The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-24
WOMEN In POLITICS.
A Letter From Lady Sandhurst,
the English Radical.
PLEA FOR FEMALE SUFFRAGE.
Domestic Duties Not Antagonistic with
Citixenship-Rich Capabilities of
woman's Intellect.

Ciixenship-Rfch Capabilities OF
woman's Intellect.
LONDON, May H. Especial Core
spondence. - 1t appears to be still
disputed point whether women should
take any real part in serious politics,
but the only reasons advanced against
it seem to be that. as body, they have
never yet done so. that such work. such
interests, would change their character,
unit them for their domestic and family
duties, and lead to unhappy. neglected
homes. Surely such objections can be sat
isfactorily met, but perhaps it will be best
to consider first what should be the duties
and the aims of women in a political
sense and why they should actively face
the work.
Women are at least one-half of the human
race, they have hearts, minds and con-
sciences, they are equally capable of enjoy
ment or suffering, and liable to all the
laws of the country. The weakness and
the faults of character with which their
sex is credited have been the result OF
want and proper education and training.
A girl who has received the sort of instruc-
ton now within reach of ALL except the
very poor, is not the frivolous, mindless
creature some would have us believe. She
is capable of grave thought, of logical reas-
oning, and in the majority OF cases mas
more keen sense of her responsibility than
is generally found among young men oil
her own age. WHY then should she be de-
barred from taking interest, an active IN
terest, in the welfare of her country ana
promoting it by means of politics (that
most comprehensive science and machin-
ery) as well as in any other way?
Womens sphere is said to be religion,
benevolence, family duties and teaching.
But if she can teach others so as to fit
them for the duties of life, if she can train
the generation of the future, why should
she be debarred from doing in her own
person what she is held to be capable of
teaching others to do? If her sphere COM
prehends religion, is not religion compre-
hended in true politics? What can be
more truly religious than self-denying eff
forts to improve the condition of our fell
low creatures and how can this be effect
ually done except by politics? If her
sphere is benevoence, the benevolence
must be real, substantial, having perma-
nent effects, and these can, for the most
part, be best obtained through politics, or
at least by the help of politics.
That women. who have SO much to do
with the training of those who are to be
politicians of the future, who must, for
good or ill, exercise so great an influence
over them, should themselves be thorough
ly instructed in the true principles of poll
tics is absolutely necessary, and when
thus educated in the matter it is certain
that they will not rest content without do
ing what they can to press and to carry
their views.
Women are daily showing more and
more the rich capabilities of their minds.
Why should a country lose the advantage
of the ability and talents of half the COM
munity? Nor is it talents and ability
only that are thus thrown away. The
peculiarities of the female character would
also if allowed scope, elevate the sphere of
politics. The natural tenderness, un-
seltishness and helpfulness of the culti-
waited woman would not only soften the
asperities of party politics, but have
great tendency to draw together the differ
ent classes of our people. 1t is, however,
in the homes, in the family life and in So
ciety that woman's most widespread work
will be done. Any one can see the differ
ence between the young people of family
where the mother is an intelligent and
earnest politician and those who hear of
nothing but the frivolities of life. The for
mer are not content with their studies and
their amusements alone. Other and more
important things have also an interest for
them, and they learn early that all their
studies have a great object in view, not
only for their own personal advancement,
but the good of their fellow creatures.
As regards family duties, there is no
sort of reason why an interest in politics
should initiate against their due perform
ance; rather it is probable that the woman
who realizes her duty to her country fully
will be but the more ready to recognize
that her first obligation is to her own
family In most families there are young
women growing up who have no particular
mart to act on the domestic stage, and to
whom other work and other real interests
are a necessity of useful, healthy life. To
these, politics afford a large, practical
field 1t is by no means necessary that all
female politicians should take public
part, and unless specially qualified they
will feel no temptation to do so. Even in
the lives of those who have a gift for
speaking there will be seasons, years, per-
haps, when they will feel unable or disin-
clined to come forward; and. as with men
in business, they will have no time to de-
vote to the work.
No one need fear that too many women
will make politics their business. 1t is by
no means easy to get the majority of men
TO feel sufficient interest in them and when
the novelty OF the present movement Is
gone off, il will be the same no doubt with
busy women. Society will benefit i'm
mensely by the increasing interest of
women in true unselnsh politics. Con-
versation will become less vapid and less
mischievous, and instead of harm much
good will result.
All that has been said bears also on the
question of "womans suffrage" Being
taxpayers equally with men, and amen
able to all the same laws. they have the
right to take their share in the framing of
the laws. They already possess great in
huence. and influence is power. Power
without responsibility is, we know, held
TO be dangerous thing. II has been said
that the interests of women are one with
the interests of men, and that therefore
they need no vote. This proposition is cor
rect in the abstract. The true interests of
women are one with the true interests of
men. But we have only 10 recollect some
laws which have been passed to recognize
that men have misunderstood or willfully
put aside their true interests.
The position of women is that of sisters
10 men. Have men in the past so egis-
lated as they would have done II they had
remembered this fact? Is the position of
poor, struggling women such as men
would wish their sister TO occupy? Has
all been done that could be done to save