The record-union., 1891-03-09
ANOTHER WOMAN SPEAKS.

This Time Against Equal Suffrage
She Fears Priest-Power.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: suppose there
is 4 certain class of women in this State
who are satisfied, now that the Woman
Suffrage bin has passed the Senate. But
suppose it is passed by the Assembly
and is signed by the Governor; what have
they gained? Will women be respected
any more than now? Will their influence
be any greater?
Ii woman is not satisfied with the pres
ent state of affairs, and if she possesses
any influence at all, why not exert it at
home with her husband, son or brother.
and with equal force? l do not believe
the women of the United States, as a rule.
care for the privilege of voting; and if
the question was put to a. vote the ma
Jorlty would vote against it, providing
they would be interested enough to vote
at all, or, like the ladies OF Illinois, petit
ton the Legislatures to not pass such a
bill.
do not doubt that most women are
sufficiently educated and are intelligent
enough tovote, even to hold Office (Which
would certainly be the next Step). And
they would probably do as well, perhaps
better than most men. 1t is not that
they would become contaminated, and
yet how could they help it? Men natu-
rally respect women, as long as they re-
main womanly; but one cannot handle
coal without being smirched, and when
woman puts herself on a level with a
man she must expect to be treated ac-
cordingly.
Because a awoman can visit, unattended,
prisons and hospitals occupied by men,
is no reason at all for giving her the bal
lot. When visiting the sick and un-
fortunate, and on similar errands of love
and mercy, they go wherever called, and
low indeed would be the man who would
insult woman when on such mission.
But these are not they who want the bal
lot. L believe III women'S rights; III the
rights of woman to do such work as
pleaseS her, or whatever she can do best,
and with mans pay if she faithfully
performs a mans work.
Her right Is to remain single if she
thinks it will serve her purpose in life
better than to marry and rear family
Are there women who are demanding
equal suffrage willing to assume all the
responsibilities as well as the privileges
the franchise would give them? Are
they ready to shoulder a musket in case
of war, act as policemen, taking their
turn on night duty? Surely they would
not expect to be given the soft places out
of Difference to their sex. -,
But do not think equal suffrage is one
of women's rights. Where in the civil
lied world are women so respected, or
have so many privileges as in America
TO be sure, they have attained great
deal through their own eXertions, but
that is not saying they would be better
off with the right to vote? In the natural
order of things, a man is supposed to
make the living, assist in making laws
for the governing of himself and weaker
partner, and to fight when necessary for the
protection of his home and country; and
as man is considered the protecting power
it seems eminently proper that he alone
should say whether or no he will go to
war, or levy taxes, and for what purpose.
Women who are married and have
families, have, or should have, enough to
do to properly look after the ways of
their household without voting. And if
they think new laws should be made, or
old ones changed for the better, or the
ballot-box purified, let them begin at
home. Instead of spending two or three
evenings each week at this or that club,
let them try the experiment of remain
ing at home, and induce their children to
remain there also; endeayor to bring up
pure-minded boys and girls, and in an
other generation or two the ballot-boX
will naturally purify itself without the
aid of women at the polls.
1t has been asserted by great many
persons who have given the subject much
thought that the ballot in the hands of
women will add to the already increasing
power of the Catholic Church. That
alone should be sufficient to make legis-
lators think twice before casting an
affirmative vote on such u bill, when it
is well known that in the Catholic Church
the largest number and most devoted
members are women. When one thinks
of the influence the priest exercises over
his flock, particularly the female portion
of it, it is easy to realize what power
woman suffrage would be in their hands.
Even now there is a struggle in one
State or another nearly every year over
the division. of the school money, and
there is never an appropriation made tor
public charitable institutions that the
Catholics do not get the lions share.
Even should equal. suffrage become
universal. there would be, no doubt,
thousands of Protestant women who
would never care to exercise the privilege.