The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-24
The Skunimunk Proposition.

The Orange county meeting to consider
the proposed law granting the suffrage to
the widows OF soldiers OF the civil war; and
to all self-supporting women was held at
Skunmunk Mountain last Saturday. and an
adjourned meeting is to take place to-mor-
row afternoon.
According to the previous announcement
two representatives OF the woman suffrage
agitators were on hand to advocate the meas
ure, though its principle is really fatal to
the theory OF their cause. If only sclf-sup-
porting women are to be admitted to the
suffrage, the Inference is that tho rest of
women are already ard sufficiently repre-
sented In the vote Of men. 1t is on that
principle that the exclusion OF women from
the suffrage is defended. In voting for them
selves men say that they vote for women
also; and if they vote for some women, they
vote for all of them. If a man votes for his
wife whom he supports, he votes also for his
daughters who support themselves. II the
children need the ballot for themselves In
dividually to protect their rights and to
make the suffrage really universal, tho
mother requires 1t not less. II tkey are not
to bc disqualified from voting because OF
their son. neither must sIc DC shut out from
it, else marriage and maternity nre put un-
der the political ban.
II the suffrage IS to DO granted to tho Wild
ows Of soldiers as n reward for their hus-
bands military services, the Inference IS
that it is not a privilege to which women arc
entitled OF themselves, but n favor con-
ferrcd because OF something o. profit to the
State which not they but men lave done
Tho sui lection OF woman could not DO made
moro complete. Tho greatest glory, tho
highest function, OF wUm0nhood receives 10
political recognition. Women are simply
recognized as heirs to the glory of their
husbands. Tho proposition is degrading. yet
woman suffrage asitators make it.
The admission OF self-supporting women
and tho disqualification of wives and
mothers supported by their husbands would
involve a like outrage on wonanhood 1t is
creditable to a woman to support herself
when she has no husband to look out for
her. but she best serves the State rs Il ma
troi,. and only thus can She obey the law of
her being and fulfil her proper function in
society. Yet these woman suffrage agl-
tators would glorfy spinsterhood and stg-
Matte maternity. for in most cases child
bearing forb!ds sclf-Support either wholly or
during long periods.
Moreover what indication havo the self
supporting spinsters given that they want
the suffrage? We have seen none. and it is
reasonable to suppose that they do not want
political discrimination In favor OF condi-
Il, from which almost universally they de-
sire to escape. They do not want tho vote.
They want to got married and to be support
ed by husbands. or, in other words. to for
felt the privilege the bill would confer on
them. They would resent any assumption
that they arc In noed OF tho ballot to pro-
tect themselves because they cannot get
husbands to vote for them. They do not
want TO advertise their spinsterhood by CO.
ing to the polls while women who are in tho
state into which they all desire to get, arc
driven away as disqualified. They do not