAPONS,
Keen-edged wit, fine penetration and intuit-
i've knowledge of each others weak points
upon their sex with cruel effect. They also
judge its members by severer rules and on
more superficial reasoning than do men
one may say indeed more by instinct and
prejudice than by reason. This pervades
even business circles, where they are in
fiuenced much more by matters of dress,
personal appearance and social position
than are men, and regulate their bearing
cordlngiy, while men, Ignoring the mar
rover view, treat each other with Offhand
courtesy and tolerance. l would not thus
arralgn my sex publicly were not these
things patent to all men, furnishing them
with certain arguments against the sister,
hoCd that serve in their own estimation to
withhold the rights sought and claimed by
women.
"In short, most women lack true moral
courage" was the uncomplimentary closing
comment of young lawyer who was in
dulging in comfortably frank expression
OF opinions IN my presence, at which his
young lady friends would have been
amazed, to say the least. And shielded as
he is by suppressed identity, | shall run the
risk Of his being voted horrd," crusty
old bachelor, while l record some of his
real views, knowing tnat when you meet
him in society he is to you an elegant and
correctly attentive young man. He began
by claiming that women could be divided
against themselves politically as men never
could, because" said he, they are SO
afraid of arOusing unfayorable criticisms
from both their own sex and ours that they
carefully secrete
THEIR REAL CONVICTIONS
About many things, and voice only the
popular sentiment" Why" said i, "mor-
ally speaking, history teens with instances
OF noble fortitude, heroic courage and
divine self-effacement among women which
raise them forever TO the highest moral
levels" | admit the exceptions" said he,
but considering the power women hold
to-day of effecting some of the very reforms
for which their speakers clamor-in the
to convince one not only of their moral
cowardce, but OF disloyalty to their own
sex. Why" he continued, :" by the proper
combination they could exclude from their
doors that entire class of brilliant but im-
moral young men who are now admitted,
nay, invited. into the best guarded house
holds, and thus bring to bear a reforming
factor more potent than an edict from the
highest judicial authority in the land. Yet
women who welcome these men into the So
ciety of their carefully bred daughters
would as soon think of stealing as of admit
ting women who are on exactly the same
moral level with them. Do you suppose
that any other measure under heaven would
SO effectually reform these meu and actually
succeed in making vice questionable?
again. changing the subject a little as
long as women, young or old, continue TO be