The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-01
When n Woman IS President.

ut Is not impossible" says the Cdtho'ic
World, "to conceive that the time may
como when Il feminine hand may hold even
the helm Of State
Tho State referred to by this Roman
Catholic magazine is OF course, our own
republic. for women have boon often ut the
head OF monarchicai States, and at this very
time VICTORIA Is tho nominal ruler OF
Great Britain; but, as It says. in such
States "the advent Of woman to the
kingly or imperial throne was the result
OF n dynastic cxigency; In the case Of
iady President Of tho American republic 1t
would be the outcome OF n constitutional
revolution" Moreover. the queens and en-
presses. ZENoB1A. CATHERINE. MARIA The
HEsA. and the rest had only men for coun-
sellers. "A lady President. with femi-
nine Cabinet" is the possibility hero. II the
political rule Is transferred to the feminine
majority, which already exists in the older
States. and which. before woman suffrage
is granted. will probably exist in the Union
generally. II women vote they will be eiigi-
Bile to all political offices. elective or ap-
polntive. II a woman ever becomes Pres
ident OF the United States, there will be
nothing to prevent her from having femi-
nine Cabinet. and 1t is reasonable to sup
pose. nay. 1t is inevitable. that she will
have women in her Cabinet and will ap-
point women to other oIlces-as Ambassa-
doris abroad. as Judges. and in all
the departments Of the civil service. II the
military service Is allowed to continue I'M
der feminine rule. she may reserve its harsh
duties 'or men only. though. perhaps. there
are places on the staff for which she would
regard women ms fitted. or course IL we
had a woman President We should be sure
to have women In Congress.
- 1t Is ON this account that Prof. GOODWIN
SMITH opposes woman suffrage in England.
He says that it would imply the substitu-
tion Of q feminine for masculine policy,
and such change he regards rs perilous to
the welfare Of the State. Women, being in
the majority In England. would hold the
whip hand politically. They con!d do as
they pleased. II they had the suffrage
They could rule the State In their
own way; and as maiorities have always
insisted on exercising the supreme power
whenever ii has been within their reach,
Prof. GOODWIN SMITH assumes that the
feminine majority in England would be no
exception to the rule. Having the oppor-
tunity to govern. they would improve it by
governing after their own pleasure. They
would Introduce distinctively feminine
policy. rs distinguished from the masculine
policy OF the past. fears and forecasts this
serious professor. He is afraid to DO put at
the mercy of women.
Such a possibility in this republic does
not frighten US. and apparently it does not
friShtcn tho Gahoiic World Similar evil
nrOvn a fnf inns In ~, Ia
sequence to society OF the enlargement of
the sphere" of women. The enlargement
las come. but the dreaded result has not
followed. Women are not "uuseNed." They
sill WELD the most gracious and whole
some aud elevating power IN society; and
IL tho ti:ue comes. or when the time comes
that thoy ara all 'wud To bring their infu-
ence To bear directly on the State by means
OF the suffrage. we have no fear TINT they
will misuse that influence AS the Catholic
World says. THE world is made up OF men
and women and whatever is best for the
common interest OF both is the one great
and perpetual principle of human pol
n.y.. women arc no more tho enemies
OF men than arc men OF women. One
OF tho women who discuss the subject in
department which that magazine has
opened for Its treatment by Catholic femi-
nine writers. adds to this the sound philos-
ophy that there are no distinctly femi-
nine, as apart from human. interests. to be
agitated for" For that reason she does
not want the suffrage but for the same
reason woman suffrage cannot produce or
promotes conflict OF interest between men
and women. because by the law OF nature
their interests are identical. The manage
inent OF the affairs Of the State will ROMAN
with those flttest to exercise the powers and
discharge the functions of government,
whether they be men or women