The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-06

Mr.. Spencer holds that consideration shows
! this not 10 be the fact. Citizenship. he says
does not include only the giving OF votes
joined now and again with tho fuihlmen'
OF representative functions. 1t Includes
also certain serious RESPONSIBILITIES. But
n 20. there cannot be equality OF cit
izenship unless along with the share OF good
there goes the share Of evil. To call that
equality Of citizenship. under which some
ENJOY rowers gratis while others pay for
their powers by undertaking risks. is. in Mr..
spencers opinion absurd. Men. whatever po-
litical powers they may in any case possess.
are at the same time severally liable to the loss
OF liberty, to the privation. and occasionally to
thedeath consequent on having to defend the
country. y women. along with the same po-
litical powers. have not the Same liabilities.
their position Is not one OF equality
but ono OF supremacy. Unless. therefore.
women furnish contingsnts to the army and
navy. such IS mon furnish It !s manifest that.
eouitably considered. tho question OF the
equal political rights" Of women cannot be
entertained until there Is reached q state OF
permanent peace Then only would 1t be Dos
sible whether desirable or not, to mako tho
political positions OF mon and women the
Same It is Acknowledged By Mr. Spencer that
this reason does not negative this claims OF
women to equal share in local governments
and Administrations. II 1t is commended that
these should be withheld. 1t must DO for rea-
sons OF other kinds.
We have then the fundamental concession
that In proportion as . community passes
from q state OF militanoy to state OF indus
triAlism. such rs obtains to worry large extent
In England and the United States. It becomes
moro and moro possible to give mon and
women tho Same political rights. RESPONSE
A. tet,vn n, Ia
to equality OF powers is extinguished. Does
1t follow that 1t will BE- expedient to
give votes to women2 We are pre-
pared TO hear Mr.. Spencer answer this
question In the negative. inasmuoh As a
distinguishing feature OF this volume Is his
denial OF the expediency under existing con-
ditions OF giving votes to all mon. The ques-
ton OF practical moment to the community Is.
he says. whether rights properly so called
tamong such rights he docs not think that the
power to vote must necessarily be includedl.
arc likely to be better main tained II women have
votes than II they have not Mr.. Spencer pro-
ceeds t. assign some reasons for concluding
that tho maintenance OF such rights would. in
the event OF women obtaining tho suffrage. DO
less rather than moro satisfactory.
Tho comparative impulsiveness Of women
10. he thinks. . trait which would make in
crease Of their influence an Injurious factor in
legislation. Human beings at large as at
present constituted. are far too much swaysd
BY special emotions. temporarily excited. aud
not held In check BY tho aggregate OF other
emotions. and women are carried away by the
feelings Of the moment still moro than men
are. This characteristic Is at variance
with that Observation-Disclosures which should
guide the making OF laws. Freedom from
passions excited BY temporary choler or
particular objects 10 an obvious prerequi-
site to good legislation. This prerequisite is
at present but imperfeotly fulfilled. and it
would be moro imperfsotly fulfilled were tho
franchise extended to women. Mr.. Spencer
goes on to point out that this moral difference
is accompanied by . kindred intellectual dif-
ference. Worry few mon and still fewer women
form opinions in which the general and the
abstract have due place. The particular and
tho concrete are alone operative in their
thoughts. Nine legislators out OF ten and nine
ty-nins voters out Of . hundred. when DISCUSS
ing this or that measure. think only Of tho i'm
mediate results to be obtained: they do not
think at all OF tho indirect OF tho effect
which the precedent will have. or Of tho influ-
ence On mons character Had women votes
this ABSORPTION Of consciousness In the proxi-
mate aud personal to the exclusion OF tho 70.
mote and impsrsonal would be still greater.
and tho immense mischiefs ct present pro.
ducsd would be augmented.
At tho outset. indeed. OF this volume, the
author was at pains to show that there 10 .
radical Opposition hatvaan fha sHhica ~ TIA