New-York tribune., 1894-06-25
Leghorn. Italy. June S. 1894.
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST SUFFRAGE.

n ~
AN ADVOCATE OF wOMAN's RIGHTS PRESENTS
SOME ANSWERS TO IT.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. MANY thanks are due to The Tribune for
the very fair ana courteous way in which 1t has
allowed the presentation Of both sides Of the ques-
ton Of woman suffrage. It leads % the hope that
a few more comments may be allowed suHragist
who has read what she could hnd or the argu-
ments presented by the other side at the Albany
hearing Of Thursday last one does not wish 10
attack personally those who have through kind
ness defended the standpoints Of other people, but
a brief recapitulation Of few points Of weakness
may be eXcusable.
one speaker declared that there had meyer been
n time when some women had not clamored Tor
suffrage but clanor means d loud noise ana We
have no record OF agitation on the subject be-
fore lS;s though We may fully agree with Inn
that lit never has been dangerous ana is not dah-
rerous now" women being proyeIbially p'ar.-lovlng
law-abidng citizens. And yet h. was atraii oi IL
because il was revolutionary" II granted -
those who could no, enforce laws The power To
make them Government was force. Now. u IS
quite true that primitive government was force bnt
I'm the general evolution of ideas ana practice most
Of rs regard government as wise LEGISLATION anu
competent administration through loelslatois ana
executive officers chosen by the people, with an IN
corruptlbe judicial background for appeal, ana
force as a last resort through an army, navy ana
police department. These last are paid Tor WIN
the money OF men and women both OF whom are
therefore, entitled 20 the service. A. these are thc
only instruments Of force now permitted by the
laws they should according to the basic principle
of the objectors he the only voting contingency.
Women are ancnable. with men. 10 fines. TO
taxes 10 punishmcnts and cease 70 bee people ohly
at the baIlot-1ox TIE iira oI !eprtsei.tn'to' o'
account Of taxation was thrown to IN" Wits a. !
women who thought tins MAS any reason ~
NAV comfortably take their seats with the sighers
of the Declaration Of Indcpcndcnc", ana a Ipnb
list of illustrious foreathcrs. which they he nt
Ter thau the criminal and lunauc variety. -FrN'I-
thcless they will continue 10 have "a cn"''' J"
authorities upon the estimation OF inteHtCt
There seemed 10 be some feeling HinOn3 the SPc'H
ers thai suffrage for women meant the hD lcA''i o.
mon but not even tn m,st ardent sunraSist mas
ever suggested anything more ihnh an 'quaI SI'i
ing, which finds It's Par3ile IN or NM , s' men ~
are fully capable of taking care of thor own righs'
otherwise we should offer them the kind protrc,@iO @
advantage. The shrinking or woman from pu,Dnrt.y
was another argument bat IN no way can S"s
press her opinion - quiety as on d p9''U. Va hot
and should no, inValidate opinion ana We must hoi
forget that this is not incompatiDle WIN te ieaio
advocacy Of ruth an1 Justicr. "nIr" - ~ ha' hs,
II was said that no had an inherent right 70
faro or The community u give IL 20 men Inc
speaker should have said II had been jndgi brst by
mon 10 give II 70 themselves s. That was 'inhertut
by the old law Of might mak@s rIght Ahu ~ Z
is the only inherence there has been ABOUT IL Tne
'otitcast women" were alarming. but nowhere 90
they equal the o. Outoa:t m n. ana Woinah
suffrage would therefore make decreased proper
lion in that direction. on speaker wanted liria-
lions rather than extensions. but th"S" should De
Ilosrect for your space forDidS furtner comment
h,it the present. well "a tho futlre. has. by TN
side Of their prescntat)n, the mastery eu@'t "'
Mary putnam jacob NJ W Z.
Sands Point. j. J.. June L. 1871